At the beginning of July 2025, our ORC57 Avel Vaez will be taking part in one of the must-attend nautical events in Greek waters: the Aegean 600 offshore sailing race. What are the main principles of this offshore regatta, and what is the program for our catamaran?
The Aegean 600, an offshore race that has become a legendary regatta, is organized every summer by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (also known as HORC). Created a few years ago as an alternative to other long-distance races in the Mediterranean, the event has already been completed in 4 editions.
Every year, more than 50 yachts take the start, attracted by the challenge of covering the 600 miles of a demanding and prestigious course.
The 2025 edition will be the 5th. It will start on July 6 and, as every year, will bring together an international fleet of high-performance monohulls and multihulls.
The participation of our ORC57 in the Aegean 600 will be a major first: our catamaran hasn’t had the opportunity to enter the race before. Yet its design, equipment and general capabilities are engineered with offshore racing in mind!
Thanks to its performance, Avel Vaez is capable of competing with – and even surpassing – the most competitive fleets.
See also: First transatlantic sailing – Arc 2024
The start of the Aegean 600 is off the port of Lavrio, at the southeastern tip of the Athens peninsula.
The starting line will face the temple of Poseidon in Sounion. From there, the fleet of participating boats will set off on a non-stop itinerary across the Aegean Sea, past spectacular scenery and iconic islands:
All in all, the looped route will represent some 600 nautical miles of pure sailing, demanding endurance, strategy and technical mastery from every crew.
For the race, weather conditions will play an inescapable role:
The Meltemi – or Meltem – wind generally blows between 15 and 25 knots. For sure, it will offer our catamaran moments of intense speed, but will also impose some navigation constraints. With the Meltemi, regular gusts will require a careful reading of the weather, an ability to anticipate changes and adapt our catamaran’s settings.
Our racing strategy will then become as important as our team spirit, and the performance and quality of our boat. On board, decision-making will directly influence our positioning!
Records to be beaten during the new edition of the Aegean 600:
As part of the Aegean 600 fleet and the new generation of multihulls, the ORC57 Avel Vaez has been designed for both cruising and ocean racing. Light, fast, perfectly equipped and balanced under sail, this catamaran has been specifically optimized for offshore racing.
It always offers performance and comfort on board, whatever the sailing program!
The cruising speed of our ORC57 is in excess of 15 knots, and can easily exceed 20 knots in well-established conditions. Taut lines, generous sail area and on-board electronics make Avel Vaez a true competitor to other boats.
Our crew for the Aegean 600 will be made up of our professional sailors, as well as special guests joining for the event. Some are experts or experienced sailors – with several offshore races under their belts – while for other passengers, this will be their first offshore race. Enthusiasts of all levels are welcome on board!
The organization plans for crew members to arrive several days before the regatta, to give everyone a chance to familiarize themselves with the boat and sail configurations, discover the race course and optimize maneuvers.
Our competitors on the Aegean 600 should be ready: we plan to exploit the full potential of our boat, to achieve a top place in the final rankings!
For those who want to live this experience aboard our catamaran, there’s still time. A few places are still available for the 2025 edition of the race.
A rare opportunity to embark on an exceptional racing yacht, in a mythical setting…
Preparing to take part in the Aegean 600 requires a lot of hard work on the part of our team.
The race is open to monohull or multihull boats measuring at least 36 feet and judged seaworthy by international standards. Entries for the Aegean 600 are open to teams, but also to individuals with mixed crews. It is imperative that each yacht complies with current safety standards, particularly with regard to individual equipment, communications and emergency procedures.
The Hellenic Offshore Racing Club insists on the level of experience expected of participants: night sailing, passages close to the coast and the winds typical of the region, in particular, require certain skills. Before the start, rigorous technical checks will be carried out, and we’ll need to present full boat documentation and safety plan.
At the finish of the Aegean 600, a ceremony will celebrate the winners of the monohull and multihull categories. The best crews will receive a trophy underlining the excellence of their performance, but also the seafaring spirit and camaraderie of the competition.
Several tools are available to follow the progress of the race: