Trophy Race Stage Held Under Desert Dust Conditions

On Friday, April 1st, desert dust brought by strong winds had covered beautiful Marmaris, just like all our coasts.

While approaching the area from the Marmaris hills, unpleasant colors unsuitable for the region had covered the mountains and the sea surface.

At the club facilities, the main topic of the opening cocktail was what the weather would do over the weekend and what it would bring.

Saturday, April 2nd

We are heading to the briefing under a relatively clear sky.

ALWAYS THE SAME WHISTLE ON THE SAME DAY

On the first race days, after the whistle blows at 10:00 AM without fail, Chief Umpire Can Giray addresses the participants.

"One way or another, we've reached Leg 4. In 4 legs we managed to complete a total of 7 races.

Results that will determine the overall Trophy results have started to emerge.

We established our rules at the beginning, we're not making many changes.

No changes in the fleet either, we're racing with a fantastic fleet.

This week we have 28 boats, weather reports are a bit different.

Istanbul, Izmir have intense winds, ours is mixed.

We'll head out to sea immediately and assess the situation."

They're heading to sea, and we're following them.

The hazy atmosphere continues. Colors have abandoned this beautiful geography.

Against that pale backdrop, the race committee boat and the yachts that will compete.

No problem with the wind, it's blowing. The committee boat has dropped anchor. 

Start preparations begin immediately.

The wind has settled at 125 degrees, as if it doesn't want to shift.

It's hovering around 9 knots.

BRING ON THE BUOY RACE

Route 5 from MIYC Routes Will Be Raced

At 12:05, the start takes place for IRC-0-1-2 groups.

When one of the OCS boats turns out to be IRC-0 contender Vakkorama, attention inevitably turns to it.

Making up for lost time is not possible, the competitors are fast.

At 12:10, when IRC-3-4 execute their start, the entire fleet is heading toward Yalancıboğaz with beam reaches.

At the return buoy, the dropping wind increases to 12-14 knots downwind.

Competitors are closely matched in every class.

The wind shows no signs of decreasing. It increases from time to time.

After 2 laps when the boats cross the finish line in front of Marmaris Castle.

TODAY IS BUOY DAY

The race committee, which was looking for wind in previous legs, announces the second race of the day now that they've found it.

The course is the same.

Wind from 125 degrees.

Slightly increased, between 10-12 knots.

At 13:50 the start for IRC-0-1-2, at 13:55 the start for IRC-3-4 groups takes place.

The wind is increasing slightly over time.

Those who realize they made a mistake in the first race are applying new tactics within the same route.

Rankings within the groups are generally changing.

This seems likely to bring surprises at any moment in the overall results.

As the race approaches its end, with wind blowing at 16 knots, those who complete 2 laps on the course are finishing.

At the end of the day's 2nd race:

ANCHOVY AWARD CEREMONY

Participation in MIYC award nights always takes place exactly as desired.

This time, the club is hosting the large crowd with anchovies.

Everyone is happy and the award ceremony.

MIYC Winter Cup 3rd Leg awards find their owners.

Those who can't get enough of the event continuing until late hours are continuing the night as teams at the venues on the quay.

These venues are trying not to experience the effects of inflation, but is it possible?

Sunday, April 3 

There is hazy weather on the course again.

We see from meteorology websites that the wind will change direction at some point today. 

IF THE COMMITTEE SERVICE BOAT WANTS TO TAKE A DAY OFF

The race committee boat has dropped anchor, but the service boat that will set the marks wants to take a day off today. 

Without thinking about whose hands that boat fell into, they end up throwing the marks anyway.

The principal race officer is informing the boats about the delay.

Wind from 125 degrees between 5-13 knots is causing excitement for the committee.

Course 1 A from MIYC Courses will be sailed.

The race starting in the inner harbor will be completed again in front of Marmaris Castle with a Kargataşı Island turn.

The start of IRC-0-1-2 groups takes place at 12:10.

IRC-3-4 start at 12:55.

The wind blowing at 12 knots at the start drops to 10 knots when reaching the windward mark and continues to decrease.

NATURALLY FRESHENING STARTS

Classes other than IRC 0 are almost gathering after the mark and making way slowly.

There are amateur anglers on their route.

IRC 0s are ahead of them but have separated from each other.

The strait will bring the fleet together but still difficult.

The wind has started its games inside and in the open sea.

IRC 0 group entering the Strait, separated from each other, are heading towards Kargataşı Island.

LEADERS CHANGE, COURSE DOESN'T

The leader keeps changing. Different wind in every area.

A regime becomes apparent as we progress. Impossible to predict.

Try to find the wind coming from Turunç from İçmeler.

Sometimes it even comes from Yılancık Island.

THE CHANGE HOURS INDICATED BY METEOROLOGY?

The wind is also searching for its direction, as are the sailors. If only they could find it, you'll see.

Around Kargataşı Island, the wind drops to 3 knots as the fleet leaders arrive.

IRC 0s are slowly circumnavigating the Island one by one.

Spinnakers are opening, or rather, we are witnessing the attempts to open them.

NOT YILANCIK ISLAND

The opened spinnakers are pulling the boats towards Yılancık Island.

Then the wind drops, the spinnakers collapsing.

The fleet boats that find the wind and their course, when they throw themselves into the inner harbor disconnected from each other, they rush to cross the finish line on a single tack as if they have reached oxygen and are breathing.

When the entire fleet completes their finishes.

In a different atmosphere, 3 races of the 4th Leg take place on a course where calm conditions are rarely experienced.

Intra-group competitions reflect on the overall standings and begin to show clear results as they approach the finale.

Miyc Winter Trophy 5th Leg will be sailed on April 23-24.

At the end of Miyc Winter Trophy 4th Leg;