With competition at a high level, the 56th Andros International Sailing Race began

With the wind doing its own “games” and the sailors ready to claim the valuable trophies, the fleet of the 56th Andros International Sailing Race “Ioannis V. Goulandris” set a course from the sea area of ​​Vouliagmeni to Andros. Seventeen of the best crews of Greek sailing were on the starting line, which took place with the best omens. The signal for the start of the event was given by the Deputy Minister of Sports Ioannis Vroutsis.

Sailboats left with westerly winds, which then changed to south-westerly and in the evening are expected to turn to north-north-westerly. From the start the competition was intense with the “Velos Eurobank Private Banking” of Olympians Takis Mantis and Pavlos Kayali and the “Black Jack”, which “runs” in the colors of Porsche and the former 49er champion George Panagiotidis at the wheel, to claim the best start in order to gain even a small lead in a race that, throughout the history of the institution, always holds surprises.

And this year the race is expected to be for strong nerves and good tactics will play its part. The continuous changes in wind direction and intensity will test the capabilities of the crews who, for another year, provide a dynamic “present”. For the first time in the history of the event, the start was given by the Minister of Sports from the Cyclades.

“I had the pleasure and the honor to start the 56th International Sailing Race “Ioannis V. Goulandris”. I wished the athletes a good race with the Cycladic waves and fair winds. They have to “fight” with Cabo Doro and the special weather conditions. It is no coincidence that this race is called “The toughest race” by the people of sailing, stressed the Deputy Minister of Sports Yannis Vroutsis.

The competition program includes two more races. One race is scheduled for Saturday (2/9) and the other for Sunday. Both will have a starting point in the sea area of ​​Chora Andros, while for the first time in the history of Greek sailing a Greek open sea race will be livestreamed (www.youtube.com/@hellenicsailingfederation).

The 56th Andros International Sailing Race is organized by the Nautical Club of Andros and the Nautical Club of Greece. The Gold Sponsor of the competition is Private Banking of the Eurobank Group. Eurobank is supporting the event for the 6th consecutive time, having been inextricably linked with sailing and with the highly successful sponsorships of sportsmen and women who have won the highest honors in the sport at world level. Silver sponsor of the race is Porsche, represented in Greece by Motodynamiki. For the 2nd year, Porsche is supporting the event by supporting the passion, the adrenaline, and the effort for ever greater performances in difficult conditions, while the new Porsche Cayenne will be presented as part of the race events. Sponsors are also “Adamantios, Alina & Leonidas Polemi”, “Bureau Veritas”, “Lipra Philanthropies” and “L. Papaphilippou & Co’. Sponsors are “Kourtesis Wine Estate”, “Kir Yianni”, “WINE”, “Nisos”, “Krisilias”, “AnDrop”, “Zarbis”, “Symbeeosis”, “Laskaris” and “Traditional Grocery Andros”. Travel Sponsors: Golden Star Ferries and Fast Ferries. Communication Sponsor is SKAI.