With less than three weeks remaining until the July 5th start, the Organizing Committee of the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) and Olympic Marine express their satisfaction as the 6th edition of the AEGEAN 600 has gathered 77 entries, marking a 30% increase compared to last year. Featuring crews from 21 countries around the world, this is the largest and most multinational fleet to date, with monohull and multihull vessels set to be tested by the unique challenge of the annual 605-nautical-mile race in the legendary Aegean Sea. “Frankly, we are impressed and somewhat caught by surprise by this year’s entry list,” said Ioannis Maragoudakis, Commodore of HORC and President of the AEGEAN 600 Organizing Committee. “This shows that, despite the difficulties the world faces today, offshore sailors continue to pursue their passion for the sport, and we share this enthusiasm. Racing in the Aegean Sea is always a challenge. It is never the same, and we are happy to see many teams returning this year.”
One of the returning teams is Frederic Puzin’s striking green Carkeek 54, DAGUET 5, from France—one of the fastest monohulls on last year’s course and a former podium finisher in three other premier 600-mile offshore races: the Middle Sea Race, Sydney-Hobart, and the Caribbean 600. DAGUET 5 secured a podium spot in the IRC One category last year; however, it missed out on a higher overall ranking due to highly volatile weather conditions. Last year’s race ranged from dead calms to gale-force gusts of the famous Meltemi wind, ultimately favoring yachts designed for less stable conditions. Nevertheless, Puzin returns with enthusiasm. “I really loved this race, not only because of its difficulty and how it tests skills in all conditions, but also because of its spirit and historical significance,” he said. “The backdrop is incredible: the islands, the sunsets, and the feeling that we are sailing the same waters as legendary mariners did thousands of years ago.”
Last year’s IRC One category winner, Chris Hemans and his crew on the Cookson 50 VARUNA from the USA, are also returning this year. His views on the race echo those of Puzin, while adding praise for the unique hospitality and the reunion with friends made in previous years. “Our experience here last year was the best celebration and the warmest hospitality we have ever experienced in any race,” he said, comparing it not only to other 600-mile races but also to the Transpac to Hawaii. “Everyone in the organization was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the camaraderie among the crews was amazing. We can’t wait to live it again.”
Hemans notes that his team is better prepared this year, having gained a better understanding of the course and having competed in other Mediterranean offshore races over the past year to hone their skills in both light and heavy winds. “We have upgraded both our equipment and our crew, with new sails and new members. Looking at the strength of the competition, we will need everything to achieve a good result,” he added. In addition to VARUNA, other teams returning to defend their titles include Maks Vrecko’s Elan 450 KARPO (Slovenia), as well as Alex Cot (France) and Michalis Aftias (Greece), competing double-handed on the Pogo 50 EROS. Gregor Stimpfl’s HAGAR V (Italy) is returning for the third time. The Scuderia 65 participated not only in the inaugural AEGEAN 600 in 2021 but returned in 2022 to claim an impressive haul of trophies: the overall AEGEAN 600 Trophy as the IRC winner, the Poseidon Trophy as the ORC winner, alongside victories in the Maxi, IRC 1, and ORC 1 categories.
As in any major offshore race, several crews will aim for the top spot in the General Classification. This year, the Maxi class is particularly crowded with 12 entries, a record number in the history of the race. The AEGEAN 600 is part of the International Maxi Association (IMA) Maxi Mediterranean Offshore Challenge. Among the strong contenders is last year’s line honours winner, George Prokopiou’s Volvo 70 AIOLOS (Greece), which completed the course in 3 days, 19 hours, 7 minutes, and 8 seconds. Other notable entries include Claudio Demartis’s Reichel/Pugh 90 PROSECCO DOC SHOCKWAVE 3 (Italy) and Artur Skrzyszowski’s Volvo 65 SELMA RACING – SISI (Austria). Given the right conditions, strategic navigation, and flawless seamanship, other contenders may emerge, but these boats are the fastest in the class.
The race features IRC and ORC scoring for monohulls and MOCRA for multihulls, with a total of 16 categories based on boat size, speed, and type. Although most crews will compete fully crewed, 13 teams are participating double-handed, ranging from the fleet’s smallest boats—three Dehler 30s skippered by Evangelia Delidou on AETHER (Greece), Periklis Livas and Simon Sweetman on OPTIMUM 4 (Greece), and Yam Wirtheim on LAVARO III (Israel)—to Les and Gordon Moeller’s Pegasus 50 BELLEROPHON (USA), as well as Michalis Aftias (Greece) and Alex Cot (France) on EROS. Information on all 77 entries—boat names, types, skippers, crew, classes, and ratings—is available on the official race website.
AEGEAN 600 Schedule of Events
- Sunday, June 28 – Start of free berthing at Olympic Marine
- Tuesday, June 30 – Race office/secretariat opens at Olympic Marine
- Wednesday – Friday, July 1-3 – Registration and inspections
- Thursday, July 2 – Safety seminar
- Friday, July 3 – Practice race, skippers’ briefing, media briefing, and opening ceremony with crew party
- Saturday, July 4 – Visit to the Temple of Poseidon
- Sunday, July 5 (14:00) – Start of the AEGEAN 600 at Sounio
- Saturday, July 11 – Time limit expiration, prize-giving ceremony, and dinner
- Monday, July 13 – End of free berthing at Olympic Marine
On Sunday, July 5th, all boats will gather at the starting area south of the iconic Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, where spectators can watch the staggered starts beginning at 14:00 for the 600-nautical-mile journey. This is a complex course that entails passing 23 Aegean islands and is considered one of the most fascinating in the world of offshore racing. Despite its intensity, the race offers a unique spirit of camaraderie among the crews, breathtaking landscapes, and a generous dose of authentic Greek hospitality both before and after the race at Olympic Marine in Lavrio.
