FIRST ASA COURSE OF 2011

The first Skippers ASA sailing school was run this April 3-9, we had 3 students from the US Embassy. Military diplomats who are here to help with the American presence in Europe. The Students had completed thier 101 and 103 course during the winter months in a class room environment, and we decided the best way to finish off was to spend a week under sail.
Living on board K3 and putting into practice all the skills they had learnt in the class room.

During the week they paid visits the ancient town of Epidavros, the island of Poros and had time to visit the island of Spetsai. We all enjoyed the long reaching sail over to the southern Peloponnese and the tiny village of Plaka. Here the students met the local hero and Taverna owner "Barba Yannis", the fisherman call him the Pirate, as he sports a magnificant handle bar moustache that makes him look typically greek.

That evening the north wind started up and we had some extreme gusts in the harbor. The morning came and we saw that our 'windex' had blown off the top of the 25 meter mainmast, must have been a really good gust.
The day unfolded into a wonderful sail back to Poros island, some 40 miles north. Leaving Plaka at around 1030 we tied up in Poros some 5 1/2 hours later. The students had some worth while expereince in high winds, moderate sea ways on the way over from Plaka. The second part of the trip was a challenging tacking problem up the Hydra channel, before turning for Poros and a fast reach into the port. Everyone steered, tacked, trimmed, and naviagted thier way home to Poros.

The week ended with a final sail home to Alimos marina from Aegina island, beers and final good byes finished this magical week....

Next on the agenda a 10 day trip out towards turkey and the dodecanese islands... so stayed tuned..