AEGEAN 600 delivers in its 4th edition

by AEGEAN 600 16 Jul 03:33 NZST 7-13 July 2024

Black Pearl - AEGEAN 600 © Nikos Alevromytis / Alen Photography

This year's AEGEAN 600, organized by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) and co-organised by Olympic Marine, has in its 4th annual edition once again proven to be among the world's most challenging 600-mile races.

The largest-ever turnout of 69 entries from 24 countries encountered a huge range of conditions that competitors needed to conquer to complete the course - from dead calms to gale-force winds - provided a suitable test of skill for any offshore sailing team, professional and amateur alike. All teams on all boats were challenged this year.

Neomind - AEGEAN 600 - photo © Nikos Alevromytis / Alen Photography

The start on Sunday afternoon was, as always, spectacular: with spectators lining the cliffs above Cape Sounio at the Ancient Temple of Poseidon the fleet got off to a fast start in the teeth of a brisk Meltemi. The two MOD 70's quickly sped off towards the first island at Milos at amazing speed, and with the fastest monohulls not far behind they transited the gate through the caldera of Santorini within several hours of the start. The bulk of the fleet made that transit in the dawn hours of Monday.

Winner Black Pearl - AEGEAN 600 - photo © Nikos Alevromytis / Alen Photography

On the downwind leg to Kassos, however, tragedy struck one entry: two crew members on board the Pogo 44 HEAVEN (FRA) fell overboard on Monday afternoon while struggling with their spinnaker, and while both were retrieved quickly one was severely hurt in the incident and succumbed to her injuries. News of this terrible accident devastated all participants in the event: sailors, organizers and fans. At the Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening HORC announced it has commissioned a commemorative remembrance and award for next year in honor of Ganna Konontchouk, the fallen crew on HEAVEN.

Winner Neomind - AEGEAN 600 - photo © Nikos Alevromytis / Alen Photography

When the fleet encountered gale force winds and huge seas at the south end of the course near Kassos and Karpathos, fortunately this was at headsail reaching angles, making this manageable for most teams. However, the next hurdle that lie ahead in the lee of Rhodes treated the fleet differently depending on their timing: the fast boats managed to slip through without serious delay, whereas the remainder of the fleet hit a wall at Limnos, some wiggling through at low speed while others stopped and drifted in circles for hours.

Assante - AEGEAN 600 - photo © Nikos Alevromytis / Alen Photography

While zig-zagging around the islands of the eastern Aegean, the fleet leaders proceeded at record pace and the middle and back of the fleet struggled in lighter conditions hopping from one hole to another behind these islands. Even the two MOD 70's hit some of these speed bumps en route westwards towards the finish at Cape Sounio, where they set a new Multihull Record of 1D 13H 18M 52S. The fastest monohulls fell into holes as well, one big one in particular in the lee of Ikaria that stopped them for hours, enough to fall just short of breaking the Monohull record set last year.

Bedouin - AEGEAN 600 - photo © Nikos Alevromytis / Alen Photography

After five and a half days of racing all entries had completed the course, as well as most of the 30 retired teams had returned to the venue at Olympic Marine. All will have plenty of stories to tell and memories to share about this exceptional 4th edition of the AEGEAN 600.

Highlights from the awards ceremony: