Patras Sailing Club - Greece
The Patras Sailing Club has been offering its services in the learning and promotion of sailing in Patra for
29 years. It was established in 1980 and constitutes one of the largest Sailing Clubs in Western Greece, with great development prospects, and hosts a school and coaches for the learning of open sea sailing in various vessels - one belonging to the club. It also offers coaches for competitive triangle sailing, with Optimist, Europe, Laser and 420 type vessels, for ages 6 and above.
Each year, the Patras Sailing Club organizes around 11 Open Sea Races in the area of the Patras - Corinth Gulf and one international race, the renown Ionian Rally (by turns on annual basis with the Corfu Sailing Club) in the broader region of the Ionian, with the participation of vessels from abroad (mostly Italy) and all Greek regions. We should note that, from 1999 onwards, and up to today, this race has been classified as one of the largest weekly sporting events of Greece in terms of participation.
With approximately 46 open sea vessels, it is the second largest marine sports club (based on O.R.C. certifications) in Greece. Participations in local races number a mean of 20 - 22 vessels, bearing more than 60 sailboaters. One of the classic races of the Gulf of Patras is that of "Thysias" (Patra - Mesologi), which signals the start of the racing season, is part of the city's exit ceremonies and is noted for its occasionally peculiar weather conditions.
In the Olympic triangle class, the Patra Sailing Club numbers 40 triangle racers and organizes inter-association, regional and Pan-Hellenic ranking races in the Optimist and Laser categories. Almost every year since 1999, the Patra Sailing Club has organized a Ranking List in the above categories, flooding the Gulf of Patra with children. You can find material from these events in the Athenian press archives, as they have been ranked amongst the best in their class.
We also organized a Pan-Hellenic ranking race for the Olympic categories (Europe, Laser, 470) in 2001, with the participation of athletes who rose to fame in the Sydney Olympics. With 34 open sea vessels, we are the second largest marine sports club (based on O.R.C. certifications) in Greece.