| Kalamaki, Athens, Greece, June 10th, 2021. “It has been a long journey and the future looks more promising than ever”, says Team OPTIMUM-Samos Steamship co-principal Periklis Livas. Although the covid-19 pandemic limited the Team’s racing in 2020 and early 2021, a lot of decisions and actions were taken in time to allow the team go full blast as soon as racing resumes.As such, OPTIMUM 3 already participated in the first weekend of Spring Series with a scoreline 7, 3 and has a full training program in order to reach top form for battle royal in July. The inaugural AEGEAN 600 Yacht race is expected to attract about 50 entries from 20 countries with a start date on July 4. This new event in the international calendar aims to become one of the 600-mile Classics and Team OPTIMUM-Samos Steamship is planning a serious challenge. With only a week to rest and on July 17 the Team will be at the start of the 58th Aegean Rally to defend the winner title of the 57th edition in 2020. This ten-day rally type event with island stopovers is responsible for Team OPTIMUM‘s depth in offshore sailing that allowed the team international success in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, European and World Championships since 1994. The trusted turbo-ed Farr 52 One Design OPTIMUM 3 is in great shape and will be driven hard by a highly spirited team formed by a mix of experienced Team OPTIMUM members and new talented recruits brought in the team by our new and young skippers Mavrogeorgis(26) and Nikolopoulos(30). Our average age on board is expected to lower further as all four new comers are under 30, including a 16 and a 20 year old dinghy sailors. The OPTIMUM renewal team member plan initiated in 2016 is in full swing and will allow the team excel in the years to come. Our great sponsor Samos Steamship underwrites and supports all this attraction of young talent on board as they believe too that the future belongs to the hard working new generation that only needs the chance to prove what is made for. It is a huge testimony of the Team’s member loyalty that we will be able to compete in both these two great and long events back to back with strong lineups and strive for distinction. “Giving back to the sport we love and which offered us so much in our lives has become the aim of myself and the now turning grey-haired team members after 28 years. We plan to do so by passing on to the next generation all the hard and wet experiences acquired in the seas of the world and become proud and happy watching Team OPTIMUM exist and conquer new frontiers in the years to come” declares Nikos Lazos, Team OPTIMUM-Samos Steamship co-principal. Stay tuned to find out first the OPTIMUM lineup and our preparations for the challenges ahead! |