J/70 Fleet Arrives: One-Design Racing Excellence Comes to Turkish Waters

The Marmaris course, where the Miyc Campus Cup races took place last week, was waiting for sailors this weekend without slowing down for the 4th Leg of the traditional Ergo-Miyc Winter Trophy.

J 70s ON THE MARMARIS COURSE

The event had already started a day before the race to be held on April 7-8.

The guests of the dynamic Marmaris Course this time were the new J 70 class.

These class boats have four sailors each and they hold races during the day as much as possible. 

Racing with British-designed fast performance boats, experiencing the race is very beautiful and enjoyable as far as we follow. 

The dynamic fleet consisting of 5 boats held their first races in Bodrum earlier this year. 

Now they are in Marmaris. They are racing here on April 7-8-9. Next month they will race in Göcek, and in August in Turgutreis. 

All legs are held with 3-day races.

The final races will last 4 days under the name "Turkish Championship" and will be held in Bozburun in September.

POSEIDON'S FAVOR TO MARMARIS

For sailing, a sport that conducts its activities depending on meteorological conditions, the Marmaris course where the races would be held seemed suitable for racing in terms of weather conditions. 

While writing about Poseidon's positive approach to Marmaris, I'm also biting my tongue so it doesn't get jinxed in the final legs.

The J 70s are holding 4 races on Friday, April 6th. Now, it's the turn for the inside race with the trophy.

On Saturday, April 7th, the weather is sunny and pleasant, and the wind has started early, which is absolutely delightful.

WHAT SCARED THEM, THE WHISTLE?

Under these conditions, we enter the briefing. There are veteran names from Turkey's racing community. 

Chief Race Officer Can GİRAY starts the briefing with a powerful whistle. A constant warning; "Could you come closer, please?" 

When no one approaches, 

"I'll come then." 

The participants found the whistle decibel level too high

The briefing of this gentlemanly sport also begins with witticisms in these lands.

Ambitions are tempered, competition within the bounds of measured rivalry.

CAN GİRAY

"We are having a good season. With the help of the wind, we have come to this day by completing all the planned races. 

The leaders of the trophy are starting to become clear with temporary scores. The final legs are starting to become important for you.

In this leg, the J 70 class boats, which have been declared as a new class by the Turkish Sailing Federation, are also with us.

This class will race on the same course with the trophy boats.

Today, if conditions are suitable for IRC boats, we will try the F-3 route from the long Miyc Routes that we will apply for the first time. 

We are taking wind measurements on the wide course. The J 70 Class will run on the R 3 route from Miyc Routes.

Our start lines are the same.

Complicated races are being held in Marmaris and it makes us happy.” 

BUSTLING COURSE

Now the course. The course is crowded. The wind is perfect, there are even small waves inside Marmaris Harbor. 

The J 70s will race inside the bay. The Winter Trophy regulars will run on a route of approximately 12 nautical miles. Windward Buoy, Goat Island, return Buoy and Crow Rock Island.

The committee wants the hulls of the boats to lick all the waters of Marmaris.

ANADOLU AGENCY CELEBRATED ITS 98TH ANNIVERSARY ON THE MARMARIS COURSE AS WELL

MIYC races and events are receiving great interest from Anadolu Agency, whose 98th anniversary is today. The racers are celebrating this day with a banner they opened.

While the wind is blowing from 135 degrees at 13-15 knots, it is at 8-11 knots level when the start procedures begin. Yankee(Y) flag is hoisted; life jackets are mandatory.

The windward mark set at 135 degrees is at a distance of 0.8 Nautical Miles.

At 11:35, IRC 1 and 2 start, at 11:40 IRC 3 and 4 start.

The last start is given to the J 70 class consisting of 5 boats.

The competition in this class is breathtaking. Everything can change until the last moment. 

In this nose-to-nose, side-by-side competition, there is no breaking away or falling behind. 

The experts and veterans of their field are already on the boats.

The wind is strong, IRC boats round the windward mark very quickly and set course towards İçmeler. 

While crossing between Dar Keçi Island and the mainland with frequent tacks to reach the turning buoy in open water, the boats have become considerably separated from each other.

Today racing in IRC 1, GOBLIN 3-ONE CAR is rounding Karga Taşı Island well ahead of its competitors.

Individual performances with spinnaker are being displayed between the turning buoy and Karga Taşı.

The wind is alternately decreasing and strengthening.

As the fleet enters Marmaris Bay, the wind is decreasing but not dying out. Seizing this opportunity, the Race Committee has hoisted the Line flag and is announcing that there will be a 2nd race of the day for IRC boats.

When the J 70 class finishes their race, other races start on the same course and it continues like this.

When the finishes are taken,

In IRC 1, GOBLIN 3-ONE CAR (Aslan Kaan İş)

In IRC 2, HAYTA (Zafer ÖZNUR)

In IRC 3, KAYK APAZ-KÖMÜRCÜOĞLU (Doğukan KANDEMİR)

In IRC 4, CLAVELLA (Leo KOLFF)

Are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

MAY GOD NOT LET ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO RACE FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THIS COMMITTEE

The race committee will have the IRC boats, racing on a long geographical course in the 1st race, do the 2nd race. 

But the finishes just don't materialize. 

The committee finds the solution by starting the start procedures for the class that has finished. Quick decision, right move; the goal is to run races. 

“Let me wait for them to come, let me see the wind direction first” doesn't exist on this course. 

Fast, aggressive and correct (If I jinx it, they'll hang me too).

The IRC boats will sail the R 3 course from the MIYC Routes.

The wind is blowing at 13 knots from 134 degrees. 

This year we have an abundance of Lodos wind, thank God. 

If you say 134 degrees doesn't count as lodos, this is how the entrance to the Marmaris course is with Lodos. 

It has been like this for centuries, it's not possible to change it. Otherwise, we'll break you.

IRC 1s start at 15:05, IRC 2s at 15:10, and IRC 3s and 4s at 15:30. 

The wind is increasing its strength but decreasing towards the end. Competition within the fleet and classes is at the usual level. Even though newcomers to the boats disrupt the race work, not much changes. There's no luck in the results.

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

In IRC 1, GOBLIN 3-ONE CAR (Aslan Kaan İş)

In IRC 2, İZMİR YELKEN AKADEMİSİ (Kaan ÖZGÖNENÇ)

In IRC 3, KAYK APAZ-KÖMÜRCÜOĞLU (Doğukan KANDEMİR)

In IRC 4, CLAVELLA (Leo KOLFF)

Are the boats that leave their competitors behind.

THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN MARMARİS, IT SHOULDN'T!

In the evening, Beer-Fish duo at the club facilities. 

This hospitality tradition never changes, it's appreciated. 

After meals are eaten accompanied by the day's race photos, it's time for the ERGO-MIYC Winter Trophy 3rd Leg race awards.

3. While the boats that earned 3rd place are receiving their trophies, I notice that one or two boats don't even show up to collect their cups.

The announcements go unanswered. It's a sad situation. 

In my opinion, these races are a ritual. From registration, to briefing, to racing, and to the trophy ceremony.

I recall scenes from some races where the big bosses send their crew members in flip-flops to the ceremony to collect their trophies.

On one side, teams collecting their trophies with the same seriousness regardless of their placement, with exemplary attire and ceremony etiquette befitting the sport of sailing...

This would never happen in Marmaris.

MARMARIS IS SILENT

On Sunday morning, April 9th, we woke up, but Marmaris was still asleep. The sea is silent, birds are dancing in the skies.

The wind seemed light, but this committee is very lucky.

Wind greets us on the course. There will be racing. 

Single race for IRC. 

COMMITTEE MUST CONSIDER R-3 COURSE IN ITS POPULATION

The committee announces that all classes will race the R-3 course from the MIYC Courses.

Wind is blowing from 134 degrees at 14 knots. Windward mark distance is 1.5 nautical miles. All classes will complete the course in 2 laps.

First start is the J 70 class. TYF Yacht Class President Ahmet EKER is filming and recording this class's race with a drone.

Alp DOĞULU is at the helm. These are beautiful images for the sport of sailing.

At 11:45 IRC 1 and 2, at 11:50 IRC 3 and 4 are making the last start of the 4th Leg.

A congestion occurs near the committee boat at the IRC 1 class start. Collision is prevented at the last moment. 

İZMİR YELKEN, helmed by Kaan ÖZGÖNENÇ, is filing a protest against ALEXANDRA, helmed by Bülent GÖRGÜN, racing in IRC 1.

The entire fleet is racing on the R 3 course with beautiful winds. All classes are intermingled. Truly beautiful images.

Those climbing upwind, those rounding the mark, those trying to keep the spinnaker filled, and the J 70s.

THANK GOD OUR SAFETY IS SECURE!

Meanwhile, an announcement from the committee boat; 

“Attention racing yachts; 

Do not approach too close to the Coast Guard pier during your navigation” 

In previous legs, there had been a warning from the Coast Guard regarding racing yachts saluting their flags before and after the race.

This morning, while flying the drone to capture aerial shots of Marmaris, when we received warnings from a Marmaris Municipality cleaning officer and a private security guard saying

“Did you get permission from the police to fly this device?”

we were assured that our security is impeccable, thank goodness.

As the fleet approaches the finish with spinnakers, a ferry dives through between the racing boats. No Coast Guard here. Colorful scenes.

Meanwhile the wind is increasing. Rain is expected in the area. Thunder. It rained, it will rain.

It's evening hours in Turunç as I write this, no sign of rain.

At the end of the race;

In IRC 1 GOBLIN 3-ONE CAR (Aslan Kaan İş)

In IRC 2 HAYTA (Zafer ÖZNUR)

In IRC 3 BOOMERANG-UK SAILS (Serdar ŞAHİN)

In IRC 4 CLAVELLA (Leo KOLFF)

Boats are leaving their competitors behind.

IF YOU HADN'T FILED THE PROTEST, YOU WOULD HAVE MADE IT

While the fleet is heading to Netsel Marina, the J 70s are still racing.

Following the protest filed by İZMİR YELKEN against ALEXSANRA, ALEXSANDRA is DSQ.

Kaan ÖZGÖNENÇ, who is in the protest hearing, arrives late to his son UTKU's first birthday party, who is turning one.

When the 4th Leg of the 6-Leg ERGO-MIYC Winter Trophy was completed, in the overall results,

In IRC 1, GOBLIN 3-ONE CAR (Aslan Kaan İş)

In IRC 2, HAYTA (Zafer ÖZNUR)

In IRC 3, KAYK APAZ-KÖMÜRCÜOĞLU (Doğukan KANDEMİR)

In IRC 4, CLAVELLA (Leo KOLFF)

Will enter the 5th Leg as the leading boats of their classes.

The ERGO MIYC 5th Leg races will take place on April 28-29. 

Our race reports will also take a break until this date. 

Devlet Tiyatroları is calling Ankara to its own course.

But I filmed Çeşme Dalyankö, next Sunday, I will share its report with you.

Stay healthy.