The top international sailing event in Greece, the Aegean Regatta, will kick off this Sunday in Patmos island and last for a week (19-26 August).
Around 80 sailing boats have submitted their participation this year, most of which have already reached Patmos, the famous island in the northern Dodecanese complex, where the race will start this week. This week, event organizers published the sailing instructions and diagrams which must be used by each crews.
The race will cover the course route Patmos – Astypalaia – Nisyros – Rhodes, with the closing ceremony programmed for 21:00 on Saturday (Aug. 26).
The Regatta is organized by the General Secretariat of the Aegean and Island Policy, in co-operation with the Hellenic Sailing Federation/Hellenic Offshore Committee and several island sailing clubs.
“I welcome this year’s Aegean regatta 2017, a top sailing open sea event, an international event that has become an institution in the country?s sporting events,” the general secretary of Aegean and Island Policy, Ioannis Giannellis Theodosiadis noted.
“I would like to encourage all sailors to take part in Regatta […] and wish them beautiful trips. I am sure that this year’s Regatta, like all the previous ones, will bring you beautiful experiences and unforgettable moments,” he continued.
The Aegean Regatta is an international sailing organization which was inaugurated in 2001. It started with two main goals: It wanted to give the opportunity to the yachtsmen/women of either Athens or the ones on the islands to get to know the islands and destinations which they would not decide to visit. On the other hand, it wanted to boost the local economy and give them a chance to attract visitors.
From 2001 until 2017 the Aegean Regatta sailed along the Greek islands of Lesvos, Chios, Inousses, Samos, Leros, Ikaria, Kos, Simi, Rhodes, Limnos, Samothraki, Andros, Lipsi, Patmos, Astipalea, Tilos, Skopelos, Amorgos, Kalimnos, Nisiros, Thasos, Syros, Skyros and continues to visit new destinations. The annual participation has steadily been increasing with entries ranging between 70-90, or even 100 per year.
Race program
Date Time Event
Friday 18/08/2017 10:00 Registration and inspections
Saturday 19/08/2017 10:00 Registration and inspections
20:00 Skippers meeting
21:00 Opening ceremony
Sunday 20/08/2017 11:00 Offshore Race, Patmos to Astypalaia, 50nm
Monday 21/08/2017 Free Day
Tuesday 22/08/2017 11:00 Offshore Race, Astypalaia to Nisyros, 40nm
Wednesday 23/08/2017 Free Day
Thursday 24/08/2017 11:00 Offshore Race, Nisyros to Rhodes, 52nm
Friday 25/08/2017 Free Day
Saturday 26/08/2017 11:00 Inshore Races
21:00 Closing Ceremony (Rhodes)
Read more here.
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Source: ANA-MPA
