Andros International Sailing Race: With two starts and impressive boats the 57th event

For the first time, in a Greek race, there will be two simultaneous starts, as, on August 29, sailboats will leave for Andros from the sea area of ​​Vouliagmeni and from Chios. The distance on both routes is 72 nautical miles. The sailing race from Chios to Chora of Andros will be called “Oinops” and will connect two islands that have a long history in the seas.

The fleet of the 57th event will include boats that will “run” for the first time in this race as well as sailboats that have covered the distance several times. Among them will be the TP52 “Velos Eurobank Private Banking” of Olympians Takis Mantis and Pavlos Kayali, the “Carbonita” of Manolis Kondylis with a crew of great sailors from Italy, the “Black Pearl” with skippers Olympian Markos Hatzikyriakakis and Andriotis Makis Courtesy and the super yacht “Burrasca”. The “Pete” team of Duke Palaiologos will take part with a Cookson / Farr 43, skippered by the champion Thodoris Tsoulfas and a crew of young guys from the national sailing teams. At the helm of the boat “Apidalos Nais” will be the Polyvincian of the Aegean Dimitris Alevizakis, who will be sponsored by the historic Andrio shipping company Goulandris Bros, while the president of the Nautical Club of Andros Phaidon Tamvakakis will compete with his new boat “Frankly my dear” .

Last year’s winner of the event the boat “Aristofani”, whose crew will try to keep their “sceptres”, will also be at the start. “A recipe that succeeds doesn’t change, so we’re coming back this year with the same boat and we’ll try for the best. The weather conditions will be special and the race demanding. For us our first concern is the safety of the crew, the second concern is the safety of the vessel and then distinction. The level of competition is expected to be high and ‘Carbonita’ is a boat we have not faced before and the unknown is always a challenge,” said Simos Kambouridisgovernor of ‘Aristofani UK DC UK Defense Glub – UKP&I’. The “silver” Olympic rowing champion Dimitris Mougios will once again be in the crew of this sailboat.

The crew of the “Velos Eurobank Private Banking” boat of Olympians Takis Mantis and Pavlos Kayali will try to regain the prestigious trophy of the Andros International Sailing Race. “Each year we look forward to the Andros race for its competitive characteristics, for the reception that the Andriotes have in store for us and for the hospitality. The race has extreme weather almost every year. This year we will be leaving with a bump, which will make it difficult for the boats to finish. And this year the Group Private Banking of Eurobank will be next to us as well as in Andros’ race. For so many years we have shared values ​​aiming for the top. Now we have become a family and share the experiences and adventures of this very demanding race. It will be the first time that our new boat “Velos” will take part in the event. The team has grown and we are ready for a nice match”, emphasized Pavlos Kayalisfrom the governors of “Velos Eurobank Private Banking”. The crew of the beautiful TP52 will include, among others, Olympian Takis Mantis, London Olympian Stathis Papadopoulos and Lighting World Champion Vassilis Papadakis.

Launch by the Deputy Minister of Sports Yannis Vroutsis and the Olympian Stathis Kalogeropoulos

The start from the area of ​​Vouliagmeni will be given by the Deputy Minister Yannis Vroutsis and the Olympic polo champion Stathis Kalogeropoulos.

“For the 57th year, top sailors, Olympians, world and European champions will have the unique experience of taking part in a route of extraordinary beauty and difficulty from Vouliagmeni to Andros, through the straits of Kafirea and also from Chios to Andros. It is my honor to kick off the historic organization of the Andros Nautical Club and the Hellenic Nautical Club, whom I congratulate for their contribution to the nautical sports of our country. I will also be present at the finish, in beautiful Andros, to applaud and admire up close the efforts of the crews of all the boats. Good luck to everyone”, said the Deputy Minister of Sports Yannis Vroutsis.

Together with the Deputy Minister will be the talented pole vaulter Stathis Kalogeropoulos, who was a member of the national team that competed in the Olympics. In the person of Sathis Kalogeropoulos, the organizers want to honor the amazing appearance of the athletics athletes at the Paris Games.

The Gold Sponsor of the competition is Group Private Banking of Eurobank. THE Eurobank Group supports this year, for 7th consecutive time the eventhaving been inextricably linked to sailing through the extremely successful sponsorship of sportsmen and women who have managed to win the highest honors in the sport at a global level. It should be noted that the Group Private Banking of Eurobank has been the sponsor of the boat “Velos” for the last few years, of the Olympians Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kayali.

Sponsors of the event are also OTESAT MARITEL, NAVY CHAMBER OF GREECE, L PAPAPHILIPPOU & CO LLC, PORSCHE, MOTODYNAMIKI, KOYRTESIS WINE ESTATE ANDROS, ALINA & LEONIDAS POLEMIS, LEONIDAS VRONTISIS. Sponsors of the race are YARDTECH, ZARBIS, SYMBEEOSIS, BOUTARIS KYR YIANNI, ANDROP, EY ANDROS LEMONI ANDROU, LASKARIS, DANS, DEL ARTE, ANDRUS BEER, EVANDROS, VASILI & ELIZAS GOULANDRI FOUNDATION, TANIA DIMITRAKOPOULOU, NISSOS BEER. Travel sponsors: GOLDEN STAR FERRIES and FAST FERRIES. Communication sponsor is SKAI and communication supporters are ANDRIAKI, EVANDROS, EN ANDROS, PERIGYROS, ASTERAS, ANDROS LIVADIA.

The Andros International Sailing Race was held for the first time in 1967, thanks to the efforts of Ioannis V. Goulandris.

Photos: Nikos Alephromytis