Greece is now the newest member of the prestigious Star Sailors League, joining the elite ranks of international sailing competitions.

Official Statement from the Hellenic Sailing Federation (HSF)

“A remarkable announcement and a great honor for Greek sailing,” said HSF President Niki Anastasiou during the “Night of Champions” event at the Eugenides Foundation.

The Star Sailors League (SSL), whose leadership includes multiple Olympic gold medalists, has officially recognized Greece as its 65th member. This prestigious sailing competition is often compared to the World Cup of Sailing, emphasizing its global significance.

The decision was announced in Geneva to Greek sailing legend Aimilios Papathanasiou, who has been entrusted with forming the crew that will represent Greece in the finals scheduled for November-December 2026.

The Greek Team & the Race

Greece’s team will compete in 47-foot “One Design” yachts, formerly used in the renowned America’s Cup. Each yacht’s crew will consist of 8 to 11 sailors, depending on specific weight requirements.

Papathanasiou, tasked with assembling the Greek crew, has already approached several elite sailors, including:

• Tasos Boudouris (Olympian)
• Dimitris Deligiannis (Olympian)
• Stefanos Handakas
• Elena Dimitrakopoulou (Vice President of HSF & former Olympian)
• Antonis Tsotras (European Star Class Champion)
• Stelios Noutsos (European Star Class Champion)

The remaining crew members will be selected from the SSL Global Ranking List, which includes top sailors from various sailing disciplines.

What’s Next?

Once the Greek team is finalized, they will begin intensive training and competitive races to ensure Greece is fully prepared for the 2026 finals—one of the most significant sporting events of the year worldwide.