Two Shorts, One Leg in Marmaris

ŞENTOP SİGORTA main sponsorship, organized by Marmaris International Yacht Club, the 2020 Winter Trophy could not continue from March onwards after the 4th leg due to the pandemic, restrictions prevented the 5th and 6th legs from being sailed.

The phone call I received from the club on November 16th was the news that the 5th leg would be sailed on November 21-22.

Cameras in Izmir, me in Ankara. The situation is in disarray.

But I'm curious about the races. 

How it's happening. How it will happen under these conditions.

I couldn't participate in race week anyway due to my anxiety.

This time I said let me break the devil's leg, give me your hand Marmaris.

When the cameras also came from Izmir to Marmaris with sailor friends, the job only depends on weather conditions.

On the days the race will be sailed, the wind in Marmaris is coy.

Thursday and Friday before the race, they beat the region hand in hand with rain.

IN SNOW, IN FOG IF IT BLOCKS THE ROAD I'LL REACH MARMARIS

The weather is effective throughout Turkey. In fact, on Friday during my arrival by road, heavy snowfall around Polatlı, fog on Afyon mountain tried to obstruct me a lot but. 

My stubbornness is stubbornness, I will go to the race.

I entered Marmaris on Friday evening, wet and having bid farewell to the wind.

GONE IS BRIEFING, COME IS ZOOM

At 17:30, the Umpires and helmsmen will hold a briefing via zoom. (My God, what times we've come to, I'm very curious.)

I came home orange and connected immediately.

How will this work, what will be said. We're used to club gardens, meeting areas. What has this pandemic made us accustomed to.

I wrote down the passwords specified in the sailing instructions, before us is Principal Race Officer Can Giray.

Oh how nice this is. Briefing at home.

The punctual race committee is explaining the rules for two days with new technology.

CAN GİRAY

(Principal Race Officer)

"It feels as if we took a break from the Trophy years ago" he begins his words.

He announces that Marmaris International Racing Club has decided not to cancel the races, and that the races will take place with necessary precautions taken in line with the warnings and measures of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior and Turkish Sailing Federation.

3 races are planned over 2 days.

Marmaris International Racing Club will send the race proceeds to the victims of the Izmir Earthquake.

If there is a protest, the hearing will take place in the club garden.

The clouds that dropped their last drops on Marmaris in the evening had withdrawn from the stage when we woke up in the morning, leaving us alone with the sun.

A warm but windless day awaits us for the season.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21

I arrive at the race center, Netsel Marina. I park my car next to the club president Cem Tekdağ in the parking lot.

I can't miss him. It's very difficult to find him later.

I ask what this pandemic has done to the racing world, and what else will happen.

CEM TEKDAĞ 

(Miyc President)

 "Races that were suspended with TYF's decisions continued later with the permits granted. In this context, our race week, which I anticipated would take place with very low participation this year,

took place with participation contrary to expectations. We conducted these races with very strict measures.

Now we will continue with the 5th leg of the Winter Trophy that we had suspended. There is almost no wind. 

The running of the 6th and final leg will also take place according to the decision that TYF will make."

LIKE REFEREES WAITING FOR WIND

When we go out to the course with the press boat, there's no trace of wind. 

The committee boat is in the middle, wandering indecisively.

22 IRC boats are also on the course. There are no Support class boats on this course.

Looking at the classes, there are really very competitive boats. 

Routes and rules are established, not changing.

Marmaris has become a technical racing course.

Planned start time is 12:00. 

No wind, it seems like it won't come either.

A sunny, bright, sparkling weather.

The committee boat going back and forth.

Boats following behind it.

At 14:37, the committee announces that F-4 route from Miyc Routes will be sailed.

It announces, but as if the light wind wasn't enough, it keeps changing direction.

In such situations, being a race officer must be the last thing one would want to be.

Time passes. Delicate moments, penalties coming one by one.

Time is very important.

The announced route is long and the wind drops and rises.

The committee waits a bit more.

The waiting committee finally gets its wish and light steady wind starts to blow from Yalancı Boğaz side.

When the clock shows 15:20, the announcement is heard.

The route became O-4 from Miyc Routes.

Wind blowing from 275 degrees at 4-6 Knots.

We did it, we did it, there's no we couldn't.

When the wind reaches 6-7 Knots, IRC 0-1 classes start at 15:56, IRC 2-3-4 classes start at 16:01.

No decrease in the wind, it's increasing.

There's no decrease in the performance of boats finding themselves on the course after a long break.

We observe a serious competition, a gentlemanly rivalry in all classes.

The IRC-0 group boats are truly coveted racing teams. 

Anything can happen at any moment. There is a very delicate ranking. The balances…

AMBITIOUS FIGURES, AMBITIOUS TEAMS

Our country's successful helmsmen and racers are putting on serious races on this course.

The importance of seconds and tactics is evident.

There's no running away with it. Everything is neck and neck.

Those falling behind in their classes; schools training racers, instructors.

Naturally they fall to the back.

At the end of the finishes of the short route sailed in a very short time;

THERE IS A CURFEW TONIGHT

No evening activities. 

Moreover, curfews have started, no going outside.

NOVEMBER 22 SUNDAY

The awaited morning still doesn't bring wind.

The course is a copy of the day before.

The committee's effort and the eager anticipation of race-ready boats come to an end with the committee's announcement at 14:00.

The steady wind is coming from Yalancı Boğaz side again. 

From 125 degrees at 6-7 knots. The race can start. 

Hopefully it won't decrease.

R-2 from Marmaris International Yacht Club Routes will be sailed. 

A short course. Better than not racing at all.

At 14:15 IRC 0-1, at 14:20 IRC 2-3-4 executed their starts off Marmaris.

As the boats rounded the turning mark on the Yalancı Boğaz side, the wind began to decrease in strength. 

As the fleet's speed gradually decreased, tactical battles also began to emerge.

While IRC 0 group boats followed the same course as much as possible, searches for opportunities began in other classes.

COURSE SHORTENING

As the fleet passed the location of the start line, the committee decided to shorten the course due to the dropping wind that was slowly changing direction (310 degrees).

On the shortened course, the Yalancı Boğaz turning marks are forming the finish line with the modification made.

It is announced that finishes will be taken from the committee boat. 

The leaders have already approached the finish line and started to cross.

VAKKOROMA, helmed by Erhan KARACA, one of the tough boats of the IRC 0 class, makes the first finish.

5 seconds later, ATLAS-GÖKOVA YELKEN, helmed by Mahmut SARAL, completes its finish. 

9 seconds after that, MATRAK 2, helmed by Orhan ÖZDAŞ, completes its finish.

Following these boats, LEMON, helmed by Serhat ALTAY, and MERSİN YELKEN AKADEMİSİ, helmed by Oytun ÇALIŞLAR, completed their finishes.

It was also noticeable that within the teams, Kaan İŞ on VAKKORAMA and Selim KAKIŞ on ATLAS-GÖKOVA YELKEN team were effective.

When all finishes were taken;

In all classes, we witnessed teams racing fiercely over the two days, pushing the limits of the opportunities the weather gave to the fleet.

We watched the very enjoyable 2 short races of 22 boats worth dozens of boats in the 5th Leg.

In this leg, Leo KOLFF, a regular at Marmaris and Göcek races, continues to lead all races he participated in the IRC 4 class with his small boat at the helm.

Also in IRC 3 Class, BOOMERANG helmed by Serdar ŞAHİN continued its ambitious and consistent struggle in this race as well. 

Of course, let's not forget his teammate Ekber LEVENT.

Yes, the beloved, successful, gentlemanly figures of the racing world were on the Marmaris course this week. They raced to their hearts' content and gave us elegant views.

TROPHIES DELIVERED AT THE CLUB

Since an award ceremony could not be held due to the pandemic, the trophies were delivered to them from the club secretariat. 

In the written club racing program where the 6th leg will be raced two weeks later.

But who knows what will happen, how it will happen in these interesting, surprise-filled days.

Let's say health is the most important thing.

Let's stay healthy, let's meet healthy at sea.