IT STARTED LIKE SUMMER, IT ENDED LIKE WINTER

We are in Marmaris for the 1st Leg races of the 2026 MIYC Winter Trophy, consisting of six legs, held on January 17–18.

A sunny, pleasant Marmaris day. Especially during the day, it's no different from summer.

   

41 TIMES BLESS

When registrations closed on Friday, January 16, we encountered 41 boats participating. 

Quite a good number for the first leg of the winter trophies. This participation is expected to increase further over time. 

   

The 6th and final leg of the trophy will be held on April 25–26, 2026.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Following the completion of registration procedures, MIYC Club Management is organizing a press conference regarding the winter trophy and annual activities. Unlike usual press conferences, participation is quite high. On behalf of the Board of Directors, President Bülent Çelik introduces the club's roadmap and the team members serving in management. This practice, which we haven't encountered for a long time, is being watched with interest. The presentations are supported by visuals and numerical data.

   

3 NEW RACES COMING

MIYC's 2026 program is quite intense. President Çelik announces the good news of three new races in addition to existing races.
The first race added to the program is Marmaris City Race – 11 MOD Class, which will be held on 16–19 April.

The second race is the 19 May Youth Cup, which will be organized on 16–19 May. This race, coinciding with 19 May, has a 119 nautical mile offshore course.

The third new organization is the Hemithea Regatta, which will take place on 3–6 November. 

In Hisarönü Bay, this event aimed at promoting the Ancient City of Hemithea and the region primarily targets cruising class boats. Before entering winter,

it offers an opportunity to tour and explore the coves of Hisarönü.

Following the introduction of new races, MIYC's annual program is announced. 

It is quite intense and some races are planned back-to-back. This is not an easy series of organizations; it is already evident that the management will put forth serious effort at this pace. 

The management also shares the club's one-year activities with figures. In this period when the importance of press, broadcasting, and social media is increasing, the club's viewership and reach data are also presented to participants.

Before the Trophy begins, we ask an experienced racer about the Marmaris course.

TARGAN HAZARHUN
"I hadn't had the chance to race in Marmaris for a long time. I got the opportunity to be a guest on my friend Gleb Semerenko's new XR 41 boat and to get to know the boat closely. 

Marmaris's favorable weather conditions and MIYC's positive renewal made me very happy; I remembered the old enjoyable days. 

   

The tempo brought by foreign boat owners and racers is seriously increasing the competition on the course, which is reflected in the race quality. 

Good boats are coming, and they are racing well too. 

The boats joining the fleet from Istanbul have given an additional boost to the speed. It is being discussed that new boats are also on the way. 

I am eagerly awaiting the next race. 

In short; The Fast Ones Are Meeting in Marmaris."

   

The welcome cocktail organized after the press conference brings together sailors who missed each other, newcomers to the course, and those returning. 

   

The opening of the trophy is completed with pleasant conversations that continue until late hours.

   

17 January Saturday

We wake up to another sunny Marmaris morning. We are at the club event area for the first leg of the Winter Trophy. The briefing is quite crowded.

Chief Umpire Ezgi Kalaycı, after greeting the participants, introduces the officiating jury and reminds about the sensitivities

regarding equipment required to be carried on boats. 

Due to ORC certificates not being ready, there is no certificate requirement for this leg. With the submission of certificates to the club by February 4, Leg 1 final results

will be announced.

   

41 BOATS WILL RACE IN 2 STARTS

The races will be sailed with two starts. 

The first start, for the RED class consisting of 31 boats; 

the second start will be given to the BLUE (5 boats) and PINK (5 boats) classes. 

   

The PINK class consists of boats without inboard engines. During the Trophy, two races are planned for the first day, one race for the second day. 

In the RED class, since the band ranges are not clear, no finishing window is applied for this leg; for the BLUE and PINK classes, the finishing window is 30 minutes. Penalty turns and

protest procedures are being reminded once again.

   

HEADING OUT TO THE COURSE

When heading out to the course, the sea is absolutely flat. Although the start time is announced as 12.00, the wind measurements are not exceeding 4 knots. 

COAST GUARD AMONG US

The Coast Guard boat accompanies the fleet in these races and usually doesn't enter the course much. This time is different. Right in the middle of the racing boats, before the race starts, they are taking

the names of the boats.

"They're probably going to do a blue card check" guesses are being made. Last week, all those who went to the Bodrum races had their inspections done on the way.

This time is different, right among us. After a while they move away.

At 12.45, the northerly wind enters the course in the 14–16 knot range. As the wind comes from 330 degrees, the committee starts preparations and the first course of the day is announced as MIYC

Course 5.

At 13.35 the RED class starts. 

   

Then at 13.55, BLUE and PINK classes perform their starts. 

   

Teams begin to get to know each other, to test their competitors. The wind occasionally intensifies with squalls, occasionally drops. 

Moments when the wind weakens are experienced in the middle areas. 

   

COURSE SHORTENED

As the RED class completes their finishes, significant changes in the wind begin and the committee shortens the course for the BLUE and PINK classes.

   

At the end of the first race of the day, when all classes complete their finishes;

WIND CHANGES DIRECTION

For the second race, the course is being re-established as the wind changes direction. 

Starts are taking place on the newly established course and the fleet is racing on the course for a long time.

   

ABANDONED

Over time, the race is abandoned due to both the wind dropping and changing direction. 

Seeing that conditions have settled again, the committee announces MIYC Course 4E for the day's second race.

As the start moment approaches, the wind picks up a bit and RED group boats are crowding toward the buoy end of the line. 

   

COLLISION SOUNDS AND GENERAL RECALL

As boats crowded to one side of the wide start line attempt to cross the start line, they are both crossing the line before the signal and collision sounds are heard from some of them.

The committee cools down these heated moments with a general recall announcement.

Those involved in collisions are trying to assess damage.

   

Thus, the starting order passes to BLUE and PINK groups.

At 16:40 BLUE and PINK classes, at 16:45 RED classes perform their starts.

   

We are approaching sunset and as the wind slowly loses strength, the committee gives a course shortening to BLUE and PINK groups.

As the sun slowly hides behind the Marmaris mountains, the sails and spinnakers opened with that light offer colorful views to the Marmaris course.

   

When the second race of the day is completed;

NO AWARDS BUT THERE IS DINNER

No prize ceremony is held in the evening; instead, a trophy opening dinner is organized in the club garden. 

There is a larger attendance than expected. 

   

Well-known names from the sailing world come together, the day's race footage plays on large screens. 

This gathering, which continues until late at night, doesn't extend any further due to the harsh weather expected the next day.

   

Sunday, January 18

Weather forecast sites have been showing for days that Sunday, unlike yesterday, will be very windy.

Although Marmaris remains either at the edge or right in the lee of the high northerly winds in the Aegean.

Even if the Aegean Sea kicks up, Marmaris may not be affected that much.

We'll see.

   

When we go out to the race course, there's still no wind. But the color of the sky doesn't suggest that at all.

The race committee is in position, wind measurements are being taken in all areas around the fleet boats. The phrase "5 knots" is not heard on the radios.

   

As the start time approaches, the wind begins to pick up, and the committee, seeing the wind coming, starts preparations.

As the announced start time approaches, the wind changes direction and strength. The Committee postpones.

   

REFEREES LIKE BEES

The referees' announcements and movements are, so to speak, "Bee-like."

The wind first increases its strength and then small ripples begin to form.

   

At the same time, a serious cold air enters the course. Life jacket requirement is announced and very strictly enforced until the end of the race.

With wind blowing at 20 knots from 330 degrees, the committee announces the courses.

RED class will sail MIYC course 1 E.

After one turning mark, they will head offshore from İçmeler, round Kargataşı Island, and finish.

At 12:40, the RED group executes their start.

   

BLUE and PINK classes will race MIYC route 3 E.

They will round Goat Island off İçmeler and finish.

A shorter route compared to the other group.

   

After the starts, once the turning buoy is rounded, the entire fleet approaches the shore and proceeds.

Many of them are deploying their spinnakers but squalls are occasionally making it challenging.

   

As they head offshore from İçmeler and while offshore, the wind creates variations according to positions. Squalls are putting some boats in difficult situations.

   

Strong wind is a factor in the fleet completing the race swiftly.

   

When all finishes were taken;

In this first leg that started like summer and ended like winter, the trophy makes a powerful start for the racers who had the opportunity to see all faces of the Marmaris course.

The 2nd Leg of MIYC Winter Trophy will be raced on February 7–8.