Seventy-seven crews from 21 countries are counting down to the start
With an increase in participation of over 30% compared to last year’s event, the 6thAegean600 is now counting down to July5th, the day when, with a view of the emblematic Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, the start of the 605 nautical mile race will be given.
The largest and most multinational fleet – to date – consisting of seventy-seven monohull and multihull vessels with crews from 21 countries from around the world, will be tested in the unique challenge of the annual 605 nautical mile race in the legendary Aegean Sea.
“We are honestly impressed and somewhat surprised by this year’s entry list,” said Ioannis Maragoudakis, Chairman of the AEGEAN 600 Organizing Committee and President of POIATH. “This shows that, despite the difficulties the world is facing today, offshore sailors continue to pursue their passion for the sport and we share this sentiment. Competing in the Aegean Sea is always a challenge. It is never the same and we are happy to see many teams returning this year,” he concluded.
One of the returning teams is the striking green Carkeek 54DAGUET 5of Frederic Puzin of France, one of the fastest monohulls of last year’s race and a former podium finisher in three other top 600-mile offshore races: the Middle Sea Race, Sydney-Hobart and Caribbean 600. DAGUET 5 achieved a podium finish in the IRC One class last year, but was unable to achieve a higher overall ranking due to the extremely variable weather conditions in the ever-unpredictable Aegean. Last year’s race featured everything from calm to gale force winds, favoring boats designed for less stable conditions.
Nevertheless, French governor Frederic Puzin returns with enthusiasm.
“I really enjoyed this race not only because of its difficulty and the test of skills in all conditions, but also because of its spirit and historical significance,” he said. “The scenery is incredible: the islands, the sunsets and the feeling that we are sailing the same waters with legendary sailors for thousands of years.”
Last year’s IRC One category winner, Chris Hemans and his crew on the Cookson 50VARUNAfrom the USA, are returning to the Aegean once again.
His views on the race echo those of Puzin, but he also adds the unique experience of hospitality and the reunion with new friendships made in previous years. “Our experience here last year was the best celebration and the greatest hospitality we have ever experienced in any race,” he said, referring not only to other 600-mile races but also to the Transpac to Hawaii. “Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful in organizing it, and the camaraderie among the crews was amazing. We can’t wait to do it again.”
Hemans says his team is better prepared this year, knowing the course better and having participated in other offshore races in the Mediterranean in the last year to enhance their skills, both in light and strong winds. “We have upgraded both our equipment and our crew, with new sails and new members. Seeing the dynamics of the competition, we will need everything for a good result,” he added.
In addition to VARUNA, other teams returning to defend their titles include the Elan 450KARPOof Maks Vrecko (Slovenia) as well as Alex Cot (France) and Michalis Aftias (Greece), competing in the double-handed category on the Pogo 50EROS.
Gregor Stimpfl’sHAGAR V(Italy) returns for the third time.
The Scuderia 65 not only participated in the first AEGEAN 600 event in 2021, but returned in 2022 to claim an impressive collection of trophies: the overall AEGEAN 600 Trophy as IRC winner, the Poseidon Trophy as ORC winner as well as victories in the Maxi, IRC 1 and ORC 1 categories.
As in any major offshore race, several crews will be aiming to win first place in the General Classification. The Maxi boat category is particularly crowded this year with 12 entries, a record number in the race’s history. The AEGEAN 600 is part of the International Maxi Association (IMA) Maxi Mediterranean Offshore Challenge. Among the strong contenders is last year’s line honours winner, the Volvo 70 AIOLOS of Giorgos Prokopios (Greece), which completed the course in 3 days 19 hours 7 minutes and 8 seconds.
Other notable entries include the Pugh 90 PROSECCO DOC SHOCKWAVE 3 of Claudio Demartis (Italy) and the Volvo 65 SELMA RACING – SISI of Artur Skrzyszowski (Austria). The right conditions, strategic navigation and impeccable sailing can bring out other contenders, but these boats are the fastest in the class.
The race includes ratings in IRC and ORC for monohulls and MOCRA for multihulls, with a total of 16 categories by size, speed and boat type.
Although most crews will compete fully manned, 13 teams are participating double-handed, from the smallest boats in the fleet – three Dehler 30s captained by Evangelia Delidou AETHER (Greece), Periklis Liva and Simon Sweetman on OPTIMUM 4 (Greece) and Yam Wirtheim on LAVARO III (Israel) – to the Pegasus 50 BELLEROPHON of Les and Gordon Moeller (USA) as well as Michalis Aftias (Greece) and Alex Cot (France) on EROS.
Information about all 77 entries – boat names, types, skippers, crew, categories and ratings – is available on the official race website.
AEGEAN 600 program
More information here
On Sunday, July 5, all boats will gather at the starting area south of the iconic Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, where spectators will watch the successive starts of the boats starting at 2:00 PM, for the 600 nautical mile journey.
It is a complex route that includes crossing 23 Aegean islands and is considered one of the most interesting in the world of offshore sailing. Despite the intensity, the race offers a unique spirit of camaraderie among the crews, impressive landscapes and a strong dose of authentic Greek hospitality both before and after the race at Olympic Marine in Lavrio.
More information here
*Photos: Nikos Alevromytis, Deea Buzdugan, Vangelis Fragoulis & Stavros Hampakis
ROLEX is the official watch of the event
ROLEX has always been associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, absolute precision, the constant pursuit of perfection and team spirit. For the third consecutive year, Rolex will be present at the AEGEAN 600 as the OFFICIAL WATCH of the event. The Aegean 600 is one of the 600 nautical mile sailing races supported by ROLEX, as part of its 71-year association with the sport of sailing. The participating crews will face the exciting challenges and unique features of this race, as in the historic Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Rolex Fastnet Race and Rolex Middle Sea Race. There is a natural relationship between ROLEX and international sailing races, where charting a successful course requires unwavering commitment, rich experience and keen intuition to face the constant changes of wind, strong currents and wave power. The 600 nautical mile course encompasses most of the Aegean Sea.
The AEGEAN 600 is one of the largest foreign-flagged yacht races of its kind and this is of particular importance for the promotion of Greece worldwide.
The AEGEAN 600 is organized by the Panhellenic Offshore Sailing Club (POIATH) with co-organizers the Region of Attica and Olympic Marine as well as with the contribution of the Ministry of Tourism, the Deputy Ministry of Sports and the General Secretariat of Sports.
ROLEX will be the official watch of the event for the third consecutive year.
Sponsors The organizers of the race are the Hellenic Tourism Organization (EOT) and KORONAKIS, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of synthetic ropes and wire ropes. Supporters are IMA, the international MAXI boat association, the construction company KERAMEIKOS – ATHENS, PANTAENIUS, a multinational boat insurance company, TECHNOHULL, a manufacturer of inflatable & polyester boats and X-YACHTING, a boat rental company.
The official transportation partner will be MERCEDES-BENZ. The event’s collaborating group is the Aegean Nautical Club based at Olympic Marine.
Official suppliers will be electric outboard motors Torqeedo empowered by Yamaha, sailing equipment company Helly Hansen and Dole bananas.
Communication sponsors of the match is the television station SKAI, which is also the official television broadcaster of the event, as well as the newspaper KATHIMERINI. Also Skipper on Deck, The Yacht Book, Boats & Yachting Guide, Athens Riviera Journal and Sailing World magazines. Internet services are provided by Interad.
