Marmaris International Race Week 2014 - Overall
by Icarus Sailing Media 1 Nov 2014 13:22 PDT
25-31 October 2014
The final day for the Marmaris International Race Week finally came and all you could see at Netsel Marina were happy faces after what had been a very successful week so far. Thanks to the good weather and great sailing conditions it has been nothing but a positive experience for everyone out on the water. The shore side activities were a hit too, providing a vibrant social scene for friends and family to enjoy.
In fact last night was a perfect example... the main stage on the event site was filled with partygoers and sailors in fancy dress. Mexicans, bears, prisoners and many other costumes were entered into a fancy dress competition in a bid to win the prize money on offer. After the contest there was an Oriental dance performance to wow the crowds before the party got underway and continued long into the night.
But let's get back to the racing. The final day of the regatta saw the last race of the event and the fleet was anxious to get started. The shifty weather kept them waiting for a while, but eventually the racing got underway and all divisions started with a medium breeze of around 8 knots.
The tricky weather tested even the most experienced crews as frequent sail changes provided plenty of opportunities for overtaking or falling back. Packed mark roundings and tight reaching meant that the race was a great spectacle to watch from the shore. And as the wind started to increase so did the crowds as the boats gave a real performance for the spectators.
There were some great battles in the IRC fleet with Protel Matmazel sealing a perfect weeks performance with yet another win today making it four victories out of four races - their most successful Marmaris International Race Week so far. It has certainly set the standard for next year's regatta.
Of course the week could not end without a memorable awards ceremony. All of the sailors were present to cheer for the winners and of course... to have one final party! The rendezvous will be resumed once again next year for the 26th Marmaris International Race Week. Until then, thanks for watching.
marmarisraceweek.com