YV&C News Desk

Vernicos Yachts organized for the 3rd year the Cyclades Blue Cup, exclusively for Beneteau yachts, from May 7th to 14th, 2005.

100 sailors, 14 yachts from 7 different countries (Poland, Russia, U.K., Spain, Norway, France and Greece) participated in the spectacular race.

The event had been governed by the following publications valid in 2005:

• The I.S.A.F. Racing Rules of Sailing (R.R.S.) for 2005
• The O.R.C. Special Regulations Governing Offshore Racing
• The Event is classified in Category 3
• The International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea
• All boats raced under the EAO (Greek Offshore Race Committee) time on distance correction system

On Saturday May 7th, skippers meeting & the check-in of the yachts occurred at Lavrion. The next day the 1st leg was from Lavrion to Kea with fine weather, south wind and force of 3-4B. The winner was the Spanish crew skippered by Ignacio Lopez Lorenzo. The next leg was from Kea to Syros on May 8th. In the evening, a reception took place at the port by the local municipality and children played traditional Greek music with local instruments. Winner of the 2nd leg was the Russian crew skippered by Alexander Kisselev. The 3rd leg on May 10th started from Syros and finished at Paros leaving the rocky island of Mermigas at starboard and a buoy before the ormos Paroikias at port. In the evening, a reception was organized by the Sailing Club of Paros & local businessmen. Leaflets were given by the local municipality to each crew with illustrations of the island. The winner of the 3rd leg was the Polish crew skippered Przemyslaw Skibinski. On May 11th, sightseeing by bus to traditional villages of the island and to MORAITIS winery was organized for the sailors. The fun continued in the evening with a canoe race. Winner was the British crew of the yacht PAROS.

Due to lack of wind the 4th leg was cancelled and the yachts moved to Kythnos by engines. In the afternoon, the restaurant Ostria prepared a welcome bouffet for the crews. The municipality of Druopidas offered to each crew local sweets. The last leg started from Kythnos on Friday 13th and finished at Kea, cove Kavia with wind force 5-6B North. From this point on, there was free sailing to Lavrion. The winner of this leg was again Mr. Skibinski and his crew. The closing ceremony took place at "Metaxourgeio" hall and representatives of the local municipality and the port authorities were present.

Winner of the 3rd Cyclades Blue Cup was the yacht "KALAMOS" (Oceanis 361) with the Polish skipper Przemyslaw Skibinski and his crew, second was "ITHAKI" (Oceanis 473) with the Russian skipper Alexander Kisselev and his crew and third the "FISKARDHO" (Oceanis 423) with the British skipper John Milner and his crew.

2005-2006 Schedule of Regattas in Greece organized by Vernicos Yachts

• The 15th Blue Cup will take place in the Argosaronic Gulf between October 30th and November 7th of 2005 with around 45 crews of 14 countries, starting from Athens.
• The 4th Cyclades Blue Cup will take place in Cyclades group of islands between April 29th and May 6th of 2006, starting from Lavrion.

For more information, please visit Vernicos Yachts website www.vernicos.com at relative section.

The total results of the races are the following: