Marmaris Trophy Racing Kicks Off with Fast Start

The first leg of the trophy will be raced on January 21-22. 

We are in Marmaris on Friday, January 20.

The day when the wind is most effective in the region. 

A southwesterly wind that never ends, not giving way to the race.

In the evening, all participants meet at the MIYC Facilities for the opening party. 

33 boats have registered, there are 275 licensed sailors.

Longing is relieved.

“There is no trace of the rain and cold experienced every year in the first leg” we say, while the clouds come down as heavy rain over Marmaris in the evening hours.

This place, like other parts of our country, has been longing for rain for a long time. 

A brief relief of longing until morning.

JANUARY 21, SATURDAY

In the morning, due to the evening's effect, there is drizzle, that's all.

Meteorology sites are providing very different wind forecasts for the days the race will take place. Let's see which ones will be accurate.

We are going to the briefing with these thoughts.

BRIEFING

Those who made it to the race at the last minute this morning are also here. It's quite crowded.

Chief Umpire Can Giray is blowing the first whistle of the Winter trophy. 

This whistle is for the briefing.

CAN GİRAY

“While we improve our limits and service quality every year, starting the first leg with 33 boats makes us happy. 

According to classes, there are seven IRC-0, seven IRC-1, six IRC-2, seven IRC-3 and six IRC-4 boats.

The fleet will race on the course with two starts in all races.

STICKERS CAN BE CHECKED

Two Stickers will be given to all boats. 

These are stickers that determine the verified boat weight and sail. They will be on the boat and sail. 

They will be used in case of possible protests.

ONLINE NOTICE BOARD

We are conducting all procedures using the Online Notice Board. 

It is possible to access announcements, courses, crew changes, and results from smartphones and tablets.

The fleet is getting faster and faster. For this reason, we have also developed our rules for those who want to make an aggressive start."

GENERAL RECALL OR BLACK FLAG?

If necessary, we will implement General Recall or Black Flag."

Since there are foreign racers among the participants, the same briefing is conducted for them as well.

MARMARIS CLASSIC ON THE COURSE

When we went out on the course, the sea was completely flat. There is a light wind from the north, that's all.

There is no possibility for the start planned at 12:00 to take place.

Neither the strength nor the direction of the wind is clear at all.

As time progresses, the wind first starts to blow from the south.

Then it strengthens.

The committee prepares and announces the course without wasting time.

Route 5 from MIYC Routes will be sailed.

At this time, the wind is blowing from 135 degrees at 15-17 knots.

At 12:50, IRC 0-1, and at 12:55, IRC 2-3-4 complete their starts and begin racing on the course.

All teams are cautious at the start. 

In fact, the caution is somewhat exaggerated, even crossing the start line late.

On a cloudy course where the sun appears and disappears, eternal rivals are resetting last year's results and racing for the 2023 Winter Trophy.

1925 GÖZTEPE ON THE COURSE

New, fast boats are drawing attention. 

One of them is 1925 GÖZTEPE YELKEN racing in IRC O.

LITTLE CLAVELLA AMONG THE BIG BROTHERS

Dutch regular of race weeks Leo Kolff has come from Göcek, racing with his boat CLAVELLA in IRC 4 Class.

From time to time, he struggles while squeezed between the big boats.

In the first race, we witness a tight competition in all classes. EKER 40 starts the race very fast and steady.

The first ones to pass the turning buoy are EKER 40, MATRAK 2, VAKKORAMA, 1925 GÖZTEPE YELKEN.

At this position, although the wind drops to 13 knots for a moment, it rises again afterwards.

In the first race, the crews are testing their boats, teams, and competitors.

It wouldn't be a lie to say that a relentless race is taking place with the power of the wind.

When the boats complete both laps and finishes are recorded:

WIND CONTINUES AS IS

Would the committee miss this opportunity having found a steady wind?

They immediately announce the 2nd race of the day.

It's as if litmus paper has been placed in between.

The wind is blowing from 135 degrees at 17-19 knots.

The course?

Same, Course 5

At 14:30, IRC 0-1 classes, and at 14:35, IRC 2-3-4 classes are executing their starts.

In IRC 0, EKER 40, in IRC 2, AVOLARE, and in IRC 3, COREDON CHEESE are competing to maintain their class leadership.

In IRC 0 class, 1925 GÖZTEPE YELKEN is increasing its speed in this race, while MATRAK 2 and VAKKORAMA continue their consistent competition.

At the turning buoy, the wind drops to 7-8 knots.

At other locations on the course, the wind remains quite good.

The yachts are completing their finishes without any change in wind direction and without losing much of its strength, just as the race started.

At the end of the 2nd race of the day;

GRILLED MEATBALLS IN THE EVENING

There is a barbecue party at Miyc facilities in the evening.

Commodore Zafer Öznur welcomes all racers and delivers his speech wishing for the trophy to pass accident-free and sportsmanlike.

MAY 14 TROPHY FINAL LEG. WHAT IF THERE'S AN ELECTION?

Meanwhile, since the 6th and final leg of the MIYC Winter Trophy falls on May 14th, if the election date is confirmed for that day, the necessary changes will be made,

he says.

TRANSLATOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR THIS COURSE

The club, also taking Russian racers into consideration, translates the speeches into Russian with a translator.

The quite crowded party continues until late hours.

As we said, everyone has missed Marmaris, the race, and friendships.

JANUARY 22.SUNDAY

We wake up to a partly cloudy Marmaris in the morning. There's sun but no wind.

I find the red boat that caught our attention in the previous day's race, the boat in which the women's team competed.

On the hull of the boat it says “We Set Sail for the Future”, in big letters.

The team is preparing for the day's race. 

THIS BOAT SETS SAIL FOR THE FUTURE

Tactician Murat Tan, officials from sponsor company KOTEX are working hard to make everything perfect.

While our cameras are recording, Murat Tan explains the project, the team and their goals.

“Daughters of the Republic, KOTEX “We Set Sail for the Future” We are racing in IRC-1 Class aboard S/Y YOGI BEAR with this slogan.

We formed a team that includes even those who are encountering the sea for the first time from different regions of Turkey. 

On October 29, 2023, exactly 100 women will have taken part in this project. Our goal with KOTEX is big.

They will race in different locations throughout Turkey. 

We will continue the Miyc Winter Trophy to the end. 

We chose Marmaris for its wind, geography and people.

In this leg, our team consists of seven people. 

They came to Marmaris from Tunceli, Şırnak, Kayseri, Tokat, and İzmir.”

THE COURSE AWAITS US

We will head out to sea with the Media boat for the final day race.

We will head out, but there's not much movement among the racers on the pontoons.

Because there's no wind yet.

Shortly after, the flags start to flutter, and the engines start running.

There's wind on the course, then there isn't. This is the classic Marmaris tease, it will blow.

And it starts to blow. Again coming from 135 degrees and around 7-8 Knots.

GEOGRAPHICAL ROUTE

The committee announces MIYC Route 1 A for the day's single race.

Geographical Route. Exit from the inner harbor and round Kargataşı Island.

Wishes: that the wind remains at least like this in all positions.

After the start, first a windward mark will be rounded.

At 12:40 IRC 0-1, at 12:45 IRC 2-3-4 execute their starts. There are false starts.

Aman Umman, watch out Karabacak.

We are coming to the Marmaris exit mouth with the engine after the 2nd Start, when we encounter the first group rounding the buoy.

THIS STRAIT IS DIFFERENT

The Strait, at the İçmeler mouth the wind is steady.

While some boats slowly hold the helm on a single tack to Kargataşı Island, they generally proceed with tacks.

The wind, which drops to 12 Knots at the harbor mouth, is at 4 Knots at the Kargataşı turn.

ARE THE RANKINGS CHANGING?

Today VAKKORAMA is always in front. She is the first to round the Island, albeit slowly. EKER 40 is behind with a bit of a gap. 

Island roundings are one by one. 

After WINGS RACING and MATRAK 2 also pass, double and triple rounding battles begin at this mark.

IT'S TIME FOR SPINNAKERS

The spinnakers set while rounding the Island carry the boats first into the harbor and then to the finish line in front of Marmaris castle.

As the wind slightly decreases outside, the committee extends the time limit.

However, the boats find good finishing wind in the inner harbor and meet the finish line within the first time limit. 

When all finishes are taken;

IT'S CLEAR; THE COMPETITION IS EVEN FASTER THIS YEAR

After 2 completed legs of the MIYC Winter Trophy; we witness that the competition will be faster this year.

The fast boats that chose this course to race are satisfied after two full racing days.

In IRC 1 class, the competition between STRAKOZA and VMG YELKEN, 

In IRC 2, AVOLARE and NISSAN FIFTY FIFTY, 

In IRC 3, the in-group competition between COREDON CHEESE and ADA SAILOR draws attention in the first leg. 

It seems it will continue until the end of the Trophy.

A GOOD LEG

As a leg ends where the wind contributed to the realization of the race, there was no cold, the sun generally illuminated the course, on correct routes, the participants will count down the days to the 2nd Trophy Leg appointment. 

Let's meet in Marmaris on 11-12 February.