Three Races Worth in One: Bodrum Sailing Championship Showdown

We will be in Bodrum on February 29-March 1 for the SCHÜCO-BAYK Winter Trophy 3rd Leg races.

All eyes are on the meteorological forecasts.

Throughout the week, the predictions for the race days showing light, almost non-existent wind, are changing completely just two days before the race.

Especially for Saturday, all meteorological updates show winds not dropping below race limits.

On Friday evening, February 28, the Aegean Sea experiences a strong storm.

This condition doesn't diminish by morning, and at the briefing time, Chief Race Officer Ayberk OLCAY begins his remarks as follows.

"The wind outside is above the limits.

Forecasts indicate it will increase even more in the afternoon.

We ask you not to leave the harbor without the race committee's knowledge and to follow announcements from the race committee on your radios.

If the wind drops to reasonable conditions, our aim is to run one coastal race for all groups.

We observe and conclude from the race results that the boats in the fleet are fast this year.

To ensure safety, we request that different groups do not give each other rights of way during the start."

WHISTLING SOUNDS FROM THE MASTS

The whistling sounds from the masts of boats at Milta Bodrum Marina accompany the racers as they head to their vessels after completing the briefing.

Announcements are made stating that the postponement continues in accordance with conditions.

At 14:30, based on measurements and forecasts, it is announced that today's planned race cannot be held.

AWARD CEREMONY CANCELLED

It is announced that the SCHÜCO-BAYK Winter Trophy 2nd Leg cup ceremony, scheduled for the evening, has been cancelled following the events in Syria.

MOMENT OF SILENCE ON THE COURSE

With the wind gradually losing its strength overnight and blowing from unstable directions and forces in the morning, 39 boats head out to the course.

The Race Committee invites all participants to a moment of silence for our Martyrs who lost their lives in Idlib and casts a wreath into the sea.

With the wind blowing at 7-8 knots from 330 degrees, the Committee announces that IRC B and SUPPORT groups will race Route-7 from the BAYK Routes.

After the starts of these classes, it is also announced that a buoy race is planned for IRC A Classes.

FIRST THE SHIFTING THEN THE STEADY WIND

After this announcement, the wind blows from 330-025-070-110-230 degrees, struggling to settle on its true direction.

With 5 minutes to the start, the flags drop, the wind disappears and postponement.

Eyes on the west, on the north.

The sea is like glass, sails lifeless...

The race committee deep in thought, the chief umpire searching for wind.

And the sea, slightly rippling from the west, soon graces the race course.

ALL CLASSES WILL SAIL GEOGRAPHIC ROUTE

As soon as the Race Committee finds the settled wind between 280-285 degrees, they announce that all classes will sail Route-7.

A route around Karaada and Çelebi Island, 15.5 nautical miles as the crow flies.

THREE DIFFERENT WINDS INCREASING AT THREE STARTS

At 12:30, as the SUPPORT Classes execute their downwind starts, the wind is blowing between 7-9 knots.

Therefore, it's a calm start.

No one hoisting spinnakers.p>

As the IRC B Classes execute their start at 12:40, the wind is climbing above 10 knots.

Although some boats hoist their spinnakers at the downwind start, we also witness these occasionally collapsing.

This class is advancing with a pack formation towards the mainland direction.

Those breaking away from them are sailing close to the Karaada coastline, offering spectacular views to our press boat.

At the start line, the wind is being tested above 15 knots.

Sheets snapping, sharp sail sounds, the accelerating IRC A classes cross the start line swiftly at 12:50.

On the course, the spinnaker sailing references of the leading IRC B class are showing the way to IRC A.

The strong wind zones are apparent.

All classes round Karaada and head offshore with increasing wind and rising waves.

Here, things turn into tactical battles.

DOWNWIND IS DONE, LET'S SEE THE UPWIND

As the upwind leg begins, conditions get tougher. NORA and ATLANTIS 12 abandon the race due to rigging failures and head towards Milta Bodrum Marina.

While some boats in the fleet are sailing close to Karaada with short tacks, others prefer to head further offshore making long tacks toward the mark.

Meanwhile, ARSIZ, which first took on water through the exhaust and then pumped it out resolving the issue, this time experiences the mainsail traveler completely breaking loose from its mounting, and believing they cannot continue the race, they retire.

NEVER LETTING YOU OUT OF MY SIGHT

We witness competitors literally racing in each other's tracks.

The tactic: wherever your rival tacks, you tack there too.

ÇELEBİ ISLAND AWAITS WITH 22 KNOTS

As the fleet approaches Çelebi Island, the wind reaches 22 knots.

Head-to-head competition is virtually non-existent on such a long and wide course.

At the Çelebi Island mark rounding, with a few rare exceptions, boats are approaching the island one by one.

GÖZTEPE YELKEN DRAWS ATTENTION

The first to round the mark is this year's successful and consistent team GÖZTEPE YELKEN, followed closely by MERSİN YELKEN AKADEMİSİ.

After these two boats, there is a large gap and then the teams follow in succession.

SPINNAKERS CARRY THE FLEET TO THE FINISH IN BODRUM

The spinnakers hoisted after the Çelebi mark rounding carry the fleet to the finish line off Bodrum.

There is no decrease in wind strength. However, there are significant shifts in direction.

For this reason, the decision to apply a geographical route instead of the planned buoy race for IRC Class A proves to be justified.

DID THE EVIL EYE HIT ORSA-CHEESE SAILING?

Finishes are starting to be taken in front of Bodrum Castle.

One of the boats arriving at the finish is Levent PEYNİRCİ's ORSA-CHEESE SAILING.

The boat, racing from success to success, has its rudder blade break off 150-200 meters before the Cardinal Buoys.

The boat, experiencing this mishap with full equipment, goes through difficult moments.

She is towed by Milta Bodrum Marina boat and brought to the marina escorted by Coast Guard boat.

Inspections with underwater cameras determine that the boat is not taking on water and there is no other damage.

From us, a big get well soon to Peynirci and his teammates, and also to other boats that had to retire from the race due to technical failures.

HOW MANY TACKS DID WE MAKE, HOW MANY

The teams returning to Milta Bodrum Marina after a long struggle in all conditions of the sea in a true racing atmosphere are discussing among themselves the number of tacks they made.

Some say 20, some 25, some reply to our question with a smile saying "so many that I forgot, man".

Leaving there with the happiness read on faces at the end of the race can keep one happy until the next leg.

Let's see what will happen, what will be experienced in the SCHÜCO-BAYK Winter Trophy 4th Leg races to be sailed on March 21-22?