THE FINAL AHEAD OF US
ÖNÜMÜZ FİNAL
On May 2-3, in the days when spring makes itself fully felt and embraces summer, we are on the Bodrum course. Some meteorology stations were publishing their forecasts saying, “Don’t expect wind in Bodrum”, while others were like “Let it be noon, let it be good, maybe just a little bit” until race day.
Chief Race Officer Nihat YENEL announced at the May 2 Saturday briefing that they were planning to hold 3 races in this leg; one long race on Saturday, two on Sunday.
No time to waste, time is precious, the entire fleet is at the starting area at the scheduled time. Today starts and finishes will take place at the same location, with buoy differences. Three starts will be given to the entire fleet according to classes. 42 boats have registered. The race committee has set up the course, determined the routes, but the wind is shifting from side to side. It is changing direction and strength between 190-250 degrees.
With one leg remaining to the trophy final, rankings in the classes can change at any moment. All boats are taking things very seriously, keeping their rivals in their peripheral vision.
Buoy changes are being made due to wind direction shifts. The aim is to execute the most accurate starts. All A class boats will race on the long geographical route today. Starting off Bodrum, leaving Kargı Island, Karaada, Kıstak Island and Karaada dock to port, finishing off Bodrum, they will race 31 nautical miles as the crow flies.
At 11:15, IRC A 0 and RC A 1 groups start with 11-13 knots of wind from 190 degrees. After this start, the wind veers to 220 degrees and drops below 10 knots. Start buoy change and at 11:26, IRC A 2 and IRC A 3 groups execute their start. Group B boats will race on a 17-mile course starting off Bodrum, Çelebi Island, Kargı Island to port, finishing off Bodrum. With wind blowing at 12 knots from 250 degrees, B group competitors execute their start at 11:37. Now the entire fleet is starting to race on the wide course, Yankee flag at the spreaders, life jackets on the racers.A 17-mile course from one end to the other. After the starts begin, the boats continue their battles within their own classes. The wind is strengthening and dying alternately. While group A boats are rounding Kargı Island, group B competitors are battling around Çelebi Island. When group B rounds Çelebi Island and takes Kargı Island on the bow, the wind is blowing between 17-20 knots. Tactical battles in all groups. We are following the race from the FIRST boat in IRC B 2.
After the contested Kargı Island rounding, spinnakers are being set, and those who succeed in deciding on the right spinnaker start to gain distance on their competitors. We are approaching the finish in our group with dying spinnakers, with some stubbornly keeping them up despite giving away to their rivals. Of course, since group A boats are heading towards Kıstak Island from the south of Karaada, we can only see them from a distance.
The wind is gradually starting to lose its strength. At 15:30, a course shortening is announced for the second group racing on the long route. Finishes will be taken at Tavşan Burnu location.
On a day when the sun is dominant, as boats complete their finishes, the wind is decreasing and increasing alternately.
At the end of the day, ARKAS-FLYING BOX in IRC A O, BODRUM MİLTA MARİNA-KEYİF 60 in IRC A 1, MATADOR in IRC A 2, ISKORPIT-UK SAILS in IRC A 3, WIZARD in IRC B 1, ARSIZ in IRC B 2 are the boats leaving their competitors behind. The fatigue of the day is being shaken off in the evening at the 5th Leg award ceremony. There will be an early start on the course in the morning, no briefing.
On Sunday, May 3rd, preparations started very early. At the traditional briefing time, boats are already on the course. Two races are planned for today. Once again, for the same groups, three starts will be given in the same order.p>
The route for the first race of the day is the 17-mile route that Group B boats raced on Saturday. Starting off Bodrum, leaving Çelebi and Kargı Islands to port, finishing off Bodrum.
Wind is blowing from 190 degrees at 7-8 knots. The race begins with successive starts. After rounding Çelebi Island, the strengthening wind accelerates the fleet at the Kargı Island mark, blowing between 17-20 knots. Plans are working out, Group A boats are finishing while Group B boats are completing their Kargı Island roundings. On this leg, as the wind direction from the land varies according to the fronts of bays and open waters, crews who play their spinnakers well take advantageous finishes compared to their competitors.
A new line is being set up for Group B boats' finish and no marks are being established for Group A's 3rd race starts.
Everything is running like clockwork.
At the end of the 2nd race, the boats leaving their competitors behind are AMEERA TURBO in IRC A 0, TURUVA in IRC A 1, PALMARİNA SAİLİNG-İZMİR YELKEN AKADEMİSİ in IRC A 2, CMS DÖNENCE in IRC A 3, JOY DENİZ CADILARI in IRC B 1, ARSIZ in IRC B 2.
In the 3rd race, all boats will compete on an offset sausage course. A groups will complete the race in 3 laps, B groups in two laps. After the A groups finish, the start is given to B groups. Wind at 16-20 knots. We're on FIRS boat again, getting close with competitors and capturing video footage. We've condensed the short race into 1 minute for you.
At the end of the 3rd race, the boats leaving their competitors behind are CFM in IRC A O, BODRUM MİLTA MARİNA-KEYİF 60 in IRC A 1, SHAK SHUKA in IRC A 2, CMS DÖNENCE in IRC A 3, JOY DENİZ CADILARI in IRC B 1, FIRST in IRC B 2. As we reach the end of the day, the fatigue of two days, the first effects of the sun seem to have tired the racers quite a bit. Those closing up their boats, those rushing to catch flights, the crowded Bodrum roads and big cities await us. Three weeks will be awaited to catch our breath and the trophy's momentum will be unstoppable.
6th Leg Results;
IRC A O : ARKAS-FLYING BOX
IRC A 1 : DERE CONSTRUCTION-ANYWAY
IRC A 2 : PALMARİNA SAİLİNG-İZMİR YELKEN AKADEMİSİ,
IRC A 3 : CMS DÖNENCE,
IRC B 1 : JOY DENİZ CADILARI,
IRC B 2 : ARSI