VODAFONE RED FAMOUS CUP 2016

We were in Bodrum for the Vodafone Red Famous Cup races, which has now become a traditional yacht race, on September 24-25, 2016. 30 boats participated in the races organized with Vodafone as the main sponsor, the support of Bodrum Marina Yacht Club, and race organization by BAYK.

Guest celebrities were invited aboard the competing boats at this traditional event. At this event, which also contributed to the promotion of yacht racing, celebrities who had never been on a sailing yacht in their lives also gained this experience through racing.

On the morning of September 24 at 10:00 AM, both the crews of the competing boats and their guests were present at the briefing at Marina Yacht Club. The winds that had been affecting Turkey for a few days were also showing their effect in Bodrum, and in the morning hours were even raising the risk of whether the race would be held or not. According to meteorology sites, the storm-level wind would decrease in intensity around noon. This matter was also highlighted by Chief Race Officer Ayberk Olcay at the briefing. Olcay reminded all competing boats not to enter the race course without an invitation from the race committee boat that was measuring wind on the course.

At the end of the briefing, the celebrities participating in the event met their teammates and started posing for the cameras.

Among the 30 competing boats, Levent ÖZÇELİK took his place aboard VICTORY, Berk Buğra BAHADIRLI on GIN, Burcu BİLİCİ on KARAVİDA, Özlem KAYMAZ on GARANTİ SAİLİNG-LEMON, Fulya ZENGİNER on SİNGLE STAR, Elif Ece UZUN on KUM B, Mehmet COŞKUNENİZ on SKY MARİNE AQUAVIT, Sefa YAMAK on SUNSHINE, Yonca EVCİMİK on MATADOR, Billur KALKAVAN on FORTUNA, Anıl ALTAN on MİHO, Zeynep BEŞERLER on AURORA X, Ercan İNAN on BLUE DREAMS, Bülent ÇETİNASLAN on ZAGUN, Koray BİLİCİ on MATRAK 2, Kemal UÇAR on BOREAS, Zeynep MANSUR on MAD X-YB GAYRİMENKUL, Tanem SİVAR on SHAK SHUKA, Pelin AKİL on ARES, and Uğur KURUL on PALMARİNA SAİLİNG İZMİR YELKEN as guest racers.

The competing yachts were mobilized by the call to the course made from the race committee boat, which was taking wind measurements outside. The race, scheduled to start at 12:00 according to the program, was postponed and could only begin at 13:10 due to delays in course preparation and the racing boats arriving at the start position.

While start preparations were being made, the meteorological forecasts proved accurate and the wind gradually decreased in intensity. When the start procedures began, the wind was blowing from 340 degrees at 10 knots.

The race committee gave a mass start at 13:10 for 6 boats in IRC 1 group, 6 in IRC 2, 6 in IRC 3 group, 8 in IRC 4 group, and 4 boats in the SUPPORT GROUP.

I was following the race from the broadcast boat that was carrying out the Vodafone Live broadcast, just as I did last year. I also hosted the broadcast. The race was being broadcast live on the internet with more advanced technology compared to last year. As a result of increased interest from press organizations with the participation of celebrities, many boats were capturing footage from the race. At the same time, the fleet could be tracked online through devices placed on the boats.p>

Aerial footage from drones launching at regular intervals from our boat was being reflected on the screens in real-time.

The race committee had set today's course as a bird's-eye view of 17 nautical miles, with the start off Bodrum, leaving Çelebi Island and Kargı Island to port, and finishing off Bodrum.

After a clean start with all 30 boats on the line, the vessels began racing on the course. However, as the wind gradually began to lose its strength, the spinnakers of boats that had set them were alternately filling and collapsing. The fleet, breaking apart from each other, eventually split almost in two. The leading group, when the wind completely died off Kurt Burnu, inevitably waited for the second group.

The wind that disappeared under the squall in front of Kurt Burnu was actually present off the cape, but when the racing yachts preferred a shorter route, they fell into this windless area. Although the drones launched from our race committee boat clearly showed the wind off the cape, the boats had collectively fallen into the burnt area.

Of course, not just this area, but over time the wind dropped to 3-5 knots throughout the entire course. While the rescue and referee boats were keeping watch as a precaution over the boats remaining near the rocks, the wind had already started to freshen slowly from the same direction.

This time, we witnessed tactical differences on the leg from Kurt Burnu to Çelebi Island. While one group approached Çelebi Island with tacks and windward courses, the following group reached Çelebi Island in a single run as the wind shifted to the beam.

While luck and tactical factors were influential on the course, the yacht FORTUNA retired from the race due to a malfunction in her mainsail.

The 29 boats continuing to race on the course began sailing faster with the gradually increasing wind. The wind had reached 15 knots around the Kargı Island turns. The squalls descending on the course from the Aspat direction between Çelebi Island and Kargı Island occasionally put the boats in difficult situations. These squalls also caused the spinnakers of MIHO and LADY SUN to blow out. The boats setting course for the finish at the Kargı Island turn were approaching the finish line with 15-20 knot winds and light waves. The wind occasionally reached 30 knots.

Before the wind intensity increased, the Race Committee had shortened the course by moving the finish line 1-1.5 nautical miles east from the designated position. The new line was now off Kurt Burnu. Some boats that picked up speed with the increasing wind crossed the finish line without being able to catch their rivals. The 29 boats competing in 5 groups within the race were crossing the finish line separated from each other but with a beautiful spectacle.

At the end of the 1st day geographical route race; in IRC 1 group RENAULT FARR AWAY-TEAM ÖZONUR, in IRC 2 group EASY TIGER VODAFONE, in IRC 3 group MATADOR, in IRC 4 group M2, and in SUPPORT CLASS SYMYRNA SAILING FİÇİ were the boats that left their rivals behind.

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Guests, press members and representatives of the competing yachts attended the dinner held at Marina Yacht Club.

On Sunday, September 25th, the weather would be calmer than the day before. When we went out on the course, we indeed witnessed that the conditions were more stable. Clearly, the Bodrum Course Classic would show itself until the end of the race, continuing with a gradual increase.

The guests, with the previous day's experience, had taken their places on the yachts more prepared and in higher spirits. In the races, Vodafone was having the celebrities compete with the racing photos they took, just like last year. The photos were published on social media, and rankings were determined according to the likes they received. In other words, the racers' job was to race, and the celebrities' job was to increase their number of likes with the photos they took.

While the start scheduled for 12:00 was given at 12:20, the wind was blowing from 310 degrees at 8-12 knots. Again, the "Yankee" flag hoisted on the committee boat indicated the mandatory requirement for competitors to wear life jackets.

The race committee had set a 17 nautical mile course as the crow flies today, with a start near Kurt Burnu, leaving Çelebi and Kara Islands to port, and finishing off Bodrum.

The boats that started racing with a clean fleet start, in complete contrast to yesterday's race, quickly passed Kurt Burnu and headed towards Çelebi Island. As Çelebi Island was being rounded, the rankings in the groups had already begun to become clear. RENAULT FARR AWAY-TEAM ÖZONUR was well ahead of their competitors by a wide margin. The boats that set course to the south of Kara Island at Çelebi Island continued their sail almost on a single tack downwind. The wind had now increased to 15 knots, further accelerating the boats. Meanwhile, the boats began to separate considerably from each other.

The group battles became more evident when returning to Bodrum from the east of Kara Ada. With the increasing wind strength, the boats were rushing to the finish line with tight upwind sailing. Meanwhile, the formation of waves provided us with beautiful images to capture.

At the end of the 2nd day geographical route race; in IRC 1 group RENAULT FARR AWAY-TEAM ÖZONUR, in IRC 2 group KUM B, in IRC 3 group MATADOR, in IRC 4 group BLUES 1-ÇORLU SAILING TEAM and in SUPPORT CLASS SYMYRNA SAILING FIÇI were the boats that left their competitors behind.

At the award ceremony held at Bodrum Marina Yacht Club in the evening;

In IRC 1 group RENAULT FARR AWAY-TEAM ÖZONUR,

In IRC 2 group KUM B,

In IRC 3 group MATADOR,

In IRC 4 group BLUES 1-ÇORLU SAILING TEAM and

In SUPPORT CLASS SYMYRNA SAILING FIÇI

were the teams receiving the trophies.

According to the reports received at the end of the race, the live broadcast we conducted over 2 days was watched by 5 million people. The instant communication average was 30,000.

Meanwhile, the yacht ARES was selected as the most social boat, breaking like records.