Difficult Tango in Southwesterly Winds

We followed the 2016 Izmir Winter Trophy 6th Leg races sailed on the Sığacık course on May 14-15.

Southwesterly winds were expected to be effective over the weekend. The meteorological forecasts proved accurate. The Lodos (southwesterly wind) was particularly effective on the course on Saturday.

21 boats registered for the final leg of the 7-leg trophy.

Boats from all marinas and harbors in the region participate in the winter trophy jointly organized by regional marinas and clubs. Contrary to previous years, the first legs of the trophy started on the Çeşme Course.

The final legs are being sailed in Sığacık.

In races that occasionally see around 35 boats participating, the number of boats was lower in recent weeks, presumably because boats that remained in Urla for the Jimmy Key Yacht Races held there, and who will also participate in the Tanju Okan Cup yacht races next week, were reluctant to make the long journey twice.

As the Press boat, we departed for the course ahead of the fleet aboard Ethem Yıkıcı's ORIENT yacht. Just as we passed the shallow water buoy, winds blowing between 23-29 knots and the waves they had been building for several days greeted us.

We received Poseidon's greeting and returned back to wait at a sheltered position. Finally, once the boats completing their marina departures took their positions on the course, we headed for the start line.

At the start line, 18 boats from different groups, the committee boat, and us began to pitch and roll.

The wind had dropped considerably compared to when we first departed, blowing between 5-11 knots from 175 degrees.

In the first race scheduled for Saturday, IRC 1-2-3-4 divisions will compete in a 2-lap sausage course with an offset mark rounding.

The new IRC group and Support group boats will race the same course for one lap.

On a course where the waves were truly causing extreme discomfort, the procedures were completed and a mass start was given.

On the course where the wind was alternately decreasing and strengthening, the racing yachts were struggling as they sailed through rough seas. As the mark roundings began, the wind was picking up.

This time, boats hoisting spinnakers in the strengthening wind began experiencing difficulties.

By the time the 2nd lap arrived, the wind had significantly increased its intensity. Breaking waves and the whitecaps that formed suddenly covered Sığacık Bay.

While IRC New and support boats were taking their finishes, other groups were completing their 2nd laps and finishing.

In the final moments, while the wind continued without dropping below 30 knots, the race committee was announcing that the planned second race of the day would not be held.

Indeed, as we reached the marina entrance, we had started seeing 43-45 knots in the squalls.

Despite the weather suddenly becoming so fierce, the fleet safely made its way to Teos Marina.

At the end of the race;

In IRC 1 Group LADIES FIRST,

In IRC 2 Group MARE,

In IRC 3 Group NİCE,

In IRC 4 Group FARMER,

In New IRC 4 Group HALF LIFE and

In Support Group FİÇİ were the boats that left their competitors behind.

In the evening, while the day's fatigue was being shaken off at La Vie Restaurant located in the charming streets of Sığacık, images from the hard-fought race were also being projected on the screen.p>

When we woke up on Sunday morning, May 15th, there was no trace of the previous day's weather. All meteorology sites had updated their forecasts.

After the morning briefing, when we went out to the course, we encountered barely enough wind to conduct the race.

Today there were 17 boats from different groups on the course. IRC 1-2-3-4 groups would first race a triangular course, followed by a sausage course.

The new IRC 4 and Support groups would race on a single-lap triangular course.

The boats, which made their starts with low-intensity southwesterly wind, this time began racing without the obstacle of waves. What we observed on this course was that, apart from one or two rival boats, the fleet generally broke away from each other.

Once again, as if a tradition, LADIES FIRST, helmed by Canan Aydmir, was making the first mark rounding.

Although the wind was seen to increase from time to time, it did not reach very high values.

At the end of the day's first race;

In IRC 1 Group LADIES FIRST,

In IRC 2 Group MARE,

In IRC 3 Group NİCE,

In IRC 4 Group FARMER,

In New IRC 4 Group HALF LIFE and

p>

In the Support Group, T.A.C were the boats leaving their competitors behind.

As soon as the finishes were completed, the day's 2nd race procedures began. The rainy weather across Turkey was only manifesting as overcast conditions on the Sığacık Course, not letting the sun rays through.

As soon as the start was given, many boats were clearly over the line early (OCS), so the race committee made a general recall.

In the restarted start, 2 boats were again over early. They also restarted and joined the race. Meanwhile, a strong CRACK sound came from FİÇİ and T.A.C boats competing in the support group. FİÇİ, who protested their competitor, withdrew their protest after the boats reached an agreement at the end of the race.

At the end of the day's 2nd race, where wind and waves were moderate;

In IRC 1 Group LADIES FIRST,

In IRC 2 Group AYK-BLUE MILES,

In IRC 3 Group AYK- LADIES SUN ÇEŞME SAILING,

In IRC 4 Group FARMER,

In New IRC 4 Group HALF LIFE and

In Support Group T.A.C were the boats leaving their competitors behind.

The Ankara Yelken Kulübü teams who came from Ankara to participate in these races were increasingly strengthening their claims. The women's team from Ankara also showed at every leg that they were not behind the women's teams from other regions.

At the awards ceremony in front of the EAYK facilities at the end of the races, as the teams received their awards, with 1 leg remaining before the trophy finals;

In IRC 1 Group LADIES FIRST,

In IRC 2 Group MARE,

NICE in IRC 3 Group,

FARMER in IRC 4 Group,

HALF LIFE in New IRC 4 Group, and

T.A.C in Support Group closed the 6th Leg as leading boats in their respective groups.

The 7th and Final Leg of the Izmir Winter Trophy will be sailed on June 11-12 on the Sığacık Course.