This year I decided to organize the regatta go to Apple. As the boat that I wanted to go (Empress III - www.sy-cesarica.com) is a link in Novigrad, which is about 150 miles away from the starting line in the guide, it is demanded a lot of preparation. I shared this venture into three stages, transfer to the Roadmap, race and transfer back to Novigrad. As we all would not be prenaporno, and the crew know the boat, I had planned to transfer a lot of time. Preparations have started sending mail to all who sailed with me, and Zoran sent the same mail to all members of JK Samobor. As always, turnout in the first few days was so large it could fill up three ships, and in the end we barely fill this one. Even people who have urged me to go to the end of the race did not go, also those for whom I was sure that he will join me gave up and went to those who did not even count. After the ship returned from Barcolana, should have been prepared, so I went with the cleaning, inspection and repair of marine systems. It was a long time, and all done without any pressure.

The crew began to assemble in Novigrad Sunday, 8.11. It was raining the whole day, and Monday, when we started was forecast south. There was no incentive, but I thought that since this can only be for the better. First I went to Porec by Zeljko, najiskusnijeg crew members, this will be his fourth Jubuka. Soon he arrived in Novigrad Boštjan from Ljubljana, which has its own boat, but wished to sail the boat a little bigger, so he chose the 16-meter Cesarica. Shortly after arriving doctors Olivier and Christian from Switzerland, and at night we are joined by Anna and Maja, so that now the crew transfer is complete and we are ready to go.

On Monday morning, after we bought bread and drank a quick coffee, we head in 8h. Light wind blowing, and a great sail at a speed of about 8 knots. It's raining, but we do not matter much because we have a bimini and sprayhood, dolphins and debt between Porec and Rovinj us raise morale. Wind completely before falling Porer and burn engine. In Ulster awaits us quite another time. Announced the South increases, so orcamo the not-so-perfect corner, but there is no way around it. Suddenly Genoa saw starts, and it quickly raolamo. An amazing thing (the first in a series), the rasparao rogalj Genoa (handle sheets of Genoa). The sail is two years old, and the wind was 12 knots! We will have to continue with the main sail and motor, a genoa to repair the road. Wind increases and exceeds 30 knots, and the mainsail once you start really saw it all skaters izletjeli from it. The sail must move quickly down, but by the winds and waves, it was a surgery that lasted 15ak minutes (it seemed much longer). The crew was great, everyone gave their best and we did it. Now go to the engine to the EU to take a little rest, eat something and decide what to do next. We talked about options and eventually with oduučujemo to sleep on Unions, and the desire to negotiate with the rigger Sukošanu quick fix. The Unions have failed to agree and save the heads, eat and dry. This is only the first day, and we've already lost two sails! Who knows what we are all waiting ...

We go to 6h with the Union as soon as possible to come to the sailmaker. Let's go to the engine (not that we have a choice) and everything was ok until we passed Olib and entered the sea of Vir, where wind increases to 20-30 knots and waves from the side is all the more. Not exactly a pleasant ride, but Maja in these conditions for eggs with onions and bacon, which we all raised morale. Not only has made breakfast, but the kitchen and save! Wind completely stops in front of Zadar, in Sukošan arrive at 13h where we agree sails and give them a sailmaker. Thanks Dubravko repaired sails and the team from Elan Yachting on transport! Brzuspješno we tried to drink coffee in the marina because everything is closed, so we decided to take up the tourist Kukljica, drink coffee on the boat and anchor in Ždrelac. It was completely quiet, and all enjoy. Crew I made chili for dinner that must be loved because they were all eaten. They deserve after all that passed these two days.

On Wednesday morning we awake at 8 am, our breakfast and are eagerly awaiting news from the sailmaker. He says he will sail tomorrow morning to get in Vodice, so we head south. No wind, and sunbathe and enjoy, and try to sail with a small gennaker. We need to train, and only to sail we have left. In Vodice arrive just at dusk, we dock at the pier all have extracurricular activities to dinner, which I announced to 8:30 pm Today I do pasta with turkey and mushrooms. In the evening we are joined by Željko guests from Austria. They brought us a gift Porto, so we had to try it after dinner.

On Thursday after the coffee Viradi, we arrive repaired sails. Hooray! We set Genoa, put battens in the mainsail, runs reefs, we put the new scroll bars, pulled halyards. They are all in action. Rights workshops.

The team is hungry, and of course, and the eggs with onions, mushrooms and bacon came as ordered. In the afternoon we head a little train in the weak wind in front of the Roadmap. All mostly already know it all very well, so it is a real pleasure ... and finally we have a sail! This evening we arrived in Zagreb Elvis will sail with us in the regatta. All together we go to dinner, which saves the organizer of the regatta on board Ina. Good food and better company, but the tiredness makes it his own, and go to sleep early. Friday is the day a holiday. Register for the regatta. Get a bib number 60, we pass a ship, put our transmitter for live tracking via the Internet. From Ljubljana we receive two crew members, Sergei and Sebastian, so we are now complete. All of them are very glad, because they bring charm. Njam. After dinner, Zeljko and I are going to meet the skipper. Were reported in 74 of the ship, and starts at 23h. We all have a rest until 22h, then save and departure.

At the start, no wind, and in line with the crowd. Odlučujeno us does not make sense to push it with this many trips do not have many opportunities for maneuvers. After starting slowly floated here all along Prvić and would not move. Zlarina When the wind increases, and is now running after. Zeljko via SMS and receive information about the speed of the boat in front of us, to the checkpoint to pass the chamber 30ak ships. Jabuka head towards us and going quite well until the morning when the wind falls and turns to the southeast. Smaller and lighter boats that we are now ahead faster than us, and behind. 10ak miles before Apples rasparao us rogalj mainsail. It is unbelievable how badly sutured the sails! We are trying to come up with some improvisation. Olivier suggested that still sail with the first short, which was the most logical solution. Now not only do we have a severe handicap of the ship, but we must sail with a smaller sail area in very little wind. We turn around 11h apple is gennaker the poor south, slowly head towards Blitvenice. These conditions are very slow. Sergei us for pasta for lunch, so we raised it a little moral. Blitvenice pass and now we begin to look forward as we approach the end. In Vodice arrive around 19h, we match the flank of the 10ti ship in the series, toast and head out on pizza and beer. Move quickly back and nab all kinds sleeping like babies until 7 am when we removed it to our neighbors that we are tied going.

In the morning squeeze succeeds on the pier, and we were already awake all goes Viradu in the machine, and the shower in the marina. At 12 noon lunch at the hotel. Good food and atmosphere is the most picked teams Darko Prizmic who played a moldy apple and lebac to end. Most of our crew leaves, and transfer to Novigrad'll do Maja, Olivier, Christian and myself. I forgive and move north. Sail with gennaker to yellow, the wind falls, and continues to the engine, of course, moral ism pass by and see Sita Marco Polo before he finally removed from the island. Anchor in Bribinj, and in May we made a super dinner after which we are only able to sleep.

On Monday at 7 am embarking on. Low blows south, gently sail with gennaker and enjoy while you still can. Ilovik stops in the hope that we will drink a beer. Everything was closed, so a bit disappointed sitting on a bench overlooking the town and the ship ... after a few minutes to arrive Maja with bag full of beer! Ngovorila lokalce is to sell her 5 large beers for 5 Euros! Super! After a short break for a beer, go on to the Union where we were tied around 17h. Tonight while I stew for the crew worked, the cat we got the boat and wanted to push us over for dinner. He had failed, but to ask Olivier, who knows. After all, Maja we still made the pancakes! Just for better sleep.

On Tuesday we start with the Union as early as 4 hours in the morning. In the beginning, trying to sail a bit, but in the Kvarner wind completely disappears, and appears Fog continues to Novigrad. We arrived around 11 am after running over 400 miles and a lot of enjoyment ...

The team gave all of himself to rapidly download and agree sails, wash your boat and bring everything in line after all. Thanks!

Finally thanks to everyone who helped the Empress to circumnavigate around the apple

Crosail in the operation of ships, Zoran some help gathering crew, join the club, verification and loan VHF, and Dubravko rigger team from Elan Yachting in Sukošan napomoći around the nuclei, Zeljko on the organization of repairs, the entire crew: Maja, Ana, Elvis, Olivier, Christian, Sergei, Sebastian, Boštjan, JK Samobor on monitoring and support, Hrvoje VHF to send a bus in conductors and JK Tijat for their hospitality.

Until the next race ... well more!