The Curtain Rises in Bodrum

I arrived in Bodrum on Friday, like many participants, for the popular winter trophy yacht racing course.

Weather mild enough to rival spring was saying "Welcome".

Bodrum Offshore Sailing Club's (BAYK) classic trophy will start the competition, excitement, and surprises with tomorrow's whistle.

Starting in January, a total of 7 legs will take place until the end of May.

CONTINUING WITHOUT SPONSORS

BAYK, which generally doesn't suffer from sponsor shortages for many organizations, will continue the journey alone in this trophy.

It's a difficult period for BAYK, which has signed on to major organizations.

Its biggest supporter is Milta Bodrum Marina.

FULL SUPPORT FROM MILTA BODRUM MARINA

The marina has offered significant discounts on long-term stays for racing boats, in addition to complimentary hospitality on race days. 

At the same time, it has created surprise campaigns for haulouts. 

The Cafeteria at the lighthouse location within the marina and the PIER facilities will also host the organization.

The skilled Bodrum Sea Rescue team within its structure will continue on duty to ensure the safety of the races.

19 JANUARY SATURDAY

We wake up to a cloudy day in Bodrum where the sun shows itself. 

The wind is on and off. The weather can't make up its mind, as if asking, "Which costume should I wear, how should I do my makeup?"

The first briefing starts with this uncertainty at PIER .

THE COMMODORE'S WISHES AND HOPES

The microphone is with Commodore Rıza EPİKMEN.

He gives the participants a warm, sincere welcome and lists his wishes. 

When I say lists, not pages and pages. 

Epikmen mentions the wind's mischief during last year's trophy and wishes for the wind to be on their side this year. 

He announces that they started the Trophy with 41 boats.

After thanking Milta Bodrum Marina for their contribution and support, he hands over the floor to the chief referee.

WELCOME OVERALL 

Chief Referee Ayberk OLCAY begins his words by announcing that the Overall application will be implemented in the BAYK 2019 winter races.

He also states that IRC certificates that are not ready until today must be completed by the 2nd Leg.

Due to the IRC certificates not being ready, the races in this leg will be conducted in 3 groups. 

The results will be finalized when the IRC certificates arrive. 

As is the case at the beginning of every year.

Olcay requests being on the course on time during the races, while also adding to his words that they will never compromise on safety and security.

At the same time, he makes an interesting announcement. 

He announces the results of a research conducted by the General Directorate of State Meteorological Affairs for the Bodrum Region; 

Of all forecasts made within 8 months, only thirty percent were accurate. So seventy percent, whoosh...

He continues;

“For this reason, everything will be determined on the course. 

We will conduct fair races according to the conditions without compromising safety and security. 

We want to have plenty of racing.” 

41 BEAUTIES ON THE COURSE, BLESSINGS 41 TIMES

When the boats departing from Milta Bodrum Marina gathered around the committee boat, hearts wished for a trouble-free, joyful start to a trophy race. 

When 41 boats of different sizes and different characteristics took their places on the course, they first see that the Yankee Flag (mandatory use of personal flotation devices) is hoisted on the committee boat.

IRC B AND SUPPORT GEOGRAPHICAL ROUTE

The announced route for IRC B and SUPPORT classes; ROUTE 2.

Start-Karaada to Starboard_-Kıstak Island to Starboard-Karaada to Starboard -Finish at the Start line position. 

Approximately 18 nautical miles will be raced.

SUPPORT and IRC B classes will start with 5 minutes interval and race on the same Geographical route.

IRC A classes will have a buoy race.

Wind varies between 90-120 degrees, blowing between 7-8 knots.

In the SUPPORT class, which makes the first start, we witness scenes far from competition. Yet we had heard the first whistle of the trophy.

After the start of IRC B classes, both classes head towards Kıstak Island. After rounding Karaada, the wind drops.

IRC A CLASSES IN BUOY RACE

After the first 2 starts, IRC A class buoy race preparations begin.

Wind is blowing from 120 degrees at 7-8 knots. 

They will race 2 laps to the offset buoy at a distance of 1.7 nautical miles at 120 degrees.

After the race starts, the wind begins both to drop and to shift direction.

The changes that initially occurred smoothly show greater differences as time passes.

Especially serious deviations begin in wind direction. 

Having boats with very different performances in the same class on the leg being raced also puts the committee in a difficult position. 

The fast ones round the buoy in an instant. Even when the wind shifts, the committee exerts abnormal effort to make changes to the buoys.

While we listen to both the race and committee channels on the radio, we witness their efforts and struggles.

We witness the buoys being anchored at the appropriate angle within a very short time while the fleet leader rounds the buoys and races toward the buoy that needs to be changed again.

When we arrive at the start-finish position from the buoys with the press boat while the race continues, we also see how severe the wind is here.

In other words, the turning buoys remained under the known eaves of Karaada and the wind is indecisive here. Naturally, it puts the committee in a difficult situation.

Flawless finishes are being taken.

Meanwhile, since the southwesterly wind shows its effect outside, IRC B and SUPPORT classes tacking in front of Kıstak Island start racing rapidly to the finish behind Karaada.

ANOTHER BUOY RACE? GOD FORBID. 

GIVE US THE GEOGRAPHICAL.

The committee announces they are abandoning the buoy race for IRC A class and will take advantage of the increasing wind to run Geographical Route 4.

When all preparations are completed and very little time remains until the start, they announce that the Route will be run as ROUTE 3.

The reason given; a dive boat has anchored at the position of the cardinal buoys which includes a conditional passage in ROUTE 4. 

To eliminate potential conflicts with this boat and divers at the conditional passage position, it is announced that ROUTE 3 will be run.

Similar route with no conditional passage and similar to ROUTE 4. 

The fleet will round one windward buoy, then round Çelebi Island and come to the finish. Approximately 19 nautical miles.

After the start is executed, with the effect of increasing wind, the fleet rapidly begins to leave the course in their wake.

Meanwhile, IRC B and SUPPORT group boats are also slowly coming to the finish.

At the finish line, the committee positions the committee boat in the middle and takes the finishes of IRC A and IRC B-SUPPORT classes according to the buoys deployed to port and starboard.

ONE RACE, 2 FINISHES

Meanwhile, KONTIKI, confusing the finish line, first crosses the finish line of the other classes. 

Realizing the situation, compensates and also crosses their own line. 

Finishes continue until late hours. 

Meanwhile, the hearing of a submitted protest is postponed until morning.

SUNSET AT THE PIER - COCKTAIL AT SUNSET

As the sun moves away behind Kos Island, the reflections on the clouds offer every tone of color to the guests.

A refined atmosphere at the PIER, excellent service, racers who have released all their tensions to the seas.

What more could you want.

Tomorrow is another day. The meteorology is not very encouraging.

Never mind, they weren't accurate anyway, whatever comes our way.

20 JANUARY SUNDAY

THIS BODRUM IS A DIFFERENT BODRUM

The night hasn't remained idle, it has gathered clouds above us.

As if that weren't enough, it has also invited the wind, and a strong one at that.

We woke up in the morning to a different Bodrum.

We entered the briefing, the committee doesn't know what to say.

Whichever meteorology station you look at, different forecasts.

Come on guys, which one of you is right.

It's going to be mixed up, I guess.

WHAT CAN'T BE DONE WITH 400 TL?

There is a protest hearing at the BAYK Office at 09:30.

Yesterday there were 3 protest attempts.

One submitted it, the hearing will take place.

One didn't even come to the office.

One came, when he heard that the protest fee was 400 TL...

At the end of the hearing, the protest was rejected due to a protest application error.

The repeated warnings of the arbitrators, our articles in which we explained the matter repeatedly.

It's probably being saved to the cloud.

POSEIDON'S CHIEF ARBITRATOR IS UPSET

Chief Arbitrator Ayberk OLCAY is obviously upset with the meteorology.

He starts the briefing with these statements;

“A difficult day for all of us.

We haven't decided on anything yet.

We could have acted differently in these conditions.

We want to see the meteorological conditions on the course and apply a geographical route.

“Let's not race on the course in different equipment without being declared.

Life jackets should not be worn underneath.

TYF has left the monitoring of advertising principles to the control of race committees.

For your information.”

BURÇIN HAZARHUN'S DAY

Once the fleet exits Milta Bodrum Marina and passes the breakwater, the waves start coming.

The committee has positioned itself in relatively calm waters in front of İçmeler.

When the entire fleet came alongside the committee boat, Bayc Commodore Rıza EPİKMEN invites the fleet to a moment of silence for Burçin HAZARHUN, whom we lost in a massive accident on a similar day on this course.

A meaningful day, meaningful moments. 

A sailor of many years, the day the eternal blues claimed our veteran. 

Similar harshness, same coldness. 

May your soul rest in peace. 

YANKEE UPON YANKEE

Yankee flag at the mast. 

Wind from 120 degrees over 10 knots when preparations begin.

Increasing its strength as the start moments approach.

SUPPORT Class will race on ROUTE 3. 

First start is theirs.

But they are very, very slow. Far from the start line. 

The first to cross the line after the whistle blows manages to do so 40 seconds later.

Meanwhile, the wind keeps increasing. Already reached 20 knots. Lambs have intensified.

One boat getting caught on the start buoy extends the operations somewhat.

Then IRC B and IRC A are on the course.

They will round the turning mark, pass conditionally between the cardinal lights, round Çelebi Island, and come to the finish line without conditional passages.

Routes are approximately 19 nautical miles in distance.

BOREAS-AQUAVIT GET WELL SOON

BOREAS and AQUAVIT collide at the turning buoy position.

Following the collision, the boats abandon the race and return to the marina due to their damages.

As the buoy turns are completed and the course to Çelebi Island is set, the wind has significantly increased its strength.

While running downwind, some boats deploy their spinnakers while most do not.

SOME DEPLOY SPINNAKERS, SOME DON'T

As the waves begin to build, the challenging race starts offering beautiful images to our lenses. 

The harsh conditions virtually become a test of the boats and their crews at the beginning of the season.

Meanwhile, BAYDENİZ announces they are retiring from the race due to technical reasons.

ELELE BOAT NEARLY SINKS

In these conditions, the ELELE boat, which enables us to follow the race, is among the waves. 

From time to time, waters enter from one side and drain from the other.

This is the Bodrum reality; 

Fitting all seasons, different conditions into 2 days, 

As if saying "Whichever suits you."

THE EXPECTED RAIN IS ARRIVING

As the fleet approaches the finish, the rain front that first previewed over Kos is now premiering over us.

At the end of the race, the view from the hills above Bodrum is enough to show the conditions.

Yes, we started with 41, and we believe it will continue to increase.

We wish for it to conclude as a gentlemanly, fair, and accident-free trophy.