Organizers from the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki and the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) remind prospective teams considering entry to the ORC European Championship held over 3-10 July 2016 that the first discount entry deadline for the event is approaching later this week.
The 2016 ORC European Championship will be based at the stunning Porto Carras Grand Resort, in Halkidiki on the Sithonian peninsula located east of Thessaloniki. The clear azure waters of the Toroneas Gulf combine with scenic landscapes of rocky coastlines and secluded beaches to provide fantastic sailing at this world-class resort. Entries will receive discount rates to two hotels at the Porto Carras resort, dockage is free of entries at the Porto Carras Marina during the event, and there is a 50% discount on marina rates for boats that choose to stay until the next offshore series, the 2016 edition of the annual Aegean Regatta held over 20-27 August.
Already 56 teams from 10 countries from as far away as the USA have entered, including many newcomers to ORC championship events but also some past champions and near-champions. One of these is Vincenzo De Blasio's Scugnizza Total Marine, the N/M 38S from Italy that was ORC World Champion in Class B in 2012 in Helsinki and again in 2013 in Ancona, Italy. Another is Aivar Tuulberg's Katarina II, an Arcona 340 from Estonia, who won Silver at the ORC Europeans in 2013 in Sandhamn, Sweden. Another podium finisher was Milan Hajek's First 40.7 Three Sisters from the Czech Republic who won Bronze in Class C at the ORC Worlds in Kiel in 2014.
"Its only a couple of months that are separating us now from the start of 2016 ORCi European Championship, and our Bullet-Encode team has already started our training and preparations for this major event," said Dimitris Deligianis, a past World Champion in the Soling Class and veteran of numerous regional offshore events as well. He and Nikolaos Sinouris are co-skippering their TP52 Bullet-Encode in this event. "After having participated in many past European Regattas we will have as a team the opportunity to sail against the best European sailors in Greek waters. We are quite familiar with Porto Carras which we consider one of the best sailing spots in the world. We are sure that the uniqueness of the spot and the experience and hard work of the organizers will result an amazing Regatta."
And for the first time at an ORC Championship, entries are also expected from Israel, where at this week's SAIL Tel Aviv Yacht Cup teams will compete to qualify for entry at the European Championship.
"We are very pleased with the interest and turnout so far for the event," said Akis Tsalikis, Chairman of the Hellenic Offshore Committee. "The venue at Porto Carras is outstanding, with many activities to offer both the sailors and their families, so we expect this to be a very successful week for all."
To serve as a preview to the Europeans, the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki will host the North Aegean Cup 2016 to also be held at Porto Carras over 30 June - 3 July to test race teams as well as the race managers prior to the main event. The format will be a mix of inshore buoy races as well as races along the beautiful Sithonia coast, replicating the style of racing to be used the following week.
After 30 April, entry fees will increase for all classes to €700/entry, and after 31 May the fees increase further to €900.
