COMPETITION INCREASES AS FLEET GROWS IN MARMARIS
MIYC WINTER TROPHY 3RD LEG
I'm coming to Marmaris for the MIYC Winter Trophy 3rd Leg races to be held on February 28th - March 1st.
For days, strong northerly winds have been blowing in the Western Mediterranean and Aegean, cooling the region.
DALAMAN OFFSHORE IS FLYING
As our plane descends over Dalaman offshore in the late afternoon of February 27th, it's possible to see the rough waves.
Dalaman offshore has also gotten its share.
A smooth landing in rough weather and welcome to Paradise; Marmaris.
Will the severe meteorological conditions continue on race days?
I'm curious about what will happen in this leg of the trophy, which started with high participation in the previous 2 legs.
44 REGISTRATIONS
When registrations closed at 17:00, seeing that the number of boats to race is 44, I understand that the beginning was not a coincidence.
In the morning, I open my eyes to a Marmaris awaiting sunshine and summer weather.
The coastal roads are covered with sand in places due to the effects of the past storm.
There are ripples on the sea created by moderate winds from different directions. There is no trace of those strong winds.
I'm heading from the quay towards the club. Racing yachts are side by side. Teams are having their tea and breakfast at the cafes in the back. I'm starting to breathe the racing atmosphere on land.
The club garden is already full for the briefing.
SHE IS NOW NATIONAL
At 10:00 AM, Chief Umpire Ezgi Kalaycı starts the briefing.
Ezgi Kalaycı became one of the Turkish National Umpires last week.
With the path she took at a very young age, her discipline, fairness sensitivity, and solution-oriented efforts in race management, she is now National.
First, she introduces the umpire colleagues who will work together in this race to the competitors.
Then she provides information about the courses. She explains how they determined the courses on this racing area and the considerations they paid attention to in buoy placement.
Finally, he reminds once again the rule flow for lodging a protest.
At the end of the briefing, we head towards the race course.
MARMARIS RACES START WITH A POSTPONEMENT
The wind is intermittent. Even when it blows, it comes from different directions in different locations. The race committee's test has begun again. Wind measurement announcements don't seem to end. Every location is being tested one by one. Hope, hope, a little bit of hope.
MARMARIS DISTRICT GOVERNOR ON THE RACE COURSE
While the committee continues course investigations, there is a guest on their boat to watch the race; Miyc President Bülent Çelik's guest Marmaris District Governor Nurullah Kaya.
Marmaris District Governor wishes success to all competitors via VHF 71.
WIND IS ENTERING THE COURSE BUT THE DIRECTION, DIRECTIONS?
SALVATION IS IN GEOGRAPHY
Measurements taken until 14:00 show that the incoming wind varies according to locations.
The committee announces the first race course of the day as Geographic Course.
MIYC Routes Course 1
Wind is blowing at the start area from 170-180 degrees at around 7-8 knots.
At 14:32 ORC A-B-C make their starts.
Afterwards, when ORC D-E groups cross the start line early, "General Recall" is applied and at 14:50 ORC F-G make their starts.
At 14:56, the start for ORC D-E classes is also complete.
All classes continue to compete within their own groups from the inner harbor of Marmaris up to the strait.
Upon entering the strait, choices come to the forefront.
Boats find wind on both shores. It is possible to advance from either shore.
CHACAL HAS MOVED UP TO 12TH IN ORC A CLASS
The competition in ORC A class is becoming quite evident at this position. After EKER which participated in the trophy in the previous leg, in this leg we see Vedat Tezman's CHACAL with Oğuz Ayan at the helm.
We are witnessing the different tactics of the 12 speedsters in ORC A class.
Some boats prefer a single tack from the shore, while others advance with tramolas.
Mersin Yelken Akademisi, Boreas, Farraway, Brozex and Vakkorama are in the lead.
The mouth of İçmeler is not producing the classic northerly wind, quite the opposite. An unusual regime prevails.
The fleet is virtually split in two, setting course for Kargataşı Island.
There is no change in wind strength.
At the strait exit the wind is decreasing and we are waiting for the leaders south of Kargataşı Island.
There is wind around the island that lightens but does not block the routes.
When the roundings begin; Boreas, Brozex, Farraway and Vakkorama are the first to complete the roundings respectively.
Spinnakers deployed with the roundings and magnificent views.
A downwind battle to the finish begins.
There is neck-and-neck competition in all classes.
The finish line is at a location that sees Kargataşı Island from a great distance.
For this reason, it is possible to see the race collectively spread with spinnakers in Marmaris inner and outer harbor.
The boats are crossing the finish line virtually glued to each other.
Except for some boats in ORC F and G classes, when the race is completed;
The Committee announces that the 2nd race of the day will be held when the clock shows 16:21 and that the course is ROUTE 3 from the MIYC Routes. At this time, the wind is at 5 knots.
The fleet will round Keçi Island and complete the race by finishing from İçmeler ahead.
EVERYTHING STARTED WELL, BUT?
The race began and the boats emerged from the strait into open sea with a good contest.
We set the media boat's course inside İçmeler strait. We wanted to follow and film the fleet boats here as they approached from the wide area to the narrow passage with spinnakers.
The fleet rounding the lighthouse collectively with spinnakers suddenly falls into a lull.
The decreasing wind continued to drop very rapidly between Keçi Island and the mainland.
ABANDONED FOR FAIRNESS
The leaders stalled, spinnakers collapsed, boats drew closer to each other. When the other fleet boats following the leaders also fell into this area, the race was abandoned at 17:20.
I believe the race was abandoned with the conviction that after the boats piled up in this area, even if wind were to return, the scales of fairness would be tipped.
After some time passed, wind from the opposite direction entered the congestion area, but it was too late. The engines had already started.
2ND LEG AWARD CEREMONY
There is a dinner at the club facilities and the award ceremony for the 2nd Leg races.
Conversations begin while the fish are cooking. At MIYC's award ceremonies, all competitors see each other.
The distance of the course turns into closeness. It's possible to see all participants.
We see those we couldn't see on the course. One of them is Arkasın's helmsman Serhat Atay. He has made a surprise
Racing this week on Celal İşçimenler's Zamazingo, the Izmir crew.
The award presentation moments are passing with enthusiasm.
MARCH 1 SUNDAY POSTPONEMENT ASHORE
The day begins with "Postponement Ashore". The race committee, us and some boats are on the course off Marmaris. The race committee is constantly taking measurements from different positions.
All measurements are not exceeding 4 knots. But boats curious about the course and the weather are coming one by one.
As the clock shows 12:55, a wind starts blowing at 10 knots from 125 degrees, but it is expected to settle.
As it approaches 14:00, the postponement is coming to an end. All boats are already around the committee boat.
The committee completes the course preparations and announces the route for the day's single race.
Route 4A from MIYC Routes.
The announced route is a triangle course. Chief Race Officer Ezgi Kalaycı had explained in the briefing the difficulties of setting up a triangle course on this racecourse.
The axis variations according to the wind.
As the course is set and start moments approach, a postponement is announced and the course is reorganized.
The wind is blowing at 9 knots from 125 degrees. There are no more excuses, all conditions are ready for racing.
At 13:57 for ORC A-B-C
At 14:03, ORC D-E classes
At 14:09, ORC F-G classes are executing their starts.
The classes have separated from other classes and are racing against each other.
The wind is blowing in the 14-16 knot range. The leaders are advancing very quickly to the first mark. After rounding the first mark and setting spinnakers, the competition continues in the same manner up to the north of Bedir Island.
DIFFERENT WINDS ARE FORMING ON THE COURSE
However, the wind drops under the lee of the Island and the spinnakers are getting confused.
Those who read those areas correctly are shifting slightly north and reaching the 2nd buoy.
As the leaders are rounding this buoy, the boats are seen as a 2nd group in the distance.
In this area, the wind is at 5-7 knots.
In Marmaris inner harbor, the prevailing wind is stable between Marmaris approaches - Yalancıboğaz, the western side is left to chance.
Farraway is also among those stuck in these areas.
Those flying spinnakers are battling different winds in different positions.
The first to finish respectively are; MERSİN YELKEN AKADEMİSİ, CHACAL and BROZEX. Subsequently, all boats quickly complete their finishes.
When all finishes are completed.
THE IMPACT OF NEW ENTRIES IS SHOWING ITSELF
At the end of the 3rd Leg, the level of competition has risen significantly with new entries to the fleet. Knowledge, competence and tactics are coming to the forefront.
Except for the ORC D group, no boat appears to be maintaining its position in the leadership seat in its own class.
Anything can happen at any moment, rankings change instantly.
This raises the quality of competition and makes the races breathlessly watchable and followable.
MIYC 4th Leg races will be held in two weeks on March 14-15. Let's see what will happen as we transition to the second part of the trophy.
Brief notes from racers on the course;
TUNCA ÇALIŞKAN
AGILE
"Marmaris Winter Trophy hosts many different boats and offers us an incredible race course.
On this course, we also add a lot of knowledge to ourselves and those racing alongside us."
ÖZGÜR İNAM
TOK SAILING
"We are very happy in Marmaris. There is a very high-quality fleet, very high-quality races are being held. We congratulate the race committee and the club."
İHSAN KALAYCI
CAPELLA 2
"Marmaris races are indispensable for us. They add meaning to our lives. We meet new people, make new friends. We all enjoy ourselves together."
AKİF SEZER
TOXIC
"A trophy with great participation. Everyone is pleased to be in this trophy. We see that serious teams are here, racing seriously. We are also enjoying it very much. I wish success to the friends in the club management."
ORHAN ÖZDAŞ
MATRAK SAİLİNG
"We are very pleased with this competitive environment in Marmaris. The quality is increasing along with the number of boats. Finding such a fleet in the same place in Turkey exists only in Marmaris. We are very happy to be part of this."
ZAFER ÖZNUR
FARRAWAY
"The Marmaris winter trophy is rising with very fast momentum. Fast fleets, fast racing yachts are gathering in Marmaris. We are having very enjoyable races, we are waiting for other racers as well."
RED LIONS
"I have been participating in these races for more than 10 years. These races are improving every year. Each new management that comes adds individuals on top and moves forward. We are in a place where you can sail in 4 seasons. Because it is a bay and the wind plays tricks, the races become very entertaining. Meanwhile, until you enter the course, until you reach that buoy, you can never predict what will happen. That's why I'm waiting for everyone to come sailing in Marmaris.
VAKKORAMA
"We are one of the first yachts to come to Marmaris. Marmaris has acquired an aggressive fleet day by day. We are very pleased, we don't ask newcomers why they came, we welcome everyone."
