Hot Racing Action in Marmaris Winter

In 2020, our world was heavily affected by the pandemic, and disruptions were experienced in all areas, including the execution of Yacht Races.

Marmaris International Yacht Club (MIYC) organized and executed some races, especially the racing week.

However, the winter trophy could not be held.

This year, they decided to continue the Winter Trophy from where it was left off.

In 2022, the first leg of the trophy, consisting of 6 legs, was planned to be held on January 22-23.

We came to Marmaris on Friday, January 21, to follow the first leg.

The harsh winter affecting the country has not granted Marmaris any privilege.

Dark clouds, all tones of dark colors are over Marmaris. The cold has also honored us with its presence.

The next 2 racing days are also uncertain days that require caution.

The meteorology forecast sites say so.

We'll see.

Registration will close at 6:00 PM in the evening and there is an opening cocktail.

From the hotel to the MIYC facilities, we are under the dome of the sky accompanied by a riot of colors.

18 boats have registered for the first leg. All are IRC class. Class divisions have been made, announced on the screens. 

Generally, no one has objected to this decision, which is usually the most contested.

Everyone is satisfied with their class.

The heavy hitters of the Istanbul course are also on this course. The competition up there looks like it will be good.

Same goes for the lower classes.

After a nice opening evening, we are expecting a beautiful race morning.

I wonder?

22 JANUARY SATURDAY

The weather has become quite uncertain. 

Clouds are moving this way and that. They are indecisive and preparing something against us. 

Old hands in this business like us understand the situation.

We're going to the Briefing without making a sound, without dampening everyone's morale.

CHIEF UMPIRE CAN GİRAY

He begins his words with wishes for a good regatta.

“Marmaris is a geography full of surprises. 

We have simplified the routes. The notice board has been removed. 

It is easier and more practical to access race-related information from your smartphone.

We will have easier communication with the competitors.

The boats have become completely IRC boats.

There is a 20-minute time window after the first boat in each class finishes. Boats that cannot finish within this time will have exceeded the time limit.

This is also valid for this geographical route, but decisions will be made accordingly in practice.

The fleet, divided into 5 classes, will start racing with 2 start groups. Generally, our starts will be upwind. We planned 2 races on the first day and 1 race on the 2nd day."

The first start is scheduled for 12:00. We are all on the course.

The wind is uncertain. Is it there or not?

Its direction?

Tours searching for wind and the start line in front of the committee boat around the fleet.

Suddenly increasing wind...

The sky merges with the sea.

A strange rain, very heavy.

FAST AND ACCURATE DECISION

Clouds descending over the sea and at least 30 target boat masts.

The committee makes a very quick decision to wait ashore for the uncertain weather with immeasurable risk and announces it.

The boats head to Netsel Marina through the clouds and rain.

Committee and Press Boat offshore, we're waiting for the weather.

As soon as the fleet enters the marina, outside the wind stubbornly.

Not blowing, no, being stubborn. The kind that will trick the chief umpire. We're also stubbornly waiting.

16:00 hours; conditions were not suitable for racing, it will not be held. 

ANCHOVY-HALVA IN MARMARIS

In the evening there's an Anchovy-Halva party in the club garden.

All participants are there. Catching up until late hours.

Meanwhile, with the Supplementary Instructions prepared, the start time for tomorrow's races was changed from 12:00 to 10:30.

23 JANUARY SUNDAY

We're starting the day early. We're on the course at 10:00. 

4 boats in IRC-0, 4 in IRC-1, 7 in IRC-2, 6 in IRC-3 and 7 boats in IRC-4 will race.

Wind has settled at 320 degrees, gradually increasing.

Wherever the committee boat goes, we go there.

It was decided in front of Yalancı Strait. 

The course has already been determined;

MIYC Courses ROUTE 4 - E

We're inside the bay, a triangular course will be sailed.

One mark in front of Marmaris Harbor, the other off Mares Hotel.

At 10.50, IRC-0-1-2 execute their starts.

Wind between 6-8 Knots.

As soon as the fleet starts racing towards the buoy in front of the harbor on tramola, at 10.55 IRC 3-4 execute their starts.

When the entire fleet starts racing, the wind comes at 10 knots, occasionally with squalls.

The weather is cold, very cold. Instead of entering different wind channels in different areas seeking risk, the groups race side by side together, beating upwind.

When the first buoy is rounded, spinnakers are set towards the buoy in front of Mares.

IRC-0 boats are now well ahead of the fleet. We immediately see a glimpse that there will be a good competition until the end of the trophy in this group.

The boats approaching the front of Mares with spinnakers have difficulty controlling their spinnakers here as the wind increases.

We start to see the same competition in IRC 1 and 2 as time passes.

The wind occasionally reaches 15 knots.

When the approximately 7.5 NM course finishes were taken and left in the helmsman's water;

In IRC-0 DEFİNE (Vedat Tezman)

In IRC-1 TEAM LINEA ROSSA (Onur Tok)

In IRC-2 WINGS OF ISLAND (Tora Kutoğlu)

In IRC-3 ADA SAILOR (Ali Öztürk)

In IRC-4 VMG YELKEN (Doğukan Kandemir)

Are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

SAD NEWS ARRIVED DURING THE RACE

While the first race was continuing, the news of the death of the father-in-law of Semih Şalhom from the FIFTY FIFTY (Nissan Sailing Team) crew, one of the successful teams of the Trophy racing in IRC 2, reached the course.

The team that finished brought their crew members ashore to send them to Istanbul before the 2nd race started.

And life goes on...

We wish patience to the FIFTY FIFTY (Cenk Tekkaya) Team, Semih Şalhom and his family.

THE 2ND RACE OF THE DAY

At 12:15, after all finishes were completed, the wind started to blow even stronger from 320 degrees without changing direction.

After this, there was no time left to hold 2 races.

So the committee announces a geographical course this time. They also announce that the finish time limit stated in the briefing will not be applied in this race.

MIYC Routes ROUTE 1-A

With the start given off Yalancıboğaz, the offset buoy in front of Marmaris Harbor will be rounded, then heading out to the outer harbor, rounding Kargaşası Island and finishing in front of Netsel Marina.

Approximately 12 nm.

The course is prepared and the first group's start takes place at 13:00, followed by the second group at 13:05.

The wind is blowing at different intensities in different areas. Stable inside the harbor, there are many different zones from the strait until rounding Kargaşası Island.

While blowing hard at the mouths of İçmeler and Turunç, it's being coy off Amos.

Tactical battles begin.

Offshore close to the coast there are even severe squalls, offshore it's stable but we see rising swells.

The entire fleet is racing with pleasure. 

This is evident even from a distance. If only the weather was a bit warmer.

After finishes taken rapidly;

In IRC-0 DEFİNE (Vedat Tezman)

In IRC-1 TEAM LINEA ROSSA (Onur Tok)

In IRC-2 WINGS OF ISLAND (Tora Kutoğlu)

In IRC-3 MARMARISA (Gleb Semerenko)

In IRC-4 VMG YELKEN (Doğukan Kandemir)

Are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

Protests filed on the course are not reflected in the clubhouse and the 13th MIYC Winter Trophy 1st Leg, planned as 3 races, is completed with 2 races.

Overall results at the end of the leg;

As a result, the leg is completed with 2 beautiful races in uncertain weather conditions. We see a glimpse of a sweet competition in all classes until the end of the trophy.

We will follow its trail even more closely in the upcoming legs.

When the race ends, everyone goes home, but how?

Weather conditions throughout Turkey have become quite harsh. Many roads have been closed. 

Flight operations first with long delays and then cancellations.

We are traveling by road from Marmaris to Bodrum. From there, we will fly to Ankara.

Hours pass as I check a weather radar and a flight radar from the apps on my phone.

At night, when the snow clouds over Turkey take a bit of a break, the planes are buzzing around.

My arrival home in Ankara amidst the snow reaches 03:30.

In my dream, seas, winds, landing planes, takeoffs, snow, clouds…

I slept very noisily, am I very tired, I wonder?