Regatta In Greece Sails In Odysseus' Wake

Created by doina. Last modified on 2004-04-20 10:54:18
Topic: Rallies
Countries: Greece

Odyssail Regatta will be held in the Mediterranean from the beginning of July until the 11th of August 2004, the day prior to the opening of the Olympic Games in Athens.

Odyssail will follow the path of Odysseus (Ulysses) and will start from major ports in the Mediterranean before sailing to various harbours in Greece, and finally meeting in the harbor of Heraklion on the island of Crete. The harbors where the fleets are passing have been selected among those that are thought to have sheltered Ulysses during his return voyage from the city of Troy to the island of Ithaca.

The regatta will stay in Crete for almost one week. During this period a Week for IMS, ORC Club boats, Classic yachts and One-Design Classes, a match race for Mediterranean Countries with J/24 and a J/24 Open Mediterranean Championship will take place.

The final race is from Heraklion to Sounio (Athens), where the entire fleet of boats will finish. This is associated with another mythological and historical event, the return of Theseus from Crete to Athens, that resulted to the liberation of Athenians from Minoan domination and the gradual evolution of the city of Athens into a center of culture and democracy.

Odyssail will end on August 12, 2004 in Athens, the day prior to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. During the Olympic Games, the participating yachts can be hosted in the marina of Nafplion, which is situated 1-hour drive from the Olympic venues.

http://www.odyssail.info/