Preparations underway at the Aegean 600
The team members representing this year’s record turnout of 73 entries from 21 nations are assembling now here at Olympic Marine in their final preparations for Sunday’s start of the AEGEAN 600. The necessary tasks of registration, inspections and completing check lists are making this marina a very busy place, with a measurable excitement in the air anticipating the challenging 605-mile race ahead.
An extremely important part of these preparations is ensuring compliance with offshore safety rules and standards, so every year organizers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) offer a Safety Seminar that combines classroom instruction with practical demonstrations. This World Sailing-approved training program is a requirement for at least one team member on each entry of the race, renewable after a 5 year term, with some teams often having multiple members participate.
“Besides explaining the equipment and its proper use, we also teach how the team can work together to help each other,” said safety instructor Gerasimos Petratos. Because these safety techniques are not often used in life-threatening situations, Petratos said “We have to practice these techniques again and again to be capable and proficient should the time come for us to have to use this equipment.”
This is particularly true among the 11 teams entered in the Double Handed division, where only one crew member is available to help should something go wrong. One of these is Yam Wirtheim, who attended the seminar and is racing Double Handed in his third AEGEAN 600 this year with team mate Orly Yosopov on their Dehler 30 LAVORO III (ISR). He described the seminar as being “very nice fun and educational.”
Others in the marina preparing themselves include Maks Vrecko on his Elan 450 KARPO IDRIJA (SLO) who has returned for his third AEGEAN 600. In 2024 his team ran into problems in the high winds of Kassos and had to retire, but last year scored second overall in IRC and ORC and are back again for this edition. Vrecko has formed a combined team from two clubs in Slovenia and shares his ideas on finding balance between pushing the boat and crew hard and still prevailing for a strong overall result.
“This is an extremely challenging race,” he said, “and we obviously love challenges.“
Gregor Stimpfl has returned this year on his Scuderia 65 HAGAR V (ITA) and is excited to sail what he calls this “beautiful race course” that has “fantastic geography with new views at every turn.” His team was the Overall winner in 2022 and he says even with a larger class this year and facing some pro-level teams that “We are well-prepared, we know this course, and with a little luck we can do well again.”
He also explained that “The first half of this race is full-throttle: speed, speed and more speed,” yet also emphasized that this is a “serious race” where preparation and safety of the boat and crew is really important.
Preparations will continue tomorrow with the Practice Race starting at 1400 EEST held in the waters just east of Olympic Marine. This optional race is offered to give teams the opportunity to refine their crew works, test new sails and equipment, and get a preliminary feel for the rigors of Aegean sailing.
Also on the schedule tomorrow is the Skippers Meeting, followed by a demonstration of generous Greek hospitality at the Welcome Reception held for all teams under the stars at Olympic Marine.
