Bad Weather Defeats Committee in Bodrum Regatta

We were in Bodrum on January 14-15 to follow the 2017 CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy 1st Leg Races, organized by BAYK with CFM sponsorship.

During the days when winter weather conditions prevailed, the Bodrum Region was also under the harshest conditions.

Teams competing on 48 boats from Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Marmaris, Çorlu, Mersin, Çeşme and many different regions gathered in Bodrum from Friday, January 13.

New boats, new team combinations, new equipment, new sponsorships and new sails were ready for the trophy.

On the morning of January 14, there was a real crowd at the briefing at Marina Yacht Club. Course rivals who missed each other were catching up.

After BAYK Commodore Ömer KARACALAR welcomed all competitors, he invited them to the Opening Cocktail to be held at the same venue in the evening.

Chief Umpire Hulki ORUZ began his words by complaining about the weather. He explained that uncertain conditions create uncertainties. He spoke about the importance of safety rules and what needs to be done, and described the races they planned for this leg.

The committee went out to the course before the fleet. The weather was really going to play games on both days. While the Race Committee was taking measurements on the course, they did not invite the fleet to the course as the measurements were above the race safety limit thresholds.

Finally, the committee, witnessing that conditions were more favorable, called the fleet to the waters off Bodrum.

While the boats were waiting next to the committee boat for the race to start, the fleet was sent back to the marina due to an incoming severe front. Meanwhile, the optimists were training at Karaada location.

The marina organization showed no disruption during the departure of 48 boats from Milta Marina, their return and mooring.

At 13:50 the fleet was invited to the course again. A course was announced with an upwind start off Bodrum, first upwind, then with an offset mark turn due west with a Çelebi Island turn.

The first start was given to IRC B and Support Classes. Then IRC A classes also made their starts and headed towards the windward mark. The windward mark was rounded but the announced offset mark was not in its place.

As the fleet completed the buoy turns and headed towards Kurt Burnu, the wind had already started to increase and the waves began to grow.

DERE CONSTRUCTION-ANYTHING and ARKAS-FLAYING BOX boats were leading at the front of the fleet. As the wind intensified, MADX-FRANTAL STUDIOS tore their spinnaker and experienced difficult moments, while Bodrum Sea rescue boats were immediately alongside them. MADX-FRANTAL STUDIOS continued racing.

On the Kurt Burnu-Çelebi Island leg, when the cape was rounded, the wind and waves decreased as they came under the lee. However, at the Çelebi Island turn, the MERSİN YELKEN AKADEMİSİ boat ran aground in shallow waters.

Again with Bodrum Sea Rescue and 2 Coast Guard boats that intervened immediately, the rescue was successful and the boat continued sailing safely without damage.

On the return, the waves grew significantly off Kurt Point and the boats appeared sometimes submerged in the water, sometimes on top of the water.

Since the IRC Certificates had not yet been issued, the rankings were made provisionally by taking finish times at the end of the race.

In the evening at the Trophy Opening Cocktail at Marina Yacht Club, Sponsor CFM Board Chairman Cem ÖZDEMİR presented gifts to the competitors determined by draw.

At the briefing on the morning of January 15, Chief Race Officer Hulki ORUZ said that weather conditions would not be different from yesterday. And he said gentlemanly; "We apologize for our mistakes in setting the course during yesterday's race, and thank you for your understanding. It will not happen again."

When the course was started, it was announced to all groups that there would be a geographical route race towards Kıstak Island. The starting order was the same as the day before. The wind was blowing at 5-7 knots.

After the start of IRC B and Support groups, the second start was given to IRC A groups. Four boats had false starts. However, one of them restarted and joined the race. The other three entered the competition unaware of their false starts.

While the second group was catching up to the first group, the wind died near Tavşan Burnu. ARKAS-FLYING BOX, running faster than the fleet, kept pulling ahead repeatedly, but the fleet was catching up to her as she was stuck due to the lack of wind.

Those who caught light wind in local areas were accelerating individually. All these moments were only useful to those in the viewing area like us.

At 13:17, 65 minutes after the finish, the Race Committee declared Abandon for IRC Group A and recalled these boats. While the Race Committee declared Abandon due to insufficient wind, it became a matter of curiosity how the IRC B and Support classes, which are slower than IRC A, would complete the race. At the same time, with this decision, 3 boats that had a false start and did not restart became the luckiest boats of the group.

When IRC Group A reached off Bodrum, the wind had freshened. The Race Committee announced that a buoy race would be held for this group and procedures began.

LEMON and RAIN-SAILING LIFE ACADEMY announced they would not be able to participate in the race. While the buoy race was being set, the wind was blowing from 250 degrees at 8-10 knots.

In the 2-lap race, while the first buoys were being rounded, the wind was shifting direction. For this reason, the downwind buoy became an upwind buoy over time and the race was completed.

While IRC B and SUPPORT classes, which had been dominant since the start of the race, were trying to complete the race with; one step forward, wait for them to catch up, a bit of wind, come on, go, wait, let them catch up, the race committee shortened the course by moving the finish lines in front of Tavşan Burnu and the competitors completed the struggle with a big sigh of relief.

You can find different visuals and Technical Details of the race in the February issue of YELKEN DÜNYASI.