ORCi Worlds

The warm and shiny day started with a wind less than 5 knots from western directions. At about 11:00 local time, the race committee was at sea, examining every possibility to run at least one race. It was 14:27 that the first race started. Everybody was eager to start, so eager that there was a general recall. Race restarted at 14:38 and this time it was 4 or 5 boats early, over the sail course (OCS). The majority of the rest of the fleet preffered the pin end, a decision that proved horribly wrong. The wind shifted about 10 degrees after a while, favouring the right hand side of the course. The leeward boats had never a chance to tack and head for the wind. First boat at the weather mark was PITHECUSA. In the downwind leg, the faster boats managed to sail faster, so they crossed the downwind gates in this order: DIESEL, OLA, PITHECUSA. The course had already changed according to the shift, but still, most boats followed the starboard tack. First crossing the finish line and taking line honours was OLA from Croatia.

ORCi Worlds 2008

Todays races cancelled, after 5 and a half hours of waiting, just to be sure for the Race Committee that there is no chance of a wind blow.

Although the northern winds have fallen to a force of 4 or 5, the local see breeze is so strong this time of the year, in the oposite direction, that leaves no wind in the Saronic Gulf.

So now, leader in the overall is the Greek MELITI IV of George Andreadis, followed by Italian LIBERTINE, having Francesco De Angelis from Prada Luna Rossa in its force.

The two boats are separated by 7 points, but third overall SUPERFAST RACING is less than a point behind!

ORCi Worlds

The first race of the day started normally on time at 12:13 local time. The Meltemi was blowing at around 20 knots. The heat was on during the starting procedure. Although the wind was strong, there were shifts and careful tactics were required. At the weathermark, first was OLA, then SUPERFAST RACING and then DIESEL, that was forced to retire due to a damaged mainsail. In this order they finished the race. The second windward/leeward race started right after the last boat finished, at 14:03 local time. In the downwind leg, it was DIESEL that came first, followed by SUPERFAST RACING and then OLA. At that point, GOLF lost her mast but fortunately without anyone hurt. Some strong gusts forced many boats to broach, while sailing downwind.

Greek Sails on their Way to Victory

The ORCi World Championship organized by HORC, begun with excellent prospects for the Greek sails. Two Greek yachts are placed in the first 5 places so far after the completion of 2 races proving that they have the ability to make an impressive finish and win a distinctive place at the end of the regatta hosted in the Saronic Gulf.

George Andreadis MELITI IV won the 1st place in the 2nd race and is so far 2nd overall and Nick Lazos and Pericles Livas SUPERFAST RACING won 2nd place in the 1st race and is 4th overall so far. After the completion of the two inshore races the Italian yacht SAGOLA skippered by F. Pierobon is placed 1st overall.

The first day of the Chamionship was very exciting and trying for boats and crew due to the strong winds of the Saronic Gulf (6 - 7 Bft). The sailing conditions were difficult for windward - leeward racing and that was the cause of the 2 hours postponement of the races.

ORC Worlds Prepared

With the start of the ORC International World Championship this Sunday, June 22, organised by HORC, Hellenic Offshore Racing Club, a fleet of 55 boats and crews has begun assembling in and around Mikrolimano area, in the Saronic Gulf. With the wind gusting to over 25 knots, the practise race scheduled for today is going to be spectacular as well as challenging.
Racing starts tommorow with 2 windward/leeward races in the Saronic Gulf.

ORCi World Championship

Just a few days remain for the start of the ORCi World Championship to be held in Athens Greece, races run from 23 – 28 June 2008. The race is organized by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) and sponsored by Amita Motion and Wind Hellas.

55 boats from 9 countries are expected to take their place at the start line to compete in what is expected to be a thrilling event. The Saronic Gulf, which hosted the Olympic Games of 2004, is renowned for its excellent weather conditions with steady winds and clear blue waters, just a short distance from Athens’ city center and its numerous sights and highlights. The base of the yachts, the lively and picturesque Mikrolimano port, caters for all needs and tastes ranging from traditional fish taverns to hip bars and clubs as well as shops, grocery stores and yachting gear. The first race is scheduled for Monday 23rd June 2008.

Aegean Rally

Day six of the 44th Aegean Rally, sailed in the Gulf of Mirabello, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, saw the IMS group A boat fleet set out with very unstable wind conditions. The first inshore race started after an hour delay with just 7 knots of northeasterly winds. Later on the wind changed direction and the racing committee changed the buoys for a fair course. First to cross the finish line and take line honours was SUPERFAST RACING (Farr52). The second race started after a while with better sailing conditions. An easterly breeze of 12 knots provided for a great start, especially for the big boats. SUPERFAST RACING took less than an hour to finish and take line honours again. But, winner of both races on corrected time was ALPHA BANK (JV49) skippered by Theodore Tsoulfas, a very experienced and talented young sailor. Tomorrow morning the 36 strong fleet will depart for the third destination, Ios Island.

Aegean Rally

A beautiful day of sailing today for the 32 boats that started the second leg of the Aegean Rally, the local coastal race from Rethymno to Aghios Nikolaos in Crete, distance 74 nautical miles. The northern breeze started from 13 knots but gradually went up to 20 in a broad reach, providing for a fast and spectacular race. First boat to enter the port was SUPERFAST RACING (N. Lazos, P. Livas). Tomorrow is a day off and on Wednesday there are inshore races scheduled.

Aegean Rally

The 45 strong fleet started from Piraeus, the port of Athens, Friday 13 of July, afternoon. All boats finally arrived in port Rethymno, Crete, yeesterday, Saturday 14 July, completeing a 170 nautical mile course. Strong etesian winds of 25 knots provided for perfect sailing conditions. Crews are now resting and enjoying the famous Greek hospitality. And that isn't all. Today the organising club HORC arranged a visit in ancient town of Knossos, a great exhibition especially for the six international crews. Later tonigh there is going to be a ceremony in the Fortezza castle, with the spectacular view in the bay. The "meltemi", the etesian wind holds strong at 20-30 knots of northeasterly winds. Tomorrow morning at 10:00 local time the boats will start from Rethymno heading to Aghios Nikolaos, a 74 nautical mile race.

44th Aegean Rally

Hellenic Offshore Racing Club is the organising club of the Aegean Rally, also known as International Aegean Sailing Week. The race is a regatta of 4 individual offshore races, usually starting and finishing at the Faleron bay, and visiting three beautiful Aegean destinations, different each year. The overall length of the race varies, according to the islands visited, and is usually between 400 and 500 NM.

Many sailboats participate in the spectacular race, from super yachts to classics and super sport-racers. Many international classes are supported for this reason, namely IMS, IRC and ORC Club, each one with multiple divisions. In the beginning it was purely sail racing. Good organising, participation and publicity however, turned it to a nation-wide sail festival with many glamorous events preceding and following the regatta. The Greek Naval Force, the Government and the local authorities support the Aegean Rally by all means. National and international press is also following the race with extensive documentaries. The Aegean Rally turned out to be an international event because of the support of the Greek Ministry of Tourism and the Greek Tourism Organisation, but mostly because of the famous Greek hospitality itself. A series of events prior to and during the race attract crews and boats from all over the world, offering unforgettable experiences in the Greek islands. As a result, large Greek organisations as well as multinational corporations sponsor the event, and support it by every means.

This year it is the 44^th edition of the Aegean Rally. Racing takes place between the 13th and the 22nd of July. The start is in Faleron Bay, first stop is in Rethymno, Crete, to Aghios Nikolaos, to Ios Island and back.

Elpida Cup

A perfect day started with bright sunshine and a moderate breeze of 12-14 knots. No less than 33 Greek Olympic medallists gathered in YCG beautiful veranda to be initiated into sail racing. Among them, Sofia Mpekatorou and Aimilia Tsoulfa, Nikos Kaklamanakis, Tasos Mpountouris, Leonidas Pelekanakis, Aimilios Papathanasiou, Takis Kouligkas, Elias Chatzipavlis and Gavrilis Tasos were the “experts” that had to take the rest of the Olympic medallists to crew with them. No doubt they got into sailing easily. After the briefing they went to the marina and were allocated to the 14 Platu 25s boats. Greek sailing World and European champions were filling in the crews. They went out for about an hour to practise. The race started at 13:10 local time, in the waters in front of the terrace of Pireas Sailing Club, which at the time was full of people. The Platus did two windward / leeward races in a spectacular form. The crews undoubtedly had a great time and tracked media attention. The race was very close to the shore.

The rest of the IMS fleet had an inshore race of 12 miles in a southern course. The weather conditions were the same over there as well. The prize-giving ceremony was held later Sunday night, where the cup sponsor, Alpha Trust mutual funds, handed in the cheque to the representatives of the Friends' Association for Children with Cancer 'ELPIDA'.

Elpida Cup

Elpida (Hope) Cup is a charity race named after Friends' Association for Children with Cancer 'ELPIDA' ", which was established in 1990 in order to help and support sick children suffering from cancer, as well as their families.

The event includes one coastal race, held today, and an inshore round the marks race planned for tommorow. Crews participating must consist of one male and one female only. The boats were divided in two IMS groups, a total number of 22 boats, and there were another 14 Platu 25 in a separate class.

The coastal race started with ideal sailing sonditions, a southwestern breeze of 10 to 12 knots. The 22 mile course was very exciting with wind shifts and close racing. The first boat to finish was a Bashford designed 40 footer that took less than 3 hours to cross the finish line.