WIND'S CAPRICE IN MARMARIS

I arrive in Marmaris on Sunday, October 23rd to follow the 33rd MIYC International Race Week taking place between October 24-28.

While advancing on the road winding through the forests and chasing us towards the sea, I witness Marmaris Harbor being so crowded before a race

for the first time.

Almost all participants have their sails up and are training in the bay.

The race briefing and opening cocktail took place on the evening of the same day.

We saw that the ceremony tent, which has been the same for years, has been made more functional and more practical.

The spacious ceremony area is also properly equipped technologically.

All activities in the large area are magnified and reflected on the screens.

   

The races officially begin with the opening speech of Club President Zafer Öznur.

A large jury panel will manage the races. Can Giray heads the 22-person jury panel including 2 Chief Umpires and an international jury.

   

Giray explained all the details of the race with visual support at the briefing. p>

With this explanation, there was nothing left unclear for the racers.

   

24 OCTOBER MONDAY

In the morning, 125 boats from 25 different countries, with 1,200 participants, made their preparations on the Netsel Marina pontoons.

Among the countries, the highest participation is again from Russian teams.

The danger of Russian racers being unable to enter yacht races in previous years has long been overcome.

   

THIS TIME THE RUSSIANS ARE RACING FOR THE CUP, NOT FOR THEIR SODA

In fact, sometimes we encounter Russian races with soda in different regions from time to time that we don't see in race programs.

   

Especially in the IRC 1 and IRC 2 classes, there are very competitive domestic and foreign boats.

The teams are divided into Fleet 1 and Fleet 2 groups. Generally, they will race on different courses.

   

IS THERE A WIND PRAYER?

While everything was running smoothly, the one important thing that wasn't going well: The wind.

It looks low throughout the whole week.

   

As the Media Boat, we will follow the races of Fleet 1 group boats in the Inner Harbor.

When we went out to the course, the wind we thought was non-existent was actually there, but it's decreasing over time. Its direction is also constantly variable. 

For this reason, the race committee couldn't set the course properly.

   

OUTER HARBOR, INNER HARBOR READY FOR RACING

Today, one race is planned in the outer harbor and two races in the inner harbor. 

In Miyc Winter Trophies, the start is given at 12:00. 

The reason is that at this time the wind picks up in the region and settles in direction.

While the race started in the Outer Harbor, inside they waited until 13:06 for the wind to settle.

   

When the wind settled on the course at 8 knots from 110 degrees, operations begin.

Route: Miyc Routes ROUTE 1

IRC Classes are racing on the course with 3 consecutive starts. p>

Marmaris harbor suddenly becomes colorful.

   

There are protests in the race.

   

NEW AMBITIOUS TURKISH YACHTS

Warm-up lap for the yachts both for the race and their competitors.

Russian yachts are very ambitious. Among the Turkish yachts, there are those going out on the course for the first time, and for the third time. 

They are also seeing their yachts' performance against their competitors.

The wind continues without decreasing and finishes are being taken in the buoy race.

Some yachts cannot complete the race within the time limit.

   

The committee announces the 2nd race upon finding 12 knots of wind from 120 degrees.

The course is the same again.

At 15:30, the yachts are in the race with clean starts.

However, false starts occur in the competitive IRC 1 Classes.

   

This time, competitors are racing on the course without breaking away from their rivals.

All movements are synchronized. p>

It falls to us to view it.

   

WIND DROPS, TIME LIMIT EXTENDED

As the race progresses with dropping wind, the committee extends the time limit for IRC 3-4-5-6 Classes.

When the finishes are recorded; we see Russian sailors placing in the top positions across all classes at the end of the first day.

   

In the evening, the day’s trophies find their owners at the ceremony area and 

“Give Your Hand to Marmaris Venues”.

   

OCTOBER 25 TUESDAY

Today we are heading out to the outer harbor with Fleet 1 group.

When we leave Netsel Marina, there is no wind again. 

We pass through the strait, we’re outside. 

There’s nothing there either. 

There’s a bit of wind where the race committee is, but the rest…

   

SOLAR ECLIPSE

While waiting for the wind to arrive and settle at the start position, foreign racers are almost about to take their boats into the cave behind Abdireis Bay. 

   

The last warm days of the season and today there will be a solar eclipse.

During the previous solar eclipse, I was anchored in the same bay, what a coincidence.

   

The wind is expected to settle around 12:30 and preparations are beginning.

With the wind blowing at 6 knots from 120 degrees, the committee sends the fleet off to the course with three consecutive starts.

Route Miyc Routes ROUTE 4

Starting just above the qualifying limits, the fleet will leave 10 nautical miles in its wake as the crow flies. Triangular course.

   

After filming the starts, we are heading to buoy number 2. 

We'll meet the fleet there.

   

NEITHER COMING NOR GOING

At buoy number 2 there is no wind.

The wind is like a guardian angel around the fleet rounding buoy number 1.

   

The wind is moving forward, entering into the fleet.

Not making the fleet race, but not stopping them either.

Flat seas, slowly advancing boats that don't let go of tactics.

   

The finish line is in front of Turunç.

As most of the boats cross the finish line, we head to Fleet 2 group in the inner harbor.

They are about to finish one of the two planned races.

   

When the race finishes, the time limit comes into effect; before Fleet 2 group can complete their 2 races in the inner harbor, bows are heading to Netsel Marina.

  

COMPETITIVE BOATS ARE IMPROVING THEIR POSITIONS

The competitive boats in IRC 1 are making good use of the long course and light wind, moving up in the rankings.

   

In the evening, the day's prize-giving ceremony takes place and Marmaris evenings…

   

26 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY

Today is Coastal Race day. 

This is the most eagerly awaited day during Marmaris Race Week.

The wind's strength, direction, and conditions according to locations are anticipated.

Most of all, the Race Committee's decision is pondered.

And whether this decision is correct is awaited with curiosity.

   

Needless to say, this week the wind…

The entire fleet is off Turunç Bay for the start.

The Committee is making calculations for the race it will start with 6 starts.

Wind measurements from all locations where the race can take place are coming in to the race officer radios.

   

At this moment, the committee gathers the fleet around and invites everyone to a moment of silence in memory of the unforgettable figures of our races from previous years, Erol Metin Erdoğan and Klaus Otto, who have passed away.

The flowers thrown into the sea are for them.

After all this, the committee announces the course.

MIYC Route D

With the wind blowing from 120 degrees at 6 knots, Fleet 1 group boats start racing with 3 consecutive starts.

“Start racing” might be a bit of an overstatement; it would be more accurate to say they “started moving.”

Then the wind strength drops, the direction shifts.

The race committee stops the starts.

   

A long wait. When the wind picks up again, the course is set.

They start moving on the course with consecutive starts in 3 groups.

   

Slow tacks at Kadırga.

Those who can make the turn set course for Kızılada.

The wind slowly carries the first group toward Kızılada.

p>

   

Except for this location, all areas are with light winds.

After Kızılada, the fleet also faces the challenge of wind shift.

The first ones arriving at the finish line at the entrance of İçmeler are finishing from 18:35 onwards.

   

Finishes continue until 00:50. 

During the race, the time limit is extended twice, by 2 hours each time. 

Time limit is 08:15. 

2 boats cannot cross the finish line within this limit.

Due to the races lasting until morning, the start time of the race to be held on Day 4 is moved to 13:00 with a supplementary instruction.

   

27 OCTOBER THURSDAY

The tired committee and teams from the day before are on the course for the race to start at 13:00.

We will be following Fleet 1 group in the inner harbor.

   

THE COMMITTEE IS IN TROUBLE WITH THE WIND

The wind just won't settle, we are waiting.

The committee, remaining indecisive due to the unsettled wind, is struggling to set up the course. 

Especially the start line cannot be set until the last moment

The competition among rivals in all classes is ongoing with differences of almost one-two points.

Finally the line is ready, start procedures are being initiated.

The variable wind is initially blowing from 90 degrees at 7 Knots.

Course, Route 1 from Miyc courses

2 DIFFERENT WINDS AT THE 2 ENDS OF THE 400 METER LINE

As we approach the start moment, the first start of the 400 meter distant line will take place. 

We witness IRC1 and 2 class boats concentrating on the buoy side.

The reason; 

The variable wind blowing at 4 Knots on the committee boat side while simultaneously blowing at 9 Knots on the buoy side.

   

This crowding opens the door to mandatory contacts.

With the start movement beginning in the last seconds, we see those who execute the start from within the line, those who drop to leeward early, as well as those pushed outside the line.

The committee quickly decides to postpone.

   

CREW TRANSFER FROM BOAT TO BOAT?

As the crowded fleet tried to make a safe return for the new start, a crew transfer between FROGFOOT in IRC 1 class and Vedet Tezman's new

racing machine GIULETTA 2, helmed by Oğuz Ayan, was captured by our cameras.

   

At the start moments, the crew member trying to open the gap to save the two boats from collision was rescued by transferring to the rival boat after falling into the water.

Now he is returning to his boat.

Shortly after, preparations begin for the start that did not materialize.

   

NOT FROM THE BEGINNING, ONE MORE START

At the last moments, again the same conditions, the same positioning and scene.

And with seconds to go before the start, it is postponed again.

The wind is shifting, the committee is adjusting the start line according to the latest wind conditions and this time the “Black Flag” has been hoisted. 

The penalty is heavy, requiring careful attention.

   

Finally, with a clean start, the first groups, followed by the others, are on the course.

There is wind, the fleet is racing fiercely.

Small point differences are being exploited or attempted to be closed.

p>

These expectations also bring aggressive maneuvers.

   

UNWANTED COLLISION

And the boats LA LOBA competing in IRC 4 Class and AURA competing in IRC 1 Class collide.

As a result of the collision, the boat AURA has damage on its hull side.

Apart from material damage, no other adverse situation occurs in the accident.

   

After our interim news about this incident, it is written on social media that the damage on AURA's hull side was caused by the anchor that was not lifted on LA LOBA's bow.

However, the image we took of LA LOBA, which was berthed next to us at Netsel Marina for a week, just shortly before the accident shows that the anchor was not there.

While both boats are out of the race, the wind keeps shifting.

   

RACE AFTER RACE, ABANDONED

Concluding that this change is sufficient for the Buoy race not to continue, the committee abandons the race at 15:15.

The committee and boats are waiting again for the wind to settle…

The wind is in “Stubborn as a Mule” mode today.

And the planned race does not take place.

p>

   

RACE AFTER RACE, NO POINTS TODAY

Intense and repeated starts, fierce competitions, expectations flying over the course, yet nothing from the day is reflected in the scoring.

Wednesday's leaders are closing Thursday as leaders as well.

   

In the evening ceremony area, the trophies from Wednesday's race are finding their owners.

   

WAS IT COVID?

At the evening awards ceremony, we learn that Harika Özcamgöz, MIYC Secretary and ceremony host, has caught Covid.

For this reason, Halit Kesgin is continuing as the ceremony host..

   

OCTOBER 28, FRIDAY

Today is the Last Day of Race Week.

No wind, seas flat, smooth as glass.

Weather sites are showing it like this for the entire day.

The race time limit has already been set to 14:00.

Although the wind picks up from time to time, the direction keeps changing constantly.

The committee boat's repositioning can't break the wind's stubbornness either.

   

Rather than sitting on the media boat, we're going to the yachts by tender for the week's evaluation interviews.

Sunbathers, swimmers, people doing various water sports.

Everyone waiting for the wind.

   

   

First, we're going to the ARKAS team who are racing with their new yacht.

     

ARKAS SAILING TEAM

Serhat Altay-Tolga Yağlı

"This is our third race with this new yacht. 

The race is very enjoyable and has everything in it. 

Night-Day, Light-Moderate Conditions.

Our competitors are very good. Our team is also a new team consisting of young sailors. 

We have newly joined crew members.& p>

This way we also get to know our boat. 

We have other races after this.

We have international goals. For us, Marmaris Race Week is very good training for international races.

We always like to make it to the podium in the races we participate in. 

We are currently in third place. 

If there is a race today, we still have a chance to win."

Next, we go to the VAKKORAMA boat, which has been a regular at the Marmaris course for a long time.

Cem Hakko is lying in the cockpit with his teammates, waiting for the race to take place. 

We board the boat.

   

VAKKORAMA SAILING TEAM

CEM HAKKO

"We are having a wonderful week leading up to race days. 

This week is quite competitive and enjoyable. 

Unfortunately, we don't have much wind today, but we have plenty of sunshine. 

It's a perfect organization. It couldn't be better. 

There is competition in each category separately.

We have had a stable team of 12 people for almost five years.

During the race, this number becomes 10.

We will be at the upcoming Marmaris races with our boat. 

We'll be here again in December. After that, we're on the winter schedule. So a beautiful season awaits us." 

   

We return to our boat and it is announced as the final announcement that the race cannot be held.

The points table that emerged on Wednesday is valid for the entire week.

Poseidon didn't give a chance to those who were behind their competitors by one point on both days. 

While the final preparations for the evening are being made, we get opinions from Can Giray and Zafer Öznur at the club building.

CAN GİRAY

Principal Race Officer (PRO)

"As the meteorology reports also showed, there was quite low wind. We made our preparations accordingly. The referees under the direction of 2 chief umpires who will serve on two courses and the international jury. We had a total of 22 officials. Of course, with those who operate the boats and other support personnel, we had an official list of approximately 40 to 50 people. It is quite normal to have such a crowd in organizing such a race in Turkey's largest organization. What challenged us the most was that the wind was quite low. When the wind is very strong, we can easily conduct beautiful races comfortably, but when the winds start to drop, as umpires we have to solve various problems. This situation was the most tiring for us. Our real wish was actually to conduct all the races with very strong winds instead of solving so many problems. We successfully completed this beautiful race week with our heads held high by giving a total of 42 starts. 

Most of the crews on racing boats had come here with the prediction that they would not be able to race at all. 

However, this prediction did not come true both because the wind helped us and also because of our diligent effort to never give up the game, to stay in the game until the last minute

with our determination. 

When we hear from participants that there were great races and that for the first time in many years such an enjoyable Geographical race was held, we as referees feel happy

of course. 

I think we closed the week successfully."

ZAFER ÖZNUR

Miyc President

"We have never given a break in the races held for 33 years. 

We couldn't set up tents during the pandemic period. 

This year we set up the tent again but we organized without meals. 

I want to say that I am not happy about this. 

Because people naturally go to eat after returning from the sea. 

When they sit down to eat, lethargy sets in. 

They cannot get up from there and come to the ceremony area. 

We have already started to reevaluate this situation for next year. 

When organizing, we start our planning a year in advance.

Everything works like clockwork and finds its place in this major organization. 

But this year, when the race days arrived and we checked the weather reports, we couldn't see much wind.

Our race committee made the participants happy by using the conditions correctly, virtually creating races.

Based on the impressions I gathered from the racers, friends, and acquaintances I spoke with, I can see that everyone had adequate racing and is happy. 

We'll start preparations for the next year tomorrow morning in light of this."

In the evening, there's a visual feast in the ceremony area. All the week's visuals recorded by Ömer Şerif and his friends without catching their breath are reflected on the screens with good technology.

    

Everyone is happy, everyone is cheerful…

So what were the results when Race Week ended?