Another Two-Dayer Continues: BAYK Winter Trophy 5th Leg

I have been in the region since Thursday, April 11th to follow the Bayk Winter Trophy 5th Leg races scheduled for April 13-14.

The weather can't decide whether to transition from winter to spring or from spring to summer. One moment it's closing in, the next it's clearing up. One moment it's warming, the next it's freezing. One moment the wind is blowing from the south, then it shifts to the north...

Under these conditions, we wake up to Saturday, April 13th, the day the race is scheduled.

The wind has started in the early hours...

At Marina Club where the briefing is taking place, we can clearly see its effect.

The committee is taking measurements outside. At the same time, reports are being received from the Coast Guard.

The briefing starts on a pessimistic note.

AYBERK OLCAY (Principal Race Officer)

"Right now, conditions are not suitable for racing, unfortunately. If the wind drops around 13:00-14:00, we are planning to run a coastal race for all classes.

In the measurements we are currently taking outside, we are seeing winds ranging between 24-27 knots.

We will continue our measurements outside.

If the adverse conditions continue in the afternoon, we may cancel tomorrow morning's briefing and call the fleet to the course earlier."

The fleet is waiting at the marina for the announcement from the committee.

At 12:00, the scheduled race start time, the committee issues a postponement. There is no change in conditions.

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Once again, familiar scenes prevail; racers have filled the cafes, some are waiting in their boat's slip.

At 13:00, the committee announces no change in conditions.

FROM THE RACE COMMITTEE

"From the race committee to the attention of all racing boats. According to our recorded measurements, wind speed at the harbor entrance has been recorded at 22-24 knots...

The wind measurement taken in the last hour averaged 22-23 knots within 1 mile of the harbor.

We continue to wait, respectfully."

AND AT 14:00

"Postponement is a clear slap in the face.

All races that have not been started are cancelled, there will be no racing today.

Race Committee."

WHATSAPP PROTESTS

After this announcement, protests begin coming from some boats in the communication group. They write that the race could be held, that it should be held.

Despite all these protests, the Race Committee has made its decision, there's nothing to be done.

WE WON THE AWARD, NO NEED TO PICK UP THE TROPHY

In the evening at Marina Club, there is the award ceremony for the 4th Leg races of the Bayk Winter Trophy.

Calmness prevails at the venue that was blown by wind in the morning.

Awards find their owners in a beautiful atmosphere.

Of course, some awards are also looking for their owners.

According to the outcome of this event, receiving awards, like participating in and racing, should be an indispensable ritual of this event.

But?

In the races we follow in Bodrum, we rarely witnessed such a thing as not attending the award ceremony.

In this regard, we have witnessed how the EAYK and then MIYC award ceremonies were a highly valued part of the races.

We do not understand the non-attendance of award recipients at the ceremony in BAYK races, which pioneered this.

We hope this mentality does not become widespread and leave its mark on BAYK races.

APRIL 14 SUNDAY

From the early hours of the morning, very calm weather prevailed in Bodrum.

With the Race Committee moving the start times forward, they also went out to the course early.

The Race Committee is about to initiate start procedures with course preparations completed off İçmeler.

15 IRC A, 15 IRC B and 10 Support class yachts are gradually gathering around the committee boat.

Wind is blowing from 325 degrees at 5-6 knots.

The first start will be for Support classes, followed by IRC B classes.

The committee announces that ROUTE 10 from BAYK routes will be sailed for these classes.

The boats starting in front of İçmeler will come to the front of Bodrum after rounding a turning buoy, then Çelebi Island and Köçek Shoal.

Approximately 16 nautical miles.

LINE IS CLEAR

At 11:00 the Support classes make the first start.

Announcement: "Line is Clear"

Perfectly clear in our opinion!

The boats seem to be waiting for someone to show courage to start.

Such a dull start.

The wind strength being at the lower limit also causes this appearance.

Following 15 minutes later at 11:15 the IRC B classes execute their start.

The Committee finally announces that IRC A classes will also race on the same course.

Then 15 minutes later IRC A class boats also execute their start at 11:30.

We witness that the wind has strengthened compared to previous starts, reaching levels of 8-9 knots.

What we cannot understand is why the starts given to boats racing on the same geographical route are 15 minutes apart.

The entire fleet consists of 40 boats.

The fleet's fragmented racing doesn't provide us with collective images that would better showcase the competition visually.

The competition on the wide course in ROUTE 10 again offers images of pairs, at most three boats.

When the return buoy is passed, the wind increases slightly. It increases significantly when Görecek Island point is passed.

As the IRC A classes approach Çelebi Island, there are even boats from the first starters that have already passed the island.

The wind continues to blow from the north without losing any strength. Around 13-15 knots in these areas.

When Köçek Shoal is rounded, spinnakers are hoisted and a single tack is taken toward the finish line.

While finishes are being taken, the Committee announces that IRC A classes will race one more time.

When all finishes are taken;

In IRC A-1, BOREAS (Hakan TANER)

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

In IRC A-3, HENİ (Eser İNCE)

In IRC B-1, HEAVEN CAN WAIT2 (Sergey LEBEDEV)

In IRC B-2, BLUES 1-CORLU SAILING TEAM (Mustafa SÖYLER)

In SUPPORT Class, DENİZ CADILARI NORA (Bade TANOBA)

Are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

While IRC B and SUPPORT class boats head towards Milta Bodrum Marina, preparations begin for the 2nd Race planned for IRC A classes.

As the committee prepares the course, the wind starts blowing from 265 degrees at 13-16 knots.

A buoy race will be held off Bodrum and ROUTE 6 from BAYK Routes will be sailed.

At 14:40, the start for IRC A classes takes place.

The best start of the day.

The fleet engages in a tight competition without breaking away from each other until the turning buoy.

With performances, tactics, and tactical errors, separations begin.

The wind stays with the fleet until the end without losing its strength.

When the finishes are recorded;

In IRC A-1, BOREAS (Hakan TANER)

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

In IRC A-3, STORMY-WINDY SAILING (Yasemin AKYIL)

Are the boats that leave their competitors behind.

Since the wind didn't lose any of its strength, the boats completing the race continue sailing under sail all the way to the marina.

In BAYK Winter Trophy 5th Leg, conditions allowed one day of racing just as in the 4th Leg.

Last week, Poseidon in Marmaris had also allowed one day of racing.

What can we say; TWO OUT OF ONE WEEKS CONTINUE

Boats that finished as leaders in their 5th Leg classes:

IRC A-1: BOREAS (Hakan TANER)

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

IRC A-3: STORMY-WINDY SAILING (Yasemin AKYIL)

IRC B-1: HEAVEN CAN WAIT2 (Sergey LEBEDEV)

IRC B-2: BLUES 1-CORLU SAILING TEAM (Mustafa SÖYLER)

DESTEK Class: DENİZ CADILARI NORA (Bade TANOBA)

The 6th Leg of the 7-leg BAYK Winter Trophy will be raced on May 4-5.