Bodrum Yacht Rally Concludes Successfully

42 boats are ready for BAYK Winter Trophy 2nd Leg in Bodrum, the course of beautiful races and beautiful events.

WIND IN THE WEST

For a week, meteorology sites have been showing that there will be no problems on the course in terms of wind on February 9-10, when the races will take place.

The meteorology radar shows 2 days of variable northerly winds for Bodrum and its west.

Nothing can be said for the east.

The strong northerly winds that will blow in the Aegean Channel on the days the race will be held are effective up to the front of Bodrum with gusts.

JANUARY 9 SATURDAY

At the briefing held at Bodrum PIER in the morning, Principal Race Officer Ayberk OLCAY begins with a speech in light of the forecasts.

“According to the meteorological data received, we studied route applications and determined 7 Geographical Routes.

We will announce which of the routes will be applied on the course.

A matter that we know is useful to remind; we request that you act according to the protest submission rules.

Today, we will apply routes to the west side of Bodrum, the winds are on that side.

We are planning 2 buoy races for IRC A Classes.

We will implement 3 separate starts. The first start will be for Support classes.

As you know, there is an Overall application in this winter trophy.

My final plea; please let's go out to the course by reading the race instructions and notice."

RACE INSTRUCTIONS-PROTEST PROCEDURE

Indeed, not only on this course but on many courses, although protests occasionally fly high in the air, they are rejected without even entering the hearing because the submission rules are not fulfilled. 

NEVER WITHOUT YANKEE FLAG

When the boats departing from Milta Bodrum Marina go out to the course, the wind carrying cold air from the north has already started its activity before us.

For this reason, the Yankee flag indicating the mandatory wearing of personal flotation devices has been hoisted on the committee boat.

The committee announces today that the SUPPORT Classes consisting of 10 boats will race ROUTE 8 from the BAYK Routes.

The class will round Çelebi and Köçek Islands, leaving an estimated 16 nautical mile route in its wake, and finish again off Bodrum.

It is also announced that the IRC B groups consisting of a total of 16 boats will race Route 7 from the BAYK Routes.

SAUSAGE IN BETWEEN

This group will also race a similar course. 

Additionally, a turning mark has been placed below Çelebi Island. 

They will place a sausage between the island and the mark. 

Total 18 nautical miles.

When preparations begin, the wind reaches 10 knots from 310-330 degrees and the SUPPORT class start is given at 11:45.

UNLIKELY STACKING

NİL-KECHI SAILING and  MIRMIR- KECHI SAILING  are fouls.

Since the STACKING Flag is on the tack, as the boats made the foul correction on the start line (because they did not round the Start Mark or committee boat on the outside), the penalty was not completed.

Result; 2 OCS.

At 11:50 the start of IRC B groups also takes place.

When both classes round the windward mark, the course is set for IRC A classes.

When operations begin, the wind reaches 14 knots from 330 degrees.

IRC B and DESTEK classes are racing rapidly westward with the power of increasing wind.

I HAD MY SPINNAKERS

Although there are light showers on the return from Çelebi Island, the well-known squalls off Aspat are putting the fleet in a difficult situation.

Wind angles are changing from time to time and BLUES 1 and MİLTA BODRUM MARİNA-CAPE HORN are flying spinnakers.

DENİZ CADILARI NORA, consisting of women sailors, is withdrawing from the race due to a technical reason.

During the IRC B and DESTEK classes race, IRC A Classes will execute Route 6 from BAYK Routes off Bodrum. They will have a buoy race.

After course arrangement, the start procedures for IRC A classes begin.

Wind has settled at 330 degrees and is blowing between 12-18 knots.

While squalls are forming in different areas of the course, they are not strong or frequent enough to put the boats in difficult situations.

At 12:25, IRC A Classes complete their start and begin the buoy race.

İZMİR YELKEN, racing in IRC A 2 Class, gets a premature start, continues the race without redress and another OCS.

STORMY racing in IRC A 3 did not round the offset mark after the turning mark; DNF.

Racing machine KAPKARA is far ahead of the fleet. 

The finish time of her follower is important.

While IRC A classes completed the buoy race, IRC B and SUPPORT Classes started appearing from the offshore.

When IRC A Classes completed their finishes, 

DEFİNE (Selim KAKIŞ) in IRC A -1

ORSA-CHEESE SAILING (Levent PEYNİRCİ) in IRC A -2  

KAYK APAZ (Doğukan KANDEMİR) in IRC A -3  

Are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

Without wasting time, the committee announces the 2nd race of the day for IRC A Classes.

No change in wind direction and strength. Same course.

With the start given at 14.05, the fleet starts running on the course.

2 MORE OCS AS CLEAR AS DAY

SKYMARIN-AQUAVIT racing in IRC A 1 group and STORMY racing in IRC A 3 group fodepar. 

ISTIF flag is on the mast. No redress. 

Here are 2 more OCS.

Although the wind drops from time to time, it doesn't fall below levels that would jeopardize the race off Bodrum.

While IRC A Classes are rounding the buoys, IRC B and SUPPORT Classes are completing their finishes.

When the finishes of these classes are taken;

In IRC B 1, KABASAKAL (Erce DEMİRTAŞ)

In IRC B 2, BLUES 1 (Mustafa SÖYLER)

In SUPPORT Class SIRENA (Murat TOPRAK)

are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

AURORO X racing in IRC A 2 class announces its retirement from the race.

When IRC A classes swiftly complete the 2nd Race of the day;

In IRC A -1, DEFINE (Selim KAKIŞ)

In IRC A -2 ORSA-CHEESE SAILING (Levent PEYNİRCİ)

In IRC A -3 KAYK APAZ (Doğukan KANDEMİR)

are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

Meanwhile, at the end of the race, there are also those who, despite being OCS, ask the committee at the finish line whether their finishes have been recorded or not.

Racers gather at BODRUM PIER, located at the lighthouse position within Milta Bodrum Marina, for the awards ceremony of BAYK Winter Trophy 1st Leg races. 

Truly a very beautiful atmosphere. 

On one side, the sun is setting. 

As the lighthouses flash their lights, Bodrum transitions into night.

At the end of the ceremony. 

Fishermen, restaurants are waiting for their guests.

FEBRUARY 10 SUNDAY

Good morning to a sunny, windy, slightly cool Bodrum after a rainless Bodrum evening.

No briefing today, it has been cancelled. 

SEE YOU ON THE COURSE

A colder weather prevails on the course compared to yesterday. 

The wind is again from the north but has brought colder weather with it.

Its strength is also high.

Echo flag is at the mast.

The wind from 330 degrees has already exceeded 10 knots.

The committee announces that today the SUPPORT Classes will race ROUTE 5 from the BAYK Routes. 

The class will round Çelebi and Köçek Islands. 

Approximately 16 nautical miles.

IRC A and B will race ROUTE 4.

Approximately 20 nautical miles.

A sausage is being laid within Route 4.

The reason; to prevent the classes from interfering with each other.

This matter is announced repeatedly from the committee boat.

We counted 7 announcements, reminders regarding the subject.

At 11:30, the SUPPORT class start takes place.

Clean line.

It stays clean for a long time.

COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COULD YOU REPEAT THE ROUTE?

At 11:50, when the IRC B class start is given, the wind is at 13-14 knots level.

COMMITTEE COMMITTEE WE JUST TURNED ON THE RADIO, WHAT'S OUR ROUTE? (3 minutes before start)

The day's last start is given to IRC A classes at 12:10.

The boats head towards Görecek Point after the Windward mark.

COMMITTEE COMMITTEE WE DIDN'T GET THE ROUTE SIR!

As they approach Görecek Point, the wind starts to decrease. Even though the Çelebi Island turns occasionally witness spinnakers that don't fill and collapse, the moments when boats steer westward with spinnakers are beautifully captured by the lenses. Seagull sounds mix with the voices of racers on the boats.

COMMITTEE COMMITTEE WE COULDN'T HEAR OUR COURSE PLEASE?

The setting sun...

Nature, nature, nature and nature...

Aspat has lost yesterday's roughness.

The wind that didn't break the fleet from the race, while slowly bringing the boats to the finish, the young sailors of ERA SAILING CLUB are literally greeting their elder brothers and sisters near the finish line.

COMMITTEE COMMITTEE THE MALFUNCTION IN OUR RADIO HAS BEEN FIXED, OUR COURSE?

While finishes are being recorded, we unintentionally listen to advertising checks on boats from race committee radios.

When finishes were recorded

IRC A -1 GÖZTEPE SAILING-1925 (Hasan Derya YENİGÜN)

IRC A -2 ORSA-CHEESE SAILING (Levent PEYNİRCİ)

IRC A -3 HENİ (Eser İNCE)

IRC B 1 FORTUNA (Barkın KABAOĞULLARINDAN)

IRC B 2 BLUES 1 (Mustafa SÖYLER)

SUPPORT Class DENİZ CADILARI (Bade TANOBA)

Boats are leaving their competitors behind.

We've left behind a week in Bodrum where the committee repeatedly explained the route description, tirelessly repeating it over and over.

REALLY, WHAT WAS OUR ROUTE?

Let's escape from Bodrum without getting beaten up...

Thank you, and please no one repeat the route again, I was raving about the route in my sleep last night until morning.

Stay healthy.