20:00, Tuesday 28th March 2023, Alimos, Greece.
The 2023 season commenced with H.O.R.C.’s 50th Anniversary Race from Athens to Hydra Island and back, over the past long weekend. Team OPTIMUM initial plan was to compete with its thoroughbred carbon race boat, OPTIMUM-Samos Steamship, the Carkeek 47 purchased last year. However, delays due to technical issues in the boatyard split the 12 strong OPTIMUM S crew to the two OPTIMUM Sailing Academy Dehler 30ods LAVORO III and OPTIMUM 4.
“We are privileged to reach the 30th Team OPTIMUM season in such a vibrant and exciting state full of options. The switch to the Dehler 30s instead of the our big race boat didn’t diminish our appetite for racing and we actually enjoyed in-house competition in addition to the rest of the fleet. 15th place for LAVORO III and 19th for OPTIMUM 4 is not what we aimed for but that’s it and we move on. The conclusion of the debriefing showed the need to up our decision making process in light and variable wind conditions”, said Apostolos Serraos, Team Optimum member and skipper of OPTIMUM 4 in Hydra Race.
Samos Steamship of the Inglessis Family has adopted Team OPTIMUM since 2020 and continues to be hugely supportive in good and tough times. Lalizas S.A. renewed their support for OPTIMUM Sailing Academy for a second year and Quantum Sails Greece joined too. Helly Hansen has become the apparel sponsor of Team OPTIMUM and we can only be thankful to all of them for their support.
Let the season roll…!