20:00, Wednesday 21st February 2024, Alimos, Greece.
In 2023 we celebrated the 30th Team OPTIMUM season full of uninterrupted competitive achievements. In 2024, during the annual Pita Ceremony, no less than 29 team members gathered to celebrate the first year of the fourth Team OPTIMUM decade. Not many sailing teams around the world have made it so far and the blame must be placed on OPTIMUM spirit. We can certainly blame too, our loyal main supporter SAMOS STEAMSHIP of the Inglessis family that understands the sea environment that we operate better than anyone else and stand by us in good and bad weather. We are fortunate to have them on board and happy we were able to deliver top notch results, closing 30 seasons on an absolute high.
“I have been fortunate to be immersed in Team Optimum spirit for so long. Team principals Nikos Lazos and Periklis Livas, driven by pure passion for the sport, although they have navigated the team to the top and stayed there firmly, they interestingly call 2024, year One. Nowadays that AEGEAN 600 has been established internationally and draws top entries from around the world in Greece every summer, winning the 4th edition this summer will be the goal for the first year of the 4th Team OPTIMUM decade. Team OPTIMUM evolved and progressed internationally the past three decades through successful participations in 29 editions of the AEGEAN RALLY. Now that AEGEAN 600 has become the pinnacle event in Greece with such international exposure, Team OPTIMUM is up for the challenge. We placed 2nd in 2021, retired in 2022 and finished 3rd in 2023. There is a good plan, fresh mindset and support from all over. Let’s do it!”, said loyal Team OPTIMUM member Manos Roudas after the Pita ceremony.
HELLY HANSEN, Team OPTIMUM apparel sponsor for second year in a row, provided an H/H sports bag that was awarded to the Pita lucky coin founder Andonis Drilias. A fair amount of pizza, souvlaki, beer and beverages were consumed and the Pita ceremony concluded in high spirits. Team members that did not manage to attend the Pita ceremony for various reasons were recorded and will have to take care of cleaning the boat for the whole of 2024. The decision was taken unanimously by the attendees George Panagiotidis, Manos Roudas, Tasos Dikastopoulos, Lambros Nakis, Nikos Apostolakis, Manolis Markogiannakis, Lefteris Grispos, Vaggelis Karas, Mily Tirla, Fanis Dalezios, George Kyragiannis, Vaggelis Nikolopoulos, Nikos Kountouriotis, Antonis Drilias, Charis Mavrogeorgis, Thanos Papasideris, Anna Agrafioti, Giannis Kapos, Gerasimos Petratos, Lambros Nakis, George & Stavros Papadopoulos-Kouklakis, Patroklos Tachtatzis, Giannis Kavalaris, Kostis Afentakis, Meletis Paterakis, Fragkiskos Nikolakis, Periklis Livas and Nikos Lazos
Another OPTIMUM decade rolls out…
Stay tuned…!