BLOWN-STOPPED-RAINED-CALMED

In Bodrum, the wind generally either blows or it doesn't. But like the first day of the 4th Leg on Saturday, March 19th, it never goes "A bit from that side, a bit from this side, let me blow a little, let me calm down a bit, a little rain, no make it a downpour, was that too much, then let it stop, sunshine out, clouds in" - that never happens.

This meteorological situation, which rarely occurs on the Bodrum race course, coincided once again with one of the CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy days. At the briefing held at 09:30 in the morning, Chief Race Officer Hulki ORUZ started with the weather and continued with the weather. Because everything depended on it today. An offshore course would be applied for IRC B and Cruiser classes, but buoy racing was planned for IRC A groups. Wind shifts of 60-70 degrees were putting the buoy races at risk in terms of implementation. The race committee left this decision to the race course and invited the boats to the water.

On the race course, overcast conditions prevailed, with minimal sunshine filtering through the clouds, helping us focus our lenses on the white sails.

While the 51 registered boats on the course were waiting for preparations to be completed, it was announced that racing procedures would begin at 11:20, and all classes would race on the offshore course. Start sequences would proceed as in previous legs, with 4 starts given according to groups.

The light rain, racing with the fluctuating wind, seemed to make things difficult for the race organizers.

At the start moments, the wind was making itself felt at 7-8 knots from 150 degrees. While the sky shrouded in dark clouds formed a backdrop, the start proceeded calmly in 4 stages.

With the start given off Bodrum, the entire fleet would round Orak Island leaving it to port, leave the Tavşan Burnu buoy to starboard, and finish off Bodrum. As the crow flies, 19 nautical miles.

Teams are again pursuing tactics; some going close to shore, some approaching the island... Hope lies in the wind. As the fleet progresses 4 miles and enters between Karaada and the mainland, the wind diminishes further. Approaching Orak Island before the sea turns into a lake. With the wind completely dropping at Orak Island, those in front are waiting for those behind. The island vicinity becomes virtually a gathering area. The boats that arrived here on a port tack will race to Bodrum on a port tack again as the wind dies down. The wind shifted to the west, with occasional squalls and torrential downpours at the final moments.

At the end of the race, the winning boats leaving their competitors behind are: RENAULT FAR-AWAY TEAM ÖZONUR in IRC A 0, DEFİNE in IRC A 1, TEKNO BARRISOL KEYİF 60 in IRC A 2, AURORA X in IRC A 3, EXIT in IRC A 4, ZAGUN in IRC B 1, and ICEBERK ICE YACHTING in IRC B 2.

The finishes running late inevitably delay the CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy 3rd Leg award ceremony scheduled for 18:00. Trophy recipients are happy.

On Saturday morning, March 20, at 09:00, the Day 2 briefing begins. Today there is no rain, no shifting, changing weather. The wind has turned to the north and west. IRC B and Support class boats will race on the offshore course again. Start at Bodrum İçmeler, Karaada and Çelebi Islands to starboard, finish at Bodrum. Bird's eye view 17 nautical miles. IRC A classes will compete in offset buoy races. The racers and jury jointly decide to run the race as 2 laps instead of the 3 laps specified in the sailing instructions. The leg will be somewhat longer. With a 1.6 nautical mile leg, each race will cover 6.4 nautical miles bird's eye view. In this situation, the 3rd race can be realized.

Upon heading to the course, the wind is blowing from 325 degrees at 7-9 knots. The first start is given to IRC B and Support class boats, which will race a single race.

As the wind continues to increase from 335 degrees, the buoy races begin with IRC A 3-4 starts. In IRC A 1-2 groups, the start is refreshed with a general recall.

As the wind increases, the competition intensifies while images are captured abundantly by the cameras.

At the end of the race, the boats leaving their competitors behind are ACADIA 7 in IRC A 0, DEFİNE in IRC A 1, TEKNO BARRISOL KEYİF 60 in IRC A 2, AURORA X in IRC A 3, and MNG KARGO ALTO in IRC A 4.

Before the 2nd Buoy race starts, the wind shifts to 290 degrees. The buoy changes are completed and the start is given. The wind is at 9-14 knots. False starts are notable at the starts. After a general recall is made, there are again false starts in the restarted start. Of the boats racing in IRC A 0, 7 boats have false starts except ARKAS-FLYING BOX and FARFARA. The race continues with the boats that restart.

At the end of the race, the boats leaving their competitors behind are ARKAS FLYING BOX in IRC A 0, DEFİNE in IRC A 1, DERE CONSTRUCTION-ANYWAY in IRC A 2, PALMARİNA-TOKA YELKEN in IRC A 3, and MNG Kargo-ALTO in IRC A 4.

Just when it was thought the race was over, the Committee announces that a 3rd Buoy race will be held. The wind is at 15-19 knots.

In this race, a crew member from ANYWAY falls overboard during a buoy turn. The crew member who fell overboard without a life jacket is picked up by the Bodrum Sea Rescue teams and brought aboard, despite the Committee's Yankee flag warning. A Judge's Protest is given to ANYWAY, which continues racing. KARAVİDA files a protest against MATADOR for violation of right of way.

At the end of the protest hearing, both boats are disqualified.

In the same race, JASMIN QUATTRO collided with MAD X from behind at the buoy turn, causing damage. The collision was resolved through agreement and was not reflected in the Protest hearing.

At the end of the race, the boats leaving their competitors behind were ARKAS FLYNG BOX in IRC A 0, DEFİNE in IRC A 1, TEKNO BARRISOL KEYİF 60 in IRC A 2, PALMARİNA-TOKA YELKEN in IRC A 3, and MNG Kargo-ALTO in IRC A 4.

At the end of the single race in the B groups, the boats leaving their competitors behind were ZAGUN in IRC B 1 and ICEBERK ICE YACHTING in IRC B 2.

As we reach the end of 2 days where weather conditions varied and racing took place in all conditions, 3 legs remain of the 7-leg trophy.

When we look at the overall results after 4 legs, the boats sitting in the leadership seats in their groups are:

FARRFARA in IRC A 0,

DEFİNE in IRC A 1,

TEKNO BARRISOL KEYİF 60 in IRC A 2,

PALMARİNA-TOKA YELKEN in IRC A 3,

MNG Kargo-ALTO in IRC A 4,

ZAGUN in IRC B 1,

ICEBERK ICE YACHTING in IRC B 2.