AFR FAQ

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Skipper
Sailor
Beginner
  1. WHAT IS THE AFR? 
    It is the largest Russian-speaking amateur regatta. It takes place annually in the middle of autumn.
  2. WHERE AND WHEN WILL THE NEXT ONE BE HELD? 
    In Greece, 26 October - 2 November, 2024.
  3. WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE AFR? 
    Beginners and amateur sailors only. Those who have only recently graduated from sailing schools or have only been on a few solo charter races in the cruising divisions. More experienced sailors are in the racing divisions.
  4. HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS? 
    In 2023, we had 60 teams in 3 divisions and around 500 participants with us.
  5. HOW MANY AFR REGATTAS HAVE THERE BEEN? 
    October 2024 will be the tenth event.
  6. I JUST GOT MY SKIPPER’S CERTIFICATE. IS THERE ANY POINT IN PARTICIPATING IN THE AFR AS A SKIPPER, CONSIDERING THAT ALL MY CREW ARE ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A BOAT BEFORE? 
    Yes. In fact, ABSOLUTELY! The AFR regatta is designed to allow you to go to sea on your own for the first time comfortably and safely. Most of the skippers participating in the AFR are debutants. Yes, and so are their crews.
  7. I GOT MY SKIPPER'S CERTIFICATE A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN OUT TO SEA. HOW DO I PROCEED? 
    If your certificate was issued according to your knowledge and skills, rather than obtained for money or by friendship, the AFR is the ideal opportunity to finally make friends with the sea and start using the knowledge you have gained. Reread the outlines, flick through the reference books, and welcome aboard.
  8. I'VE HEARD THAT ONCE YOU'VE GOT YOUR SKIPPER'S CERTIFICATE, YOU SHOULD GO OUT WITH AN EXPERIENCED SKIPPER BEFORE YOU GET INTO YACHTING ON YOUR OWN. WHAT DO YOU SAY? 
    There is no definite answer to this question. If your training course was less than 2 weeks, if you do not have a deep theoretical understanding of sails, if you have difficulty deciphering the IPPSS and VHF, then perhaps the school you chose for your training was extremely negligent in preparing you to be a skipper. In any of these cases, we cannot recommend that you take part in the AFR. If, however, your instructor has given you all the knowledge required by any international course (IYT, RYA) and you are proficient in this knowledge, then you are definitely ready!
  9. A SIMPLE CRUISE IS ONE THING, AND A REGATTA IS ANOTHER; I'M NOT SURE I'M READY TO RACE. 
    The AFR is not just a regatta; first and foremost, it is a flotilla and a huge party. It is absolutely unnecessary to race, especially if you don't feel confident about sailing. About 50% of the teams do not compete for places but cruise all the stages, gaining experience and having a great time. In the evenings, all AFR anchorages turn into a huge social club: on the boats and in shore bars, team members exchange impressions, play guitars, drink wine, and have fun. So that in the morning, they can set sail again.
  10. I'M A FAIRLY EXPERIENCED SKIPPER WITH OVER 3000 MILES IN MY LOGBOOK. DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFR? 
    Since 2022, we have had a RACING division - it will definitely suit you. Otherwise, if you're looking for a big, fun event with lots of great people, you'll also enjoy the AFR if you participate in the CRUISING division. We will simply ask you to withdraw from the race for prizes if we see your professionalism; the AFR is a beginner's regatta, and you are unlikely to find worthy competitors among the participants. 

    And finally, since 2023, we have a CUSTOM division, which we call hedonistic - any yacht can participate in it. The CUSTOM division does not race but enjoys watching the regatta from the sidelines with a glass of rosé, attending all the concerts and parties, and often leading them.
  11. YOU SAY "BEGINNERS." WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? 
    We mean skippers with zero to 3000 miles on their own. If you have between 1500 and 3000 miles, those miles should not be sailed as a skipper at serious international regattas. In this case, you will not interested in racing with the others, nor will the others be interested in competing against you.
  12. WHICH YACHTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AFR? 
    All yachts are divided into several divisions: cruising divisions (Bavaria 46, Bavaria 51, Oceanis 46.1, Oceanis 51.1), racing division (boats to be announced later), and custom non-racing division (any yacht that can join the festival).
  13. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFR? 
    To participate in the AFR, you need to charter a yacht from us. The yacht rental fee includes all possible extras and expenses. Please see the regatta booking page for details.
  14. CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE AFR ON MY OWN YACHT OR A YACHT CHARTERED ELSEWHERE? 
    You can - in the CUSTOM division.
  15. I HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN A DIVISION. CAN I CHOOSE A SPECIFIC YEAR OF MANUFACTURE OR A YACHT NO OLDER THAN THREE YEARS? 
    Unfortunately, no. Due to the large fleet, we cannot guarantee the yacht's age. Please note that each division has a different value regardless of the boat's year of manufacture. That means a 2014 Bavaria 46 and a 2017 Bavaria 46 will cost the same. This may seem a little unfair, but all AFR boats are thoroughly inspected for technical conditions and are usually without significant problems. 

    However, there is a way to ensure you get the freshest boat available - book at the start of the sale. When we open a booking, we offer the newest yachts first, and by the end of the fleet, we usually have the oldest yachts left. But in any case, we do not have yachts older than 2014, so there is no need to worry about "junk."
  16. WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE AND DEPOSITS? 
    At the discretion of the captain and crew, you can leave a charter deposit or purchase full insurance.
  17. AM I CORRECT THAT I NEED TO CHARTER A BOAT FROM YOU, GET MYSELF A CREW, AND THEN I WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE AFR? 
    Yes, that is correct. Moreover, we are often approached by people who want to take part in the AFR as sailors - we send all these people to skippers who still have vacancies and are willing to take on new people. So, if you feel you are short of like-minded people, please contact us - we will try to help!
  18. WHAT IF I WANT TO MAKE MONEY OFF MY SAILORS? CAN I COLLECT A LITTLE MORE MONEY FROM THEM THAN THE BOAT IS WORTH IN THE REGATTA?
    The skipper determines the cost of a seat on the boat. Some go with their families, some have a team of enthusiastic friends, and some are ready to take on new people and take responsibility for them. No one will judge you because, in this case, you accept the risks and the nervousness and organize the life and leisure of the crew. In our opinion, you deserve to be rewarded financially because your team would not have been possible without you.
  19. HOW MUCH MONEY DO AFR SKIPPERS COLLECT FROM EACH CREW MEMBER? 
    €1300-1600, depending on the team and division.
  20. HOW DO I BOOK A BOAT FOR THE AFR? 
    To book a boat, you need to decide on the division and make full payment to the organizers.
  21. IF I CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE AFR AFTER PAYMENT? 
    In this case, you and I will have to try to find someone willing to buy back the boat you paid for. Unfortunately, this is the only way to avoid losing all the money you have already paid.
  22. I AND/OR MY CREW NEED TO APPLY FOR A GREEK VISA TO GO TO THE AFR. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS? 
    Yes, we will provide all the necessary documents no later than 60 days before the regatta.
  23. WHAT PAYMENT OPTIONS DO YOU HAVE? 
    Cashless transfer in euros to a European bank account.
  24. OCTOBER, GREECE... IS IT COLD? 
    No. During the last few October, the daytime temperature has never dropped below 17 degrees Celsius; most days, it is 22-25 degrees Celsius. Most days are sunny, and precipitation is rare. Wind strength is not more than 20-22 knots, on average 12-14 knots. The temperature of the sea is 20-22 degrees.
  25. DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD TAKE CHILDREN ON BOARD? AND IF SO, FROM WHAT AGE? 
    The daughter of the head of Seanation has been participating in the AFR since she was 6 years old and considers our event to be one of the funnest events on earth. There are usually no problems with children at the AFR if the children:
    a) are capable of compromise
    b) are communicative and sociable
    c) are not picky in terms of living conditions
  26. WHAT IS THE ROUTE OF THE REGATTA? 
    We depend on the weather, and the scale of the regatta is such that not every port can accommodate us. The day-by-day plan of crossings becomes more or less clear not earlier than a week before the start.
  27. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE REGATTA?
    On Saturday morning, we meet all the skippers, fill in the charter paperwork, put everyone on their boats, and start the boat acceptance process, which lasts until the evening. The arriving crews buy food, get acquainted with their colleagues, and adapt to the yacht life. Saturday evening, the global opening party takes place; for most teams, it ends in the middle of the night. :)
    Sunday morning and the morning of each subsequent day, there is a skippers' briefing where the organizers outline the plan for the day. Sunday is not a racing day; it is dedicated to training. Skippers train themselves and their teams so that from Monday, everyone can fully participate in the process. But training doesn't mean not moving on to the next anchorage - every day, the AFR regatta sleeps in a new location.

    To summarize the regatta plan, it looks like this:
    Saturday: meeting, introductions, acceptance of boats, food procurement, opening party. 
    Sunday: briefing, training, transfer to the new place, rest, and entertainment. 
    Monday - Thursday: briefing, race, transfer to a new place, rest, and entertainment. 
    Friday: briefing, race, return to the base marina, refueling, chaseout, closing party, and prize giving to winners.
    9:00 Saturday: all AFR participants leave the boats.
  28. WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENING AFTER THE RACE? 
    Explore a new place, have dinner in one of the great restaurants, go to a concert or party, take part in a music jam right on the dock, watch fireworks or the stars, listen to music or the splash of the waves. Trust me, no one has ever been bored during an AFR.
  29. WHAT SHOULD I (SKIPPER) AND MY CREW BRING? 
    We recommend bringing a set of thermal underwear WITHOUT wool, a fleece sweatshirt, and a set of windproof trousers and jacket. Remember that natural material clothing is not to be worn at sea as it absorbs moisture and does not dry. It is best if your synthetic trousers and jacket are from a so-called membrane fabric, which breathes and wicks away your sweat but, at the same time, does not get wet and does not blow away. However, all these recommendations are only relevant if the weather is cool or windy. If the weather is warm and calm, shorts and a T-shirt will suffice. 
    Don't forget a hat and sunglasses: it's not that hard to overheat your head and go blind from the constant glare, even in November. Sunscreen with a protection factor of 30+ will not hurt either. And the last important point: your deck shoes should have light or non-staining soles and fit securely on your feet - flip-flops and similar to flip-flops are not suitable for yachting. It is also essential to bring a tablet with electronic navigation (Navionics), a portable marine radio, and USB adapters for 12v sockets.
  30. WHAT ARE THE RACING RULES, WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE DONE? 
    The AFR racing rules are specially adapted for novice skippers and differ significantly from sporting rules. In fact, when creating the rules, we focused on the safety and fairness of the competition. You will receive a detailed summary of all racing conditions 2-3 months before the regatta.
  31. WHAT ABOUT THE STARS? ARE THEY COMMON OR SEPARATED BY DIVISIONS? 
    Separated. Each division starts separately.
  32. OK, I'VE BOOKED THE BOAT, WHAT'S NEXT? 
    We will include you in the AFR skippers’ chat on Telegram, where you can communicate with other skippers and the organizers on all issues. We will also provide you with visa support and all regatta information materials, so you know what to prepare for and how.
  33. WHAT IF ONE OF THE TEAMS HAS A NOVICE SKIPPER AND AN ULTRA-PROFESSIONAL RACER; HOW DO YOU BEAT THEM? 
    Firstly, the main rule of any regatta is fair play. Secondly, any professional and experienced yachtsman is very visible in a crowd of beginners; if one of the participants demonstrates outstanding skills, we undertake the obligation to reveal the professional and disqualify the team for unsportsmanlike behavior.
  34. WHY IS IT EASY TO DEBUT AS A SKIPPER IN THE AFR? 
    Because:
    a) there are newbies around. A complete lack of snobbery and the presence of mutual support is the essence of the AFR.
    b) the organizers provide safety and advice on everything. Help is always there, but still, you are the skipper, and no one stands behind you; all decisions and commands come from you alone.
    c) the AFR is fun. A one-boat debut is nerve-wracking. We have tried it, and we know. :)‍
  35. I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, WHERE SHOULD I GO?
    ‍In Telegram or Whatsapp +447418355835