600-mile offshore racing

One of next season’s most enticing IRC/ORC events has to be this brand new, non-stop grand tour of the ... will cross the Icarian Sea, where Right: the legend says Icarus fell from the sky, course of the Ocean racing has a small number of been organising races and regattas After starting from ’s sanctuary, in front of and head to cosmopolitan Aegean 600 famous 600-mile races: the Sydney- for nearly 60 years, including the race off the columns of Poseidon’s temple at and , the birthplace of Apollo will give Cape competitors Hobart, the Fastnet, the Newport- important offshore events such as Cape Sounion. With the wishes of this and holy sanctuary for the ancient spectacular Bermuda, the Caribbean 600 and the the annual Aegean Rally and top-level Sounion, mythical god of the sea the fleet will Greeks. The last islands of the route about 20 views of many Middle Sea Race. Now there is a new international regattas such as the ¼, miles south encounter a wide variety of sailing will be Giaros and , and in the of the Aegean member in this exclusive group of ½ and ¾-Ton World Championships of Athens, conditions, starting first with their sail final leg the fleet will see the Temple islands. This special races, presented by the in the 1980s, the 2006 TP52 the fleet will for , the home of the Venus de of Poseidon which marks the end of is Hellenic Offshore Race Club (HORC), MedCup Athens Trophy and the 2008 head to the Milo and the prize of the Louvre de this race and their sailing adventure. in the southwestern . to be sailed from 14 to 20 June ORCi World Championship. Paris. Surrounded by Cycladic white, The Aegean 600 Trophy will be Note: the 2020 2020: the Aegean 600. Registration and festivities for the islands in the they will then reach the scenic awarded to the Overall IRC winner, race will be the This new offshore racing event Aegean 600 begin a week in advance group before Caldera of , where the the Poseidon Trophy will be awarded first edition so presents a significant sailing challenge on 7 June, with the opening of free turning east at white of the houses blends with the to the Overall ORC winner and the these pictures as well as a unique opportunity to sail berthing and a race village at Olympic Milos (above). volcanic rock creating unique Aegean Blue Trophy will be awarded are from this non-stop in one of the most windy, Marine, a full-service marina facility As well as contrasts and images. to the first monohull to finish the race yearʼs Aegean being the Rally which versatile and beautiful sailing venues in Lavrio that is only a 30-minute Sailing on to the southernmost and set the course time record for includes of the world. This will be a demanding drive from the international airport in southernmost island of the Aegean Sea, Kassos, the this first edition of the race. More island in the stopovers in route where boats will sail 200nm Athens. During this pre-race period Cyclades fleet will leave – the isle of prizes will be awarded as stated in many of the downwind, 200 upwind zig-zaging tours of famous sites such as the chain Milos Athena’s birth and the residence of the NoR. Online tracking will allow same islands. through the Dodecanese and a last, Acropolis Museum, the Parthenon is also where Prometheus – to port before turning those not participating to monitor And crossing rewarding reaching leg to the finish and the Temple of Poseidon are the Venus de north towards the Palace of the Grand the progress of the fleet as they tacks around Milo was Antimilos line off Cape Sounion. Technical available as well as parties and Master of the Knights in . make this inaugural journey through Island (right) highlights of the race include among receptions affiliated with the event. rediscovered The course then continues north to the Aegean’s clear blue seas on a by a farmer in others sailing through the Santorini ‘Xenios Zeus, the 1820. Though the scenic island of , home to the tour of ancient . Caldera, 70nm in the Sea of god of hospitality, promises to provide not sadly its father of medicine Hippocrates, and Official charter yachts are available Karpathos and Rhodes, passing all crews with exceptional hospitality arms... , the island of sponge to race the Aegean 600 from two through Kos strait as well as the five and an exciting race,’ says HORC divers, while on the way they will see local suppliers: the X-Yachting Sailing nautical mile Delos-Mykonos channel, commodore and veteran ocean sailor many beautiful small islands, each Centre and fastsailing.gr, both based where tough upwind work is expected. Ioannis Maragkoudakis. with its own history. in Lavrio, near Athens. It’s due to these deep roots of life This is a race designed by sailors The fleet will next sail to the Registration is open and already on the sea that Greece has a rich for sailors, and those who will take colourful islands of Pharmakonisi there are 46 entries from 13 maritime heritage in general and part in it will have the opportunity and , and will continue to countries ready to take the challenge. a robust sailboat racing culture in to compete on a famous and very , the island of St John and the Information and online registration: particular. As part of this, HORC has interesting course starting on 14 June Cave of the Apocalypse. Then sailors www.aegean600.com q

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