Hellenic Match Racing Tour 2025: A resounding success in Piraeus, Greece
by José Cigarran 22 Feb 07:09 NZDT
Hellenic Match Racing Tour © Match Race
The Hellenic Match Racing Tour (HMRT) has entered a new era with its 2025 edition, offering a renewed and even more exciting circuit.
With new series of races and the participation of a greater number of international teams, this event has met high expectations, consolidating itself as one of the most important tournaments in the world of match racing.
At this stop in Piraeus, Greece, ten teams met to compete in a high-level show. Among them, the Cigarrán Sailing Team from the distant lands of Galicia, specifically from the "Monterreal Club de Yates de Baiona", sponsored by Cigarran Abogados, Lenda pet food, Mundo Náutica, and as a collaborator of Tierra y Mar Aventura. On this occasion, it was made up of Oscar Comesaña, Manuel Piñeiro and José Cigarrán. The team stood out as the only foreign team invited to the circuit. The competition was organised by the Yacht Club Greece, with the support of some of the country's best sailors, including Kaldis, Papageorgiou and Tripodis, who are leading figures in Greek match racing.
The start of the competition in perfect conditions. The races began on 14 February 2025, under ideal conditions: a south-westerly wind of 8 to 10 knots, an almost calm sea and a pleasant temperature of 15 degrees. The races were held on the "Yngling", a racing boat designed in 1967 by the Norwegian Jan Herman Linge. This "Yngling" was Olympic class in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and is characterised by being a robust boat with great inertia and little sail, which represents a challenge for the crews, as it limits visibility and requires absolute mastery.
Knowledge of the "Yngling" was key for the local sailors, who managed to prevail in this difficult competition.
Day 2: Extreme Conditions in the Mediterranean Sea. On February 15, the weather conditions changed significantly. The wind increased from 8-10 knots to 15-17 knots, and the sea became rougher, with "chopi" type waves characteristic of the Mediterranean. These conditions put the tactical and meteorological skills of the competitors to the test, especially on a boat like the "Yngling", which became more difficult to steer. In this challenging scenario, only the most experienced managed to stand out.Highlighted Results: Kaldis, Papageorgiou. In the two days of racing, Kaldis proved almost unbeatable, with an impressive 81% of victories, losing only to Papageorgiou, who achieved 72% of victories. In the women's category, Chounda was the best ranked, with 57% of victories in her matches.
For its part, Cigarrán ST, the only foreign team on the circuit, had to face the challenge of quickly adapting to the "Yngling", a boat very different from those they are used to. Despite fighting with determination, the lack of experience with this boat prevented them from obtaining more victories. According to its skipper, José Cigarrán said: "We continue with our training process. These difficulties allow us to grow as a team and gain valuable experience." With a 17% of victories, the Spanish team was placed in seventh position out of the ten participants.
The awards ceremony took place at the club facilities immediately after the event, being practically a family ceremony between participants and organizers, closing the 2nd act of the Hellenic Circuit and presenting the next stop again in Piraeus on March 22 and 23. Recognition to the HMRT 2025 Organisation. We would like to express that the organisation of the "Hellenic Match Racing Tour 2025" and "Yacht Club Greece" have carried out their impeccable management and hospitality. This event has not only been a great competition, but also a great experience and learning experience for all participants. The passion of the sailors and the quality of the tournament have made this edition unforgettable.
Beyond the results, the HMRT 2025 has proven to be a high-level circuit, consolidating itself as a benchmark in Greece for match racing. We hope that it continues to grow in the coming years, attracting more teams from around the world and providing quality races.