19:00, Tuesday 1st August 2023, Nautical Club Kalamaki, Greece.
Team OPTIMUM-Samos Steamship managed to hold their nerve and posted a hard fought 2nd place in the final Leg from Ios to Sounio of the 60th Aegean Rally. By doing so, OPTIMUM S scorecard of 1,1,2,2 was good enough to win them top podium position, with Team VELOS-Eurobank in second and Team BB4 in third. As such, Team OPTIMUM-Samos Steamship celebrates 30 years and extends the unparalleled record in Aegean Rally history of 24 podium finishes, 12 times first, 7 times second and 5 times third in 29 Aegean Rally participations. Bravo to all Team OPTIMUM members for their successful commitment over three decades, amazing indeed!
“The meltemi northern winds showed up in the final Leg and provided a tiring upwind 80-mile dash to Cape Sounio. Although we were alert for a wind hole approaching Kea island and kept as right as possible, we parked enough time for Team VELOS to catch up on us and win Leg 4 on handicap. It was magical crossing the finish line right at sunset and all team members were in high spirits. The day after, we enjoyed a fabulous prize giving ceremony and lifted the Aegean Rally Trophy for 12th time. We are proud of our back to back wins and performance in both major Greek events -Aegean 600 and Aegean Rally- and looking forward for Andros Race in early September and possibly our 8th participation in Rolex Middle Sea Race in late October”, says enthusiastically bowman Fanis Dalezios.
Optimum youth team of under 20s on board O.S.A.’s OPTIMUM 4 crossed the finish line in Cape Sounio too, writing their own paragraph in the Aegean Rally history as the youngest ever crew to compete. The youngsters put a lot of effort and hard work before and during their first Aegean Rally, enjoyed a steep learning curve and accumulated a serious amount of experience. OPTIMUM Sailing Academy supporters LALIZAS, PERFORMANCE and QUANTUM Sails Greece are proud of their determination and achievement to reach the finish line in this Aegean marathon. “Investing in the young and coming generation is the most important and sensible act among available choices and O.S.A. does a great job worthy of our support”, says Iasonas Lalizas, Marketing and Communications Manager of LALIZAS S.A.
One may call it an OPTIMUM July to remember as the 30 year old Greek Yacht Racing Team proved fresh, strong, productive and victorious, reaching peak performance as planned.
Doesn’t get any better than this, right…?