Aegean 600 Race at Hellenic Offshore Racing Club - Preview

Aegean 600 race © Nikos Alevromytis

This coming Sunday, on the 4th of July in Greece, there will be another occasion for fireworks on the water. Starting in front of the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, an international fleet of forty-three teams hailing from 16 countries will cross the start line in the Aegean 600 Race.

This 600.0nm tour of the spectacular Aegean Sea is being hosted by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC). With an interesting course that has the fleet passing 15 islands, it is the famous Aegean itself that draws participants from around the world to enjoy the same superb sailing conditions and stunning scenery that has been inspiring mariners near and far for centuries.

The route was designed by a team of sailors from HORC who know the expectations of their fellow sailors in a race of this level. As a result, the competitors will enjoy a wide array of scenic passages and crossings, such as that through the Caldera of Santorini, but also some quite difficult routes through the straits of Kos and Mykonos - Delos where the prevailing Meltemi can be strong.

The HORC's Principal Race Officer is one of the best in the world, Athanasios (Soulis) Papantoniou, with experience from four Olympic sailing events.

"600-mile ocean races are taking place all over the world," he said, "and it's too bad that we as a country have let so much time pass before forming our own. Fortunately, HORC has helped with making a great promotion and international interest in the race, but this alone is not enough. This race must become an institution. In Greece we have ideal weather conditions and a beautiful track. The images that will accompany the competitors from the moment they leave Sounio will be unique," said Papantoniou.

Looking forward towards that Aegean tour will be two very experienced offshore teams. Sailing his beloved J/111 Blur.se will be Peter Gustafsson and his merry bandits from Stockholm, Sweden. Many of you have read about Peter's past experiences racing his J/111 on the Baltic Sea, garnering much silverware in many of the Scandinavian offshore classics. Then, sailing his J/11S AIOLIA will be a local offshore racer, Spyros Papantoniou.

Sponsors of Aegean 600 are the Hellenic Tourism Organization, Olympic Marine and D. Koronakis SA. The event is supported by Helmepa, Seaborne Shipbrokers, Palirria, X-Yachting, Nissos beer and Nautilus. The suppliers of the race are KosmoRide, Gregory's and Korres providing products to the competitors as well as services necessary for the organization of the event. Health Supporter is Athens Medical Group. Communication sponsors are ERT and ERA Sport, the newspaper Kathimerini, the sports newspaper SPORtime, the magazines Seahorse, Sailing World and Boats & Yachting Guide as well as the Hellenic Daily News NY.

More information at aegean600.com