BODRUM RACE FIFTY FIFTY

I am coming to Bodrum from Ankara to watch the BAYK WINTER TROPHY 4th Leg races to be held on March 23-24.

Spring has arrived in Bodrum, preparing for summer.

The weather goes back and forth, as it does on all our coasts.

There is no such thing as calm on the 2 days the races are planned. Meteorology websites always show this.

Besides, the Bodrum course is an area where lack of wind is very rarely seen.

For this reason, BAYK has held the races planned in previous legs.

On the evening of Friday, March 22, the summer season is virtually being experienced on the waterfront stretching from Milta Bodrum Marina to Bodrum Castle.

Music sounds from everywhere, crowds. 

We wake up early on Saturday morning, March 23. 

Morning walk to the hills where the windmills are. 

We overlook the region from above.

No trace of the expected calm.

The wind is blowing from different directions. Even off Gümbet, as far as Kos Island, in promising colors. 

The sea is already stirring.

Milta Bodrum Marina has established a very elegant facility at the lighthouse location; MİLTA MARİNA YACHT CLUP.

The briefing is there.

Commodore Rıza Tevfik EPİKMEN starts his speech by wishing us a good weekend. 

He expresses his wish that the races planned to date have been realized and that they will continue this week as well. 

The Commodore invites the racers to the "Race Rules" meeting that will take place in the evening at the Marina Vista Hotel conference hall.

After Epikmen's statements, it's the race committee's turn.

AYBERK OLCAY (Principal Race Officer)

“Right now the wind outside is “0”. 

According to the weather forecasts we have received, the wind is expected to come in the afternoon. 

We will go out at 12:00 and wait for the wind in the vicinity of Görecek Island.

Today, there could also be a wind that might deceive us and increase significantly.

We've reached the 4th leg, we have no problem with the number of races.”

Olcay asks the racers for their opinion; 

“There's no wind, shall we go out to sea immediately or not?”

Opinions are put forward and the decision is;

Starts can be given at 12:30 for Support and IRC B, and at 13:00 for IRC A. 

Considering the distance to Görecek Island where the race will start, the fleet needs to leave Milta Bodrum Marina. Again, if there is wind, it's in the West.

The Principal Race Officer also states;

“Tomorrow very severe weather is awaiting us. We want to organize a short race inside the bay. 

Of course, without compromising on safety. 

But if the weather settles above 25 knots, we don't want to send the fleet out to sea.”

Then, although the fleet said “let’s wait and see”, marina departures were already being heard over the radios.

As 44 boats approached the start position, the expected wind was slowly beginning to arrive. 

While the direction was changing slightly, the strength was increasing.

The committee starts the starting procedures after waiting for the wind, which started from 195 degrees and turned to 250 degrees, to settle for a certain period.

Meanwhile, with the call made, boats are gathering around the committee boat. 

Flowers are thrown into the sea in memory of National Sailor Cihat KAKIŞ, whom we lost a short time ago, and a moment of silence takes place.

As the wind starts to blow from 285 degrees at 9-12 knots, the committee announces the course for all classes;

ROUTE-9 from Bayk Routes.

It is announced that the windward mark visible on the course will be used as the turning mark. 

The boats will race approximately 12 nautical miles.

The first start at 12:45 PM to the DESTEK class boats. 

A calm, unhurried, slow, cautious start.

Being so, it leaves nothing for the lenses. p>

While the support class trysails are heading towards the return buoy, the wind is gradually decreasing its strength.

2nd start 15 minutes later at 13:00 for IRC B boats.

That one is also far from exciting. 

After the final start is given at 13:15 to IRC A class, the entire fleet begins racing on the course.

The wind drops from 12 knots to 7 knots during the 3 starts given over 30 minutes.

At the same time, the wind is gently shifting direction.

After the return buoy, the boats heading towards Köçek Sığlığı are making better progress with the freshening wind.

The fleet mostly in groups of three, generally sailing one by one, leaving the course in their wake.

Çelebi Adası roundings, as always, are gifting us beautiful views.

The arrival of spring is evident from the island's vegetation. 

During the island roundings, spinnakers are deployed accompanied by the sounds of seagulls.

As a result of the directional wind shifts, maintaining course while sailing with spinnakers becomes challenging.

Teams who have thoroughly familiarized themselves with their boats and competitors during the previous 3 legs are now trying to push their performance. 

Everything has fallen into place on the teams, it's obvious.

The shouting and yelling have disappeared.

When the 1st race finished;

In IRC A-1 DEFİNE (Yücel ÖZBEK-Selim KAKIŞ)

In IRC A-2 WIND RIDER (Erol ALGÜL)

In IRC A-3  STORMY-WINDY SAILING (Tunca ÇALIŞKAN) 

In IRC B-1 FORTUNA (Barkın PALAOĞULLARINDAN)

In IRC B-2 MINX HEDEF YELKEN (Can EKİN)

In DESTEK Class DENİZ CADILARI (Bade TANOBA)

are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

While IRC B and DESTEK Classes are heading towards Milta Bodrum Marina, IRC A Classes are waiting for the course to be set up for the day's 2nd Race.

When the preparations begin, as the wind coming from 275 degrees settles at 290 degrees, the start procedures commence.

IRC A classes will race a buoy course.

The windward mark at 1.7 nautical miles at 290 degrees will be rounded for 2 laps. 

2 windward legs, 2 downwind legs. Approximately 5 nautical miles.

The wind has started blowing in the 15-20 knot range. 

We can see whitecaps.

All boats have gathered on the advantageous committee boat side. Or rather, they've crowded together.

The start is given.

From the press boat, we can't see these moments adequately. We're on the buoy side of the wide start line and are occasionally warned to move even further away.

With the equipment we have, it's impossible to capture full start shots on the Bodrum course. 

Of course, safety comes first. 

For this reason, we can only provide you with general views from a great distance at the starts.

Those live moments, those full frames, can only be captured either from the boats or from inside the racing yachts. 

The close-up photos we take are from the moments when the boats break away from each other after the start. 

And those are of either one or two, or three boats. 

When the boats get squeezed together on one side at the start, they lose their maneuverability.

Unintentionally, they cross the start line prematurely together.

General recall, the start will be restarted.

Following this decision, the start buoy is being repositioned.

As the buoy moves this way and that way, slightly up, a bit down, it appears to us to be placed in the same spot, and the procedures begin.

As the clock shows 16:20, the IRC A class start takes place.

Although the wind hasn't changed direction, its strength is gradually increasing.

The well-known spinnaker scenes are also making their appearance.p>

In the hardening weather conditions, the buoy turns provide the most spectacular views of the competition.

The turning buoy position is also under the influence of squalls.

When the finishes are taken with the backdrop created by the slowly setting sun in the west;

In IRC A-1, DEFİNE (Yücel ÖZBEK-Selim KAKIŞ)

In IRC A-2, ORSA-CHEESE SAILING (Tora KUTOĞLU)

In IRC A-3, HENİ (Eser İNCE) 

are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

When we finish the race and head towards Bodrum, we see how light the wind is in these positions.

Indeed, the strong wind effective almost east of a line, is non-existent on the other side.

As we enter the marina, seeing how appropriate the committee’s decision was to hold the race west of Görecek Adası, the clock shows 18:00.

The prize ceremony for BAYK Winter Trophy 3rd Leg races has even been postponed to 19:30.

Once again, at the lighthouse location, the prizes find their owners with a beautiful reception.

On Sunday morning, March 24th, the wind has taken all of Bodrum under its influence. p>

The committee started measurements early in the morning, but the news is not encouraging.

Even at the harbor entrance, the wind is above the limits.

We will wait, there's no going out.

Showers and squalls are effective even inside the harbor.

The fleet has given up hope on the race in the face of this situation. 

They've found an opportunity to handle the deficiencies and things that need to be done on their boats.

Measurements continue until 13:00. 

Considering that the weather will not improve and will get even worse, today's race is announced as cancelled.

The fleet has spent one day racing beautifully and the other day waiting.

What can we say; 

FIFTY FIFTY

While taking the land route to İzmir, the Güllük Gulf and Bafa Lake we pass by show that Poseidon is very angry today and should not be approached.

The 5th leg of the BAYK Winter Trophy will be sailed on April 13-14.