Mr. Antonopoulos explained, “The conditions were extreme,” and went on to clarify that “each boat has the discretion to make any move it deems necessary, to abandon the race, to use storm sails. What we are taught in the safety seminars before the race is that our primary concern is safety.”
George Vallis, president of the Panhellenic Yacht Crew Association, stated, “The crews and owners must be very serious and careful in the face of adverse meltemi conditions, with winds ranging from 6 to 8 Beaufort. They should not take risks with these phenomena. All safety measures must be taken. We must always respect the sea.”
Speaking to protothema.gr, the president of the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club, Giannis Maragoudakis, said, “Despite the tremendous effort we put in to organize a perfect event, with all participants expressing their enthusiasm before the start of the race, this tragic development has devastated us all. Our deepest condolences to the family of the 40-year-old sailor.”
A tragic incident marked the Aegean 600 international sailing race. Late last night, two crew members of a participating sailboat fell into the sea near Karpathos.
The weather conditions were unfavorable, with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and waves two meters high.
The other crew members immediately took all the prescribed actions. Initially, they surrounded the man, but the woman, a 40-year-old French national, had drifted far away and was spotted a little later. According to initial reports, she was injured and was pulled out unconscious. She was then taken to the Kasos Regional Clinic, where she was pronounced dead.
The port authorities, who have taken over the case, were immediately informed. An official press release from the organization is expected.
The race starts symbolically from the sea area of the Temple of Poseidon and ends at the same starting point after a 600 nm route. Of particular importance is the number of foreign countries represented by the participating boats, which amounts to 25. The AEGEAN600 is one of the largest races in terms of participation by foreign-flagged boats.
The Coast Guard’s detailed announcement:
Last night, the Port Authority of Kasos was informed about two crew members of a Spanish-flagged sailboat falling into the sea northwest of the island. The crew members were recovered by the sailboat, but a 40-year-old French woman was pulled out unconscious. A lifeboat went to the area, located the sailboat, and escorted it to the port of Kasos. A doctor confirmed the death of the 40-year-old woman in Kasos, and her body is to be transferred to the Forensic Service of Rhodes for an autopsy. A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Kasos Port Authority.
Additionally, the Port Authority of Karpathos was informed by the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center about the injury of a 61-year-old crew member on a Polish-flagged sailboat participating in the race. The sailboat arrived safely at the port of Pigadia Karpathos, accompanied by the boat “NISOS SARIA.” The 61-year-old man was transported by an ambulance to the Karpathos General Hospital. A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Karpathos Port Authority.
