With a new participation record, the start of the 4th AEGEAN 600 (5-13 July), organized for the fourth consecutive year by the Panhellenic Offshore Sailing Association (POIATH) with co-organizer Olympic Marine, will take place on Sunday, July 7.
Entries total 70 boats, including the most famous sailboats in the world. The impressive LUCKY (ex-Rambler 88) owned by American Brian Earhart, but also the three Volvos (two 70-footers and one 65-footer).
In fact, one Volvo Open 70 (formerly I Love Poland) is now owned by Olympic marine owner Giorgos Prokopiou, while the other similar boat L4/TRIFORK (formerly Ericsson 4) is owned by Dutch businessman Joern Larsen, skippered by Danish race winner Maxi Jens Dolmer, who also won the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race.
The above boats, as well as Austrian Stefav Gentz’s Botin 56 BLACK PEARL and the two MOD 70 trimarans, American Jason Carroll’s ARGO and France’s “sister boat” ZOULOU, are just some of the 70 boats that will set sail. from the Temple of Poseidon to impress in the Aegean.
The governors’ objective is to obtain the precious prize, a faithful silver copy of the Attica crater from the 5th century BC. century, but also to break the course record which is 45 hours, 5 minutes and 25 seconds and has been held by the boat LEOPARD 3 since 2023. But also for the winners of the individual categories, there are silver prizes faithful copies of old objects from the Benaki Museum.
A significant addition is Rolex’s involvement as the Official Watch of the AEGEAN 600. The Aegean 600 is one of the 600-nautical-mile sailing races supported by Rolex as part of its 70-year association with the sport of sailing.
The participating crews will have to face the exciting challenges and unique characteristics of this race, as well as the historic Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
There is a natural connection between Rolex and international sailing, where charting a successful course requires unwavering commitment, a wealth of experience and a keen intuition to deal with the ever-changing winds, strong currents and wave forces. The 600-nautical-mile route includes most of the Aegean Sea.
The start of the race will take place, as every year, symbolically from the sea area of the Temple of Poseidon and the finish after the 600 nm route. are at the same starting point. Of particular importance is the number of foreign countries, whose flag is carried by the boats participating in the regatta.
In this year’s event, the flags of foreign countries number 25. The AEGEAN 600 is one of the most numerous in the participation of boats with a foreign flag in similar regattas and this is of particular importance for the promotion of Greece on a global level.
Rolex and sailing
Rolex has always been associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, absolute precision, the constant search for perfection and team spirit. For 70 years, it has maintained a privileged relationship of respect and mutual values with the sport of sailing.
Today, Rolex, with its high standards of excellence and its history in sport, is a trusted partner and supporter of the world’s leading sailing groups and regattas.
He has also worked with leading sporting figures including Sir Francis Chichester, the first sailor to make the pioneering circumnavigation of the world, as well as the most successful multi-Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie.
Today, Rolex is the title sponsor of 15 major international events – including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Rolex Fastnet, the Rolex TP52 World Championship, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP World Championship.
Its partnerships with sailing groups such as the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club, the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its timeless relationship with this dynamic sport.