With the countdown to the start of the sixth AEGEAN 600 entering its final days, and the race due to begin at 14:00 on Sunday 5 July, the event’s 74 skippers are refining their strategies around the weather conditions they may face in the ever-unpredictable Aegean Sea.
The forecast for the opening day is particularly encouraging. The Meltemi is expected to strengthen to its more familiar levels of 20 knots and above, setting the stage for a fast start to this year’s race.
Should these conditions materialise and the Meltemi make its presence felt across the Aegean, the monohull course record could well come under pressure. Set in 2023 by the Farr 100 LEOPARD 3, the benchmark stands at 1 day, 21 hours, 5 minutes and 25 seconds.
Among the boats capable of challenging such a performance are the fastest yacht in the fleet, Italy’s Reichel/Pugh 90 PROSECCO DOC SHOCKWAVE 3, owned by Claudio Demerits, and Greece’s Volvo 70 AIOLOS, owned by Giorgos Prokopiou. Last year’s line-honours winner, AIOLOS completed the course in 3 days, 19 hours, 7 minutes and 8 seconds.
These teams will focus on victory in elapsed time, while the rest of the fleet will compete for honours across their respective categories and classes on corrected time. The 69 monohulls will race under the IRC and ORC rating systems, while the five multihulls will compete under MOCRA.
For every crew, the central challenge will be navigating a demanding and highly variable course. From the strong winds and rough seas often encountered in the southern stretch near Kasos and Karpathos, to potential windless patches on the sheltered side of Rhodes, conditions are expected to shift constantly.
Similar tests may await in the second half of the course, as the boats head north and then west on their return towards the finish line off Sounion, where the race begins.
These are only some of the challenges awaiting more than 500 sailors, who are already arriving in Lavrio, where Olympic Marine will once again welcome them with its renowned hospitality.
Full information on all 74 entries, including yacht names, types, skippers, crews, categories and ratings, is available on the official race website.
AEGEAN 600 Schedule of Events
- Wednesday 1 to Friday 3 July: Registrations and inspections
- Thursday 2 July: Safety seminar
- Friday 3 July: Practice race, skippers’ briefing, media briefing and opening ceremony with crews’ party
- Saturday 4 July: Visit to the Temple of Poseidon
- Sunday 5 July, 14:00: Start of the AEGEAN 600 off Sounion
- Saturday 11 July: Time limit expires, prize-giving ceremony and dinner
- Monday 13 July: End of complimentary berthing at Olympic Marine
On Sunday 5 July, all yachts will gather in the starting area south of the iconic Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Spectators will be able to watch the successive starts from 14:00, as the fleet sets off on its 600-nautical-mile journey.
The demanding route passes 23 Aegean islands and is considered one of the most compelling courses in offshore sailing. Beyond the intensity of the race itself, the AEGEAN 600 is defined by the camaraderie between crews, the striking landscapes of the Aegean and the distinctly Greek hospitality offered before and after the race at Olympic Marine in Lavrio.
More information: www.aegean600.com
