The “battleship” of 90 nautical miles, boat to boat, between “BULLET” and “ORIENT EXPRESS VI” ended with a victory for the team of Olympian Dimitris Deligiannis and Simos Kampouridis in the first fast and demanding race from Faliro to Syros in the 61st Aegean Rally (20-29 July) organized by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) in collaboration with the Hellenic Navy. Predictions that even the fastest boats would dock in the picturesque port of Finikas, Syros, in the early hours of Sunday were completely disproved. BULLET and “ORIENT EXPRESS VI” finished approximately 10 minutes apart at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the Greek team securing the first victory in the PERFORMANCE category against the Turkish team, competing in the Aegean for the first time. They sailed quickly to Serifos, but the last miles to Finikas were calm. The entire fleet finished in the early hours of Sunday.
“Our victory is not only significant in terms of points but also gives us a psychological advantage for the continuation. The first race was not easy against the opponent, the team of ‘ORIENT EXPRESS VI’ from Turkey, which has sailors with Olympic experience and tactical knowledge,” commented BULLET’s skipper, Olympian Dimitris Deligiannis, with his close associate Simos Kampouridis adding, “We saw it all in the first leg. In Serifos, we encountered winds up to 40 miles, which made it very difficult for us. From Serifos to Finikas, Syros, the wind dropped, and we finished in complete calm. The job was done in the first race, and now we need three more wins to secure the Rally, our main goal.”
- Performance Results: https://aegeanrally.gr/wp-content/uploads/61AR24_R1_P.pdf
- Sport Results: https://aegeanrally.gr/wp-content/uploads/61AR24_R1_S.pdf
Detailed Schedule of the 61st Aegean Rally
- Monday, 22 July: Beach cleaning, tours in Ermoupoli & visit to the Innovation Center. Sailing festival. Co-organization with Onex in collaboration with the Syros Nautical Club and the Municipality of Syros-Ermoupoli.
- Tuesday, 23 July: ONEX CUP, 2nd race up to 36 n.m. (local race). ONEX Cup award ceremony.
- Wednesday, 24 July: Free day. Concert with Peggy Zina at the ONEX Shipyard facilities.
- Thursday, 25 July: JOTUN CUP, 3rd race up to 80 n.m. (local race).
- Friday, 26 July: Beach party & sports activities, painting competition. Award ceremony for races 1 & 3.
- Saturday, 27 July: 4th race Finikas Syros – Sifnos right, Ag. Georgios right – Sounio 95 n.m.
- Sunday, 28 July: Continuation of the 4th race.
- Monday, 29 July: Award reception (Aegean Naval Command).
Major Sponsor JOTUN, Host Sponsor ONEX Shipyards and Technologies Group
The main sponsor of the 61st Aegean Rally, for the ninth consecutive year, is the multinational paint company JOTUN, which will once again support the organizing club HORC and the crews participating in the race. Joining the sponsors of the 61st Aegean Rally is ONEX Shipyards and Technologies Group, which manages the shipyards in Ermoupoli and Elefsina and will host the event in Syros. Supporters include D. KORONAKIS S.A., a world leader in maritime ropes and chains, TECHNAVA S.A., a marine support company for ocean-going vessels, and NISOS beer, produced in Tinos. The official supplier is DIRFYS bottled water. Media sponsors of the 61st Aegean Rally are the TV stations ERT and NOVA, the official broadcaster of the event, the newspaper “Kathimerini,” the magazines “ISTIOPLOIKOS KOSMOS,” “Skipper ONDECK,” “Boats and Yachting Guide,” and “The Yachtbook.” The technology supporter is G4S- Telematix, providing the boat tracking system. The internet and website support sponsor for HORC is INTERAD.
