With special weather conditions and the bad weather "Genesis" to test the sailing knowledge of the competitors "opened" sails the 59th edition of the Aegean Rally organized by the Panhellenic Offshore Sailing Club. The boats started in front of the Temple of Poseidon, in Sounio, and the finish of the first race will take place in Volissos of Chios (distance 105 nm.).
The Aegean Rally fleet started from Sounio for the first time in the long history of the institution. A few minutes before the start of the race, and while the Race Committee was preparing to give the preparatory signals, there have been successive changes in weather. A sudden downpour with rain and lightning changed the state of the sea. Subsequently, and after the rain had passed, an instantaneous bonnet was created with the result that the crews were forced, within a minimum of time, to make the necessary changes to the sails.
"We started with zero wind speed. Fortunately, it slowly started to blow and as the time passed, the wind became stronger ", he stated, immediately after boot, the "bronze Olympian of Rio Pavlos Kayalis. Their boat Olympic Mantis - Kayali, the "Velos", takes part for the 2nd time in the Aegean Rally.
Immediately after boot, the boats of the Aegean Rally were divided into two. Some of the governors chose to be close to the mainland in order to get land air to continue their course while the "purebred racing" preferred to stay in the Sea as they considered that there they would find a more favorable wind..
"There have been many changes in the weather. It was reminiscent of England. The wind changed direction several times and the conditions tested the crews. We travel with sails of new technology and essentially in this race we will test the boat in view of the next events ", said the governor of "Optimum S - Samos Steamship" Pericles Livas. The « OptimumS– Samos Steamship» is the new acquisition of the Greek sailing fleet.
This year the organizers chose the Aegean Rally to be held in June as the other big race of POIATH is scheduled for July., the "AEGEAN 600" (8-16/7).
This year's Aegean Rally is dedicated to memory of the "Slaughter of Chios" (1822). The fleet of the "Aegean Rally" is accompanied by the General Support Ship of the Navy "Atlas I". The ship was purchased in 2019 from the P Foundation. Laskaridis and surrendered to the Navy on 2 December 2019. And this year the "Aegean Rally" has an environmental sign.
At 13 June, the crews, in collaboration with HELMEPA, to carry out symbolic cleaning of a coast on the "Island of Mastic". This is action "To Save Our Seas" organized in recent years by the Panhellenic Offshore Sailing Club.
Co-organizers of the 59th Aegean Rally with the support of the Navy, is the North Aegean Region and the Municipality of Chios. Collaborating Clubs are the Nautical Club of Chios and the Nautical Sports Club of Lavreotiki. Sponsor of the race for the sixth consecutive year, They are the multinational paint company JOTUN, while the companies are supporters, D. KORONAKIS S.A.. one of the leading manufacturers of ropes and chains for shipping, the technical support company on seagoing ships TECHNAVA S.A., the Olympic Marine in Lavrio, the beer ISLAND from Tinos and natural mineral water ZAGORI.
Communication sponsors are the SKAI television station, the newspaper KATHIMERINI, the sports newspaper SPORTIME and the website of the Greek community HDNNY. G4S is a technology supporter for another year. All actions for the protection of the environment will be done according to the slogan of POIATH "To Save Our Seas" and the cooperation of the Hellenic Association for the Protection of the Marine Environment (HELMEPA).