32nd Marmaris Yacht Rally: Turkey's Premier Maritime Celebration
Annual gathering of sailing enthusiasts returns to the stunning Marmaris coastline
I broke the devil's leg, I'm racing.
I say "Continuing with the Marmaris Race" to the races I couldn't follow for a long time due to the pandemic.
How the race week, which I had been following uninterruptedly for years, would take place had been a matter of curiosity for a long time.
Different practices related to health every day inevitably required us not to let our guard down.
Would there be a disruption in participation in this international race or not? Time passed and the calendars were showing race week.
MIYC MANAGEMENT HAS CHANGED, SO HAVE THE VENUES
Meanwhile, the management at MIYC, the race organizer, had changed, the flag had changed hands.
The club building and grounds had been modernized, it was a more spacious and expansive area.
Large monitors and projections were harbingers of the leg adapted to the digital age in racing.
ENTERING A WINDLESS WEEK
The organization moved the races, which encounter adverse weather conditions every year, forward by one week, but as luck would have it, the blue colors showing windlessness in the region throughout the week on meteorological forecast sites stubbornly remained unchanged.
This is Marmaris, since we know this race committee's stubbornness by heart, we are waiting without losing hope.
PARTICIPATION INCREASING
Participation is higher compared to last year. A total of 123 boats, over 1,200 racers. From 21 countries, the largest participation belongs to the Russians.
We also see registrations of successful boats and ambitious teams from Turkey.
While participation in IRC groups is increasing, there is a decrease in the Charter class.
REFEREE ARMY ON THE FRONT
Each class will be managed by 2 race committees under Can Giray's PRO leadership.
Including the technical committee, 16 people who are well-known experts in their fields.
Award ceremonies, which escaped the famous tent last year due to the pandemic, will take place this year with time and participation limitations.
BRIEFING
24 October Sunday at 18:00, the movement begins with the Skipper Briefing.
It becomes clear how appropriate the arrangement at the club facility is.
Can Giray and İlker Bayındır explain the week's summary very well with diagrams and maps.
Everything is good, but what about the wind?
Surely Poseidon will contribute to all this preparation.
Start times have been moved to 12:00, we'll see.
25 OCTOBER MONDAY (DAY 1)
The sea is flat calm on the Marmaris Course. Same situation until the boats exit the marina.
We will follow the IRC groups. They will race in the inner harbor. Charter Class in the outer harbor.
WAITING FOR THE WIND
A long wait is expected for the wind to arrive. The correct position for the start is being searched.
Seek and you shall find, but when?
After a significant postponement, the course is arranged and preparations begin.
The IRC groups consisting of 6 Classes will make 3 Starts. This procedure will continue the same way throughout the week.
The Race Committee setting up the course announces the Route; INSHORE COURSE-ECHO.
However, due to the change in wind direction over time, the route changes;
INSHORE COURSE-BRAVO
Wind showing 5-6 Knots from 310 degrees as starts begin.
First start at 15:10, second at 15:15.
IRC 5-6 classes are about to start when the wind dies.
This group completes their starts at 15:38 with the freshening of the wind.
When the capricious wind reaches 8-9 Knots by this time, everyone's spirits are lifted.
The fleet starts like warm-up and practice rounds, then accelerates.
Competitors meet side by side.
On a day when it was said there would be no race, a very good race takes place in Marmaris waters.
When finishes are taken, the boats leaving their competitors behind:
IRC-1 ATLAS (Melih Altınkurt)
IRC-2 COURRIER DU COEUR (Andrey Arbuzov)
IRC-3 BABY DRACULA (Vedat Tezman)
IRC-4 ADA SAILOR (ALİ ÖZTÜRK)
IRC-5 LETLAND (Igor Bukovskis)
IRC-6 SAILMAKER (Skachova Yulia)
IRC CHR1 OKHOTNIK (Shemakin Alexey)
IRC CHR2 STORM DANCER (Mikhail Salevyev)
IRC CHR3 BARRACUDA (Fedor Druzhinin)
IRC CHR4 EKINOKS (Valentin Nikolov)
In the evening, a 2-hour award ceremony takes place at Netsel Marina Queen Stage where trophies will be presented to those who placed.
OCTOBER 26 TUESDAY (DAY 2)
This morning again there's no wind, the sea is flat. Will they go out?
Today the IRC Classes will race in the outer harbor. Of course, if the wind cooperates.
We go out to the outer harbor and approach the committee boat offshore.
The hopeless waiting continues.
Typical scenes; sunbathing, swimming and stirring in the wind.
The race committee doesn't stop, the course is even ready.
Procedures begin as the wind shows 6-7 knots from 190 degrees.
Route;
COURSE-4
The fleet will run a long course on a triangular route.
At 13:00 the first group's start, with 5-minute intervals the other 2 starts and the fleet races.
There's no change in the wind.
Just as it started, so it will end, we say, when at one point it seems to drop its strength and then freshens up again.
There is no fierce competition, but the teams are making efforts to keep the boats' performance at maximum.
When the finishes are taken, the boats leaving their competitors behind:
IRC-1 ATLAS (Melih Altınkurt)
IRC-2 COURRIER DU COEUR (Andrey Arbuzov)
IRC-3 SYMFONY (Timakov Anton)
IRC-4 ZACAPA (Marina Shchegoleva)
IRC-5 LETLAND (Igor Bukovskis)
IRC-6 BLUE BIRD 2 (Cem Tekdağ)
IRC CHR1 KAZHDY (Dimitri Ovsiannikov)
IRC CHR2 PANDEIA (Ovsiannikov Oleg)
IRC CHR3 ALBACORE (Igor Burov)
IRC CHR4 EKINOKS (Valentin Nikolov)
In the evening, at the same venue within the same rules framework, the trophies find their owners.
27 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY (DAY 3)
We are waking up to an overcast Marmaris day.
There is absolutely no wind at the moment.
IRC Classes will race in the inner harbor today. Charters outside.
The fleet around the committee boat.
The wind is coming slowly but cannot decide on its direction.
When the direction settles, it doesn't drop below 5 knots but doesn't exceed 7 knots either.
Settled at 130 degrees and the course is ready.
INSHORE COURSE-1 will be sailed.
Kevlar sounds are coming from the starts and occasional shouts.
No change in either the direction or strength of the wind.
As the fleet giving us beautiful images finishes, the day's 2nd race is taking place on the same course.
INSIDE WIND IS OF NO USE OUTSIDE
Charter class going out to the outer harbor cannot race due to lack of wind.
While the southwesterly wind inside starts to increase in strength, the finishes are completed.
When the finishes are taken for IRC Class completing 2 races, the boats leaving their competitors behind:
IRC-1 ATLAS (Melih Altınkurt)
IRC-2 TECHNONICOL (Sergey Bryuzga)
IRC-3 SYMFONY (Timakov Anton)
IRC-4 ZACAPA (Marina Shchegoleva)
IRC-5 LETLAND (Igor Bukovskis)
IRC-6 M2 (Boris Gusev)
OCTOBER 28 THURSDAY (DAY 4)
2 committee boats, one of them is taking wind measurements at Yılancık Island location at 06:00 in the morning.
Today a long course will be raced. The wind is already known…
The right decision will be made but how?
Consultations with the Coast Guard.
The committee is almost waiting until the start moment for the wind that keeps eluding them.
CAPTAIN TO THE EAST OR TO THE WEST?
The entire fleet is in the outer harbor. They will race either east or west.
The measurements taken and the news received indicate that the Kızılada side will be more suitable.
The wind at the start line location is slightly below, slightly above the racing limits.
It's being as coy as can be.
FLOWERS WERE THROWN INTO THE SEA FOR KLAUS OTTIS
Meanwhile, the Committee invites the fleet to a moment of respect for Klaus Ottis, whose support for MIYC in past years they cannot forget. Flowers are thrown into the sea for Klaus.
Then the committee makes its decision without losing time, the course;
COASTAL COURSE-D
The fleet will race on a course of 34 NM as the crow flies.
Starting from 13:05, starts are given one after another with wind slightly exceeding the racing limit.
Before the last group's start is completed, it drops below the racing limits.
After 40 minutes of reluctance, it gives way to the final start.
After the start, the fleet gradually separates from each other, heading on course from different positions.
Meanwhile, those arriving at Kadırga Point catch the good wind and head rapidly towards Kızılada.
Other boats follow behind these leaders.
However, the wind, which changes from time to time, creates differences in such a wide area.
PASSING KIZILADA
Kızılada area, which forces tour boats to furl their sails with its squalls, greets the fleet with winds blowing between 10-16 Knots.
A committee boat and its tender are present at this greeting.
The boats, separated from each other, round the island in rival groups of 2s and 3s.
Very close, risky passages are also observed during the island roundings.
PREMATURE SPINNAKER DEPLOYMENT IS DANGEROUS TO THE HEART, CAPTAIN
Those who know this area don't open their spinnakers immediately after rounding the island.
They open their spinnakers after exiting the area dominated by squalls.
Those who open early experience difficult moments.
The leaders completing the turn are approaching Kadırga Point with balloons.
But in front of Çiftlik Bay, the wind takes a break.
The boats gathering in this area are virtually making a 2nd start when the wind arrives.
Meanwhile, the committee extends the finish time until 08:05.
Finishes will be taken in İçmeler Channel.
With this choice, the committee separates the yachts racing from those sailing to Marmaris in the darkness of night. And they will finish on port tack.
Finishes are starting, it's getting dark.
IF IRC 1 AND 2 ARRIVE AT THE FINISH SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND IT'S GOTTEN DARK
The 2 groups of IRC boats piled up in front of Çiftlik finish almost simultaneously.
Then finishes one by one.
The last finish is taken at 03:16.
Then the committee waits until 08:05.
Neither arrivals nor departures.
While 10 boats from the Charter Class announced they would not continue the race, 10 boats from the same class vanish without any notice.
Thank goodness the charter companies have tracking devices, so we're sure of their safety.
Did they return to the marina without notice, or did they drop anchor in a nice bay and spend the night there.
THIS RACE COMMITTEE JOB IS A TOUGH CRAFT
The race committee, working through the night into morning, heads to the correct course a few hours later for the final day's race.
Boats that left their competitors behind when finishers were taken;
IRC-1 LAGERTHA (Sergei Musikhin)
IRC-2 COURRIER DU COEUR (Andrey Arbuzov)
IRC-3 ALLEGRIA Segei Kazantcev)
IRC-4 ZACAPA (Marina Shchegoleva)
IRC-5 LETLAND (Igor Bukovskis)
IRC-6 SKYFALL (Vavilov Nikita)
IRC CHR1 KAZHDY (Dimitrii Ovsainnov)
IRC CHR2 RAMA (Andrei Morozov)
IRC CHR3 BARRACUDA (Fedor Druzhinin)
IRC CHR4 EKINOKS (Valentin Nikolov)
29 OCTOBER FRIDAY (DAY 5)
The wind on the last day is better than the previous days. It will say goodbye.
A daily sunny day.
The tired, exhausted committee is setting up the course inside the bay for the day's single and week's final race.
The course is announced.
INSHORE COURSE-ALPHA
The wind is blowing from 120 degrees at 6-7 knots.
It doesn't lose its strength or change direction until the end of the race.
At 12:40 the first start takes place. When the final start occurs at 13:00, the entire fleet creates a very beautiful view on the Marmaris sea with the shining sun.
The two-way, three-way competitions continue relentlessly.
Especially the Russian teams are very ambitious.
THE RUSSIANS ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND THROWING THEMSELVES INTO THE RACE
As their successful captains raise the bar of success, they will bring more participants from their countries to this race next year.
At the end of the race, when the finishes were recorded, the boats that left their competitors behind were;
IRC-1 LAGERTHA (Sergei Musikhin)
IRC-2 COURRIER DU COEUR (Andrey Arbuzov)
IRC-3 BABY DRACULA (Vedat Tezman)
IRC-4 ZACAPA (Marina Shchegoleva)
IRC-5 LOOPING (Yury Shuvalov)
IRC-6 M2 (Boris Gusev)
IRC CHR1 OKHOTNIK (Shemakin Alexev)
IRC CHR2 RAMA (Andrei Morozov)
IRC CHR3 BARRACUDA (Fedor Druzhinin)
IRC CHR4 BABA YAGA (Viacheslav Frolov)
At the evening award ceremony, after the trophies for the last 2 days are distributed, the Overall trophies find their owners.
IRC-1 LAGERTHA (Sergei Musikhin)
IRC-2 COURRIER DU COEUR (Andrey Arbuzov)
IRC-3 BABY DRACULA (Vedat Tezman)
IRC-4 ZACAPA (Marina Shchegoleva)
IRC-5 LETLAND (Igor Bukovskis)
IRC-6 M2 (Boris Gusev)
IRC CHR1 OKHOTNIK (Shemakin Alexey)
IRC CHR2 RAMA (Andrei Morozov)
IRC CHR3 BARRACUDA (Fedor Druzhinin)
IRC CHR4 EKINOKS (Valentin Nikolov)
EROL ALGÜL
Race Commodore
"To elevate the quality of the race, we primarily made efforts to secure the participation of boats with high IRC ratings. We accepted entries until the last minute.
We closed IRC registrations on the evening of October 22nd to determine the classes.
We offered a discount on race entry fees for boats that registered 20 days in advance.
Our goal was to finalize the classes as early as possible.
This practice ensured that registration and payment complications were not left to the last day.
We saw ahead clearly.
We did not receive any requests for charter performance boats, so we did not open such a group.
Initially, we planned to open 5 IRC and 5 Charter classes.
Contrary to previous years, as IRC boats increased even more, we opened 6 IRC and 4 Charter classes.
This shows that our race quality is improving.
We worked a lot on the routes and race week meteorology.
There were no disruptions in this regard."
CAN GİRAY
Principal Race Officer (PRO)
"There have been 2 separate committees in Marmaris for the last 6 years.
One manages the boats racing in the IRC class, the other in the Charter class.
Each has a Chief Umpire at its head.
They are extremely experienced individuals.
I coordinate between them.
We have a technical committee.
When everyone does their job professionally, we provide good service.
We are 16 people in total.
The teams can quickly intervene and react to possible issues.
As long as we do this, while the number of racing boats competing in the IRC class is increasing, there is a clear decline in the number of Charter boats.
So crews that want technical routes rather than cruising class, looking for gate marks, wanting an offset on the beat, solving problems, making strategies, and boats with advanced equipment are starting to appear on the Marmaris Race Course.
This makes us very pleased."
ZAFER ÖZNUR
Miyc President
"Before the 32nd Marmaris Race Week, we first made some changes that our club needed;
We changed our club garden from its roof to its foundation, transforming it into a more spacious and functional area.
We converted all our paperwork and announcements to digital.
With large screens, we have achieved the ability to broadcast announcements and display visuals.
We will also realize what we are planning to do in the coming days.
We value feedback from both the racers and other participants regarding what we need to do.
During our race week, meteorological forecasts indicated that there would be almost no wind throughout the entire week.
As I mentioned in my opening speech, “The Marmaris Course is full of surprises”.
And it delivered its surprise.
It was a week where we had great races.
I hope all the racers enjoyed it.
The pandemic affecting the world has been causing limited execution of the organization for 2 years.
Unfortunately, especially the trophy ceremonies cannot take place in a crowded environment.
We hope humanity gets rid of this plague.
And we will do better things with the experience we have gained in these 2 years."
We are weighing anchor from Marmaris, having completed a race week without incident and bidding farewell to happy sailors.