AEGEAN 600: Ten Olympic medals… set sail from the Temple of Poseidon

With the participation of five Olympians, holders of a total of 10 medals, the AEGEAN 600, organized by the Panhellenic Offshore Sailing Association (POIATH) and co-organizer Olympic, starts on Sunday 7 July (14.00) from the sea area in front of the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio Marine and with the participation of ROLEX, as the official watch of the event.

This year’s 4th edition of the grueling 600 nautical mile non-stop race is more packed and glamorous than ever. To the record number of 69 boats (45 last year) from 22 countries, the participation of 5 sailors who have written their own history in the Olympic games in golden letters was added and gave a special shine to the race. A few days before the big Olympic meeting in Paris, sailing “legends” such as the Brazilian Torben Grael, the New Zealander Mitch Booth, the Chinese Xu Lijia and the Greeks Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kayalis are preparing to cross the 600 nautical miles in the Aegean.

“For me, Greece will always be my favorite country and the Aegean my favorite sea. 20 years ago I celebrated the Olympic gold medal in Athens, I was a flag bearer in the opening ceremony and now I am returning to experience the Aegean through the AEGEAN 600 challenge. I am looking forward to the journey. It will be a special race with very good wind and temperature” comments the owner of 5 medals in the Soling and STAR categories, Brazilian Torben Grael, also known as “turbine” because of the speed he had on the water. The Brazilian with distinctions in races such as the famous Volvo Ocean Race and the America’s Cup, will run for the first time in the AEGEAN 600 with Ulysse skippered by the Italian Patrizio Bertelli.

Australian sailing legend Mitch Booth, Olympic champion in the Tornado class in 1992 in Barcelona (2nd) and 1996 (3rd), will seek the first place in the Aegean for the second consecutive year. Last year running in the 3rd AEGEAN 600 with the Leopard 3, with a new racing record (45 hours, 5 minutes, 35 seconds) he tasted victory champagne something he wishes to do again this year with the KUKA3. “The AEGEAN 600 is a challenge for all sailors. It’s an unpredictable race and that’s what makes it special. Our goal is always the first place, but every year the competition increases and the suitors of the title become more and more” emphasizes the Australian. All eyes at this year’s AEGEAN 600 will also be on the SOPHIA boat which will feature 2 Olympic medalists in the Laser Radial class (gold in 2012, bronze in 2008) Chinese Xu Lijia. “Greece has a rich history and as an Olympian I have heard a lot about it. Now I will have the opportunity to sail to all the islands and admire all its historical beauties. It will be a different experience to take part in the AEGEAN 600 and at the same time enjoy Greece”.

A prominent place in this year’s club of Olympians in the AEGEAN 600 is also taken by the Greek bronze medalists of 2016, Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis, who will give shine and … speed to the AIOLOS of Giorgos Prokopios. “For us, it is very good to have sailing “legends” in the AEGEAN 600. The level is rising and this is good for all of us” emphasizes Panagiotis Mantis.

The warm-up match and the opening ceremony

The competition curtain of the AEGEAN 600 actually opened at noon on Friday with the ATTICA warm up race of 11 nautical miles in the sea area of ​​Lavrio. With ideal conditions (10-14 knots) the trial race gave the 31 participating crews the opportunity to test the equipment and capabilities of their boats before setting off for the AEGEAN 600. Corrected time winner of the day, both IRC and and in the ORCs, it was the Farr 52 CHOCOLATE 3 (Switzerland) skippered by Francois Bopp. Second in IRC and third in ORC was Franco Miggeler’s KUKA 3 (Switzerland), NEOMIND (Germany) of Sascha Schroeder’s multinational team was second in ORC, while Manolis Kondylis’ CARBONITA (Italy) was 3rd in IRC. The competition even in this preparation race for the AEGEAN 600 was strong. It is characteristic that the finishing positions of the boats in corrected time were done in just under a minute after 2 ½ hours of racing. Later on Friday evening, at the welcoming Olympic Marine, its owner, Mrs. Giorgos Prokopiou, announced the start of the 4th AEGEAN 600 with the sailors enjoying Greek hospitality just hours before sailing the Aegean.

The AEGEAN 600 is organized by the Panhellenic Offshore Sailing Association (POIATH) with Olympic Marine as a co-organizer as well as with the contribution of the Deputy Ministry of Sports and the General Secretariat of Sports.