Route 5 Week at 5th Buoy in Marmaris: Turkish Sailing Regatta Continues

The MIYC Winter Trophy 5th Leg Yacht Races held on April 23-24 coincided with the transition to hot summer days in Marmaris.

Uncertain wind, sudden temperature increase, two race days where it was impossible to decide what to wear day and night due to the heat effect.

Tourism has shown itself in Marmaris. In addition to the decreased Russian and Ukrainian tourist traffic, elderly British visitors have arrived.

The beaches are full, tour boats have started their excursions.

We are at the MIYC Winter Trophy 5th Leg Yacht races in this atmosphere.

April 23, Saturday

We wake up to a calm weather in Marmaris. No wind, the sea is flat in the early hours.

The chief umpire's whistle blows at 10:00 AM in the MIYC garden.

CAN GİRAY

(Chief Umpire)

"We will conduct one of the last 2 legs of the trophy. We are planning to hold three races.

Campus Cup took place before you. The lack of wind did not make itself felt.

I hope it helps us in this race as well.

We have held 10 races up to this day. Once our race count exceeds 12 in total, races can be discarded.

We are planning to hold 6 races in this and the final leg.

The number of races to be discarded will emerge according to the number of races to be held.

Since everything has been going well from the beginning of the Trophy, there is no need to make any changes.

If everything is settled, there is no need to fix or change it.

There is a matter I would like to inform you about;

World Sailing has a decision that it wants to be implemented worldwide.

According to this, athletes who are citizens of Russia and Belarus are prohibited from entering races.

The Turkish Sailing Federation conveyed this decision to all clubs as it is the representative of World Sailing in our country.

However, within this decision, there is no obstacle for Russian and Belarusian athletes in trophies that have already started to race until the end of the trophy.

In case they win, raising their flags and playing their national anthems is prohibited.

Other than that, there is no situation such as new registration.

I wanted to warn and explain so that you see it on the course. 

That is, there is no violation of rules involved.”

SPORTING SANCTIONS DURING A PERIOD WHEN ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WERE NOT APPLIED

From the moment World Sailing's decision was communicated by TSF to all clubs, anxieties began to be experienced.

This decision did not emerge suddenly. It has been discussed for some time, and what would be done if it came out was being debated by club managements.

Its publication one day before the MIYC Winter Trophy 5th Leg was important for this race and future races.

While the economic sanctions that the world applies to these countries are not implemented in our country, this sanction in the sports field is thought-provoking. 

The result seems likely to affect very large yacht races.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO LARGE YACHT RACE ORGANIZATIONS? 

There is the LORYMA CUP in Marmaris next month, and a major race will be held in Göcek in May.

What about Marmaris Race Week? Hundreds of boats, thousands of participants.

What will happen to these races where international participation is almost eighty percent?

These races create a significant resource for the survival of clubs beyond being just a race, a lifeline.

What will happen if clubs, which have not yet recovered from the wounds of the pandemic period, cannot realize this major organization that will be a source for their other activities. 

One doesn't even want to think about it.

Of all things, yacht races were chosen for symbolic embargo.

The large Megayachts of Russians located in Europe were hastily brought to our country.

This contradiction inevitably comes to mind when such a Megayacht sets sail from the marina it is moored at.

We pass by that megayacht and head out to the course. 25 boats have registered for this leg.

Wind is almost nonexistent.

The committee's helplessness is evident as the boats take wind measurements from all areas.

As the committee approaches the announced Start time, they announce that the wind direction on the course is shifting 40 degrees and they are waiting for it to settle.

MOTHER DUCK AND HER DUCKLINGS SEARCH FOR WIND

Wherever the committee boat goes, the boats go with it.

Just like a mother duck and her ducklings.

Meanwhile, as boats pull alongside each other for conversations, it's also possible to see people going into the sea.

And seeing them get out immediately. The water must be cold.

The race scheduled to start at 12:00 cannot start due to insufficient wind conditions.

Finally, with the wind deciding to settle at 135 degrees, race preparations begin at 13.25.

Route 5 from MIYC Routes will be applied.

NO WIND EXCEPT BETWEEN YALANCIBOĞAZ-MARMARİS

In the measurements taken, there is very little wind outside the Yalancıboğaz-Marmaris Castle fronts.

The course set up in this area will race the yachts.

At 13.40, IRC-0-1-2,

At 13.45, IRC-3-4 perform their starts.

After the start, the fleet almost collectively approaches the shore and steers towards the windward buoy in the relatively stronger area.

All classes are in head-to-head competition with their rivals.

While rounding the windward buoy, the head-to-head competition particularly in the IRC-0 class shows itself.

EKER ROUNDS FIRST

EKER rounds first.

When the fleet comes to the Marmaris fronts, the wind reduces its strength.

Filling the spinnakers on the turns has started to require skill.

The wind has dropped to 4-5 Knots. The boats are struggling.

The Committee shortens the course at 14:19.

Finishes are at the location of the return buoy.

The wind is increasing and decreasing.

When all finishes are taken;

WILL POSEIDON ALLOW THE 2ND RACE?

The Committee wants to conduct the day's 2nd race which it has started preparations for.

In İstiyorda, Poseidon doesn't listen, does as he pleases.

"So you want to give a short course and have one more race. Then this is all you get from me" 

as if to say, there's no wind at all.

The sea turns into a mirror, comb your hair.

We comb our hair and head to the MIYK Winter Trophy 4th Leg award ceremony in the club garden in the evening.

The döner vendor has taken his place, the buffet is open. 

The ceremony has become a beloved ritual of these races. The participation is really very high.

“I don't care bro, one day we're in Marmaris, let's sit at a restaurant on the quay” doesn't exist.

Everyone, everyone is in the activity area.

The Committee, with Additional Instructions, moves tomorrow's race time from 12.00 to 11.00.

Target; 2 races.

At the end of the night, awards find their owners;

24.April.Sunday

The wind is already there from morning, and will blow throughout the day. We apparently woke up to a beautiful race day.

When we went out to the course, the committee had finished everything.

The situation is like students going to take an exam, going to the teacher who has finished all preparations and is waiting for students in the classroom.

Meanwhile, the Committee is taking wind measurements by boat throughout the course and outside.

The racing wind is in the same area again. 

There's nothing to do, Course 5 is announced.

Wind from 275 degrees between 8-10 Knots.

Fleet on the course with 2 starts.

We are witnessing a very beautiful race. We who view the images love buoy racing.

The fleet generally stays close together. Especially the buoy roundings are reference points for seeing the dimension of the competition.

At the roundings, Eker 40, Vakkorama and Matrak 2 are leading again.

With the wind's continuing support, the first race of the day is completed, and the 2nd race is announced on the same course.

At this time, the wind is between 12-14 Knots.

Since the wind effective in this area is almost nonexistent in the outer seas, the committee is making the right decision by playing to reality rather than adventure.

The aim is to conduct racing. To create the possibility of discarding a race at the end of the trophy according to the number of races.

IF YOU CHANGE SAILS AT THE START

Vakkorama, deciding to change sails at the start, touches the buoy and enters the course losing time.

Meanwhile, competitors get their boats running and steer towards Marmaris.

HARD TURNS ARE RISKY MOMENTS

The wind increases its power, seemingly wanting to give the boats unforgettable farewell moments.

The turns become harder.

During such a turn, Nissan Fifty Fifty experiences problems when unable to control the spinnaker.

It moves away to avoid colliding with the boats alongside and behind in the tight space.

We're left with beautiful images.

When the day's finishes are taken;

The yachts racing in the MIYC Winter Trophy 6th and Final Leg are going with the table below.

The final leg of the Trophy will be sailed on 14-15 May.