Ardfern Marina, Loch Craignish, Scotland

Ardfern Marina on a sunny day in early April. This is the new home for Jennie B for the 2010 sailing season. It's not a big place but it's in a wonderful location. The people who work in the marina are very friendly. Its got a good boatyard and excellent chandlers. Ardfern is a small village with a good village shop and reasonable pub. It's only drawback as a location is that it is a long way from Hertfordshure. It took us about 10 hours to drive home (with breaks).

Blue Cup Yachts Ready to go

Monday Morning October 31st 2005 - a view of some of the fleet of 53 Beneteaus owned by Vernicos Yachts the organisers of the Blue Cup. The yachts were all jammed in to a corner of the very big Alimos Marina near Athens. Of course our boat Pelagonisi, an Oceanis 373, was rafted out the furthest of the lot. Carrying our heavy bags across a wobbly plank and over two other boats in the dark when we arrived on Sunday night was an experience.

Blue Cup Regatta Route 2005

This is the route of the Blue Cup Regatta which I took part in from October 31st to November 6th 2005. The Blue Cup Regatta is very well organised by Vernicos Yachts http://www.vernicos.gr/. They do a great job, this was our first year but many of the crews who took part have done so for several years. 

Blue Cup Day 1

Breakfast on board Monday 31st Mickey and Colin - this was our first and last breakfast on board, every other day the onshore facilities were much more appealing.

The first race in the Blue Cup series was from Alimos to Epidavros a distance of about 30 nm. Winds were very light so the race was shortened. Some competitors took the opportunity to have a swim! We finished this leg in the dark which was quite challenging because we discovered the light we thought was the committee boat was an isolated danger mark. Fortunately we spotted the finish line before we ran aground and eventually tacked over the line much to our relief. We motored on to Epidavros and arrived about 2130 just in time to find a taverna for well deserved food and beer.

Breakfast on board - Dave and Chris

Chris our skipper looking relaxed as we sailed very slowly towards Epidavros on our first day. Surprisingly relaxed considering he organised everything for the trip and he paid the collision damage deposit on the boat - good man!

Dave our tactician giving his usual helpful advice - left hand down a bit.

Blue Cup Day 2

On the Alimos - Epidavros leg we finished 25th which was disappointing because we felt we could have done better and because we ended up being rafted well out again. So here we are on Tuesday 1st November 2005 at Epidavros with 4 boats between us and the key. Chris and Dave are rushing back from breakfast so that we get going and let the rest of the fleet off the dock.

The other reason Chris and Dave were rushing back is that we had a massive kedge rode to haul in. As we were coming in to Epidavros in the dark I let the kedge go way too soon (OK it fell off the stern as I was organising it). We then had to scrabble around for long rope so I could do a quick sheepshank or two to extend the kedge rode - oops. As you can see Mickey and the rest of the crew did point out my error.

Committee Boat racing to the start of our 2nd days racing from Epidavros to Poros.

Some of the crew took race preparation very seriously, I think we were busy stowing our beer and food.

At least on this leg we had a bit of wind but still only up to Force 3. We continue to rotate the crew through various positions (helm, trim, pit I mean) as we haven't all sailed together before and everyone wants to have a go at everything.

Because if his bruise Dave feels compelled to lay in his bunk and demand tea and sympathy. The good news is he doesn't seem to snore when he is sleeping on his front which, as we didn't have enough ear plugs for the rest of the crew, was a big relief

Dave managed to slip down the companionway steps on our first day and he is keen to show off his bruise of which more later.

At least we arrived in Poros in daylight. Although our placing of 28th was not brilliant we are getting to understand what we need to do to sail the boat and we are having fun. Poros is well worth the visit and we do our best to visit as many bars as possible

Blue Cup Day 3

Wednesday November 2nd 2005. Blue Cup Race Day 3. Leaving Poros on a beautiful sunny day

A line of Blue Cup yachts heading south out of Poros for todays start line.

Unfortunately although it was warm and sunny we had no wind. We floated with intent round the start until eventually the organisers decide to abandon this start and move on in search of wind.

We motored round to a small bay where everyone dropped their anchors (yes it was a tight squeeze). Hot enough for swimming so we did some of that. As the wind just did not pipe up in the end we all motored on to Wednesdays night venue of Ermioni.

I am not sure what the locals think when the Blue Cup fleet descends and some of the crews provide their own entertainment. This Hungarian crew laid on their own companion!

Dave and I tested the home distilled eye wateringly powerful vodka the hungarians also brought with them.

Ermioni has docks on both sides of the town. Here are a few boats at the quieter side, well it was until we arrived.

Mickey enjoys the first of the many beers we drank that evening

Colin demonstrates his legenday powers of consumption, well OK we did all help to knock back a few Amstels as we watched the sun go down and enjoyed the company of other race crews.