Page 45 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2023

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
word of mouth
W ith over 150,000

nautical miles expe-
rience in sailing rac-
es and trips across
the sea, Ioannis
Maragkoudakis is
the mastermind be-
hind the (HORC)
Hellenic Offshore Racing Club’s AEGEAN 600 sailing
regatta - in its third edition this year - which will take
place from the 7th to the 15th of July, following its initial
success and its inclusion on the global sea racing agenda.
The non-stop 605 nautical mile race designed by sailors
for sailors, which sees a multitude of participating vessels
this year, is constantly winning popularity and enriching
its range of eligible classes with the recent addition of the
biggest “Maxi” vessels category.
Indeed, the International Maxi Association (IMA) based
in Monte Carlo, whose members own some of the most
expensive and remarkable racing sailboats in the world,
will also be competing at the AEGEAN 600 as it is on the
schedule for the IMA’s Mediterranean Maxi Offshore
Challenge. With the ideal conditions of the Greek summer
on their side, participants will chart the non-stop route IOANNIS MARAGKOUDAKIS,
starting from Sounio, to Milos, the Caldera of Santorini,
Kasos, Karpathos, Rhodes, the islet of Kandelousa off the COMMODORE OF THE HELLENIC
coast of Nisyros, Kos, Kalymnos, Kalolimnos, Farmako-
nissi, Agathonissi, Arkoi, Patmos, the Strait between Delos OFFSHORE RACING CLUB,
and Mykonos, Syros, the ‘naval fort’ of Gyaros and Kea
island, before ending again in Sounio. IS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE
In the lead up to the start of the race, we had the oppor-
tunity to speak exclusively with Ioannis Maragkoudakis AEGEAN 600 SAILING REGATTA.
who filled us in about what makes this journey through
the Aegean so great and magical.
What does the Regatta’s impressive route, starting from
Sounio, crossing the entire Aegean and passing by 13
Greek Islands, symbolize exactly?
The route of the AEGEAN 600 race has three main goals: That’s a difficult question to answer as there are so many
a. To promote the multitude and Greekness of the Ae- but if I had to choose, they would be:
gean islands. - Sailing past the island of Milos where your mind in-
b. To promote the contribution that the area as a whole stantly thinks of the statue of Aphrodite and the Louvre
has made to western culture. which millions of people visit to admire this masterpiece
c. To promote Greece as a maritime tourism destination. of Greek art.
What unique elements do you believe will help in ce- - Sailing through Santorini’s incomparable Caldera which
menting the AEGEAN 600 as a ‘classic’ international is such a unique geological phenomenon as well as an
sailing race? important pillar of Greek tourism. CYCLADIC MAGIC
The uniqueness of the route lies in the course and the wind - Sailing through the Mykonos – Delos Strait, where the It is the energy of the island of Santorini
conditions constantly changing. Due to the fact that par- first island is considered the flagship of Greek tourism, that inspires the sailors to reach the scenic
ticipants sail by 14 islands, the scenery also changes along while Delos, the second island instantly makes your mind Caldera, where the white of the houses
with each island’s distinct peculiarity. wander to the ancient Greeks who considered it a holy blends with the volcanic rock creating
unique contrasts and images.
How many cultural treasures fit into 605 nautical miles? island, the birthplace of the god Apollo and the goddess
The birth of philosophy. Artemis and the treasury of the Delian league.
The birth of the natural sciences. Last but not least, the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion -
The development of poetry and the arts. in front of which the race begins and ends - is also highly
What parts of the route do you love most? symbolic. >

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