12:00, Monday 23rd March 2026, N.C.Kalamaki, Alimos Marina, Greece.
OPTIMUM Season 33 racing commenced in the best way possible with OPTIMUM Sailing Academy’s two Dehler 30ods LAVORO III and OPTIMUM 4 scoring 1st and 2nd respectively in the first official race of 2026 in the Greek Sailing Federation Offshore Calendar. “ANDREA ZIRO 2026 Double Handed Race” organised by Sailing Club Piraeus took place over the weekend 21-22 March with 19 entries in total, 10 in the Performance category and 9 in the Sport. The 27-mile nautical course from Faliro to Poros Island and back next day, was perfect sailing fun as it provided a downwind surfing extravaganza in up to 30 knots of wind on Saturday and an upwind tactical dash on Sunday in 15-20 knots. OPTIMUM 4 took line honours on Saturday scoring 2nd on handicap with LAVORO III crossing the line second, three minutes later and scoring 3rd on handicap. On Sunday, the O.S.A. boats did the same but in reverse order, LAVORO III first and OPTIMUM 4 second by 1 minute in both line honours and handicap this time. As such they ended up on equal points in first place overall in the Performance category, with the tie broken in favour of LAVORO III due to the 1st place in race 2. Marvellous!
“We chose OPTIMUM Sailing Academy as the path to achieve our double handed entry to Aegean 600 this summer. O.S.A. not only provides two identical top notch Dehler 30ods, but prepared a custom two boat preparation/training plan to fit our schedule and allow us to reach peak performance at the start of the Aegean 600. As such, we just concluded part 1 of this schedule, that was hugely successful for me and my partner in crime Orly Yosupov, as we managed to score 1st place with LAVORO III, after only two solid training days on the Dehler 30od. This was only possible because the boats were immaculately prepared for racing to the very last detail in one hand, and the exceptional coaching and two-boat training and racing that O.S.A. offers on the other hand. Add to that great hospitality, friendship and OPTIMUM team spirit and we already felt the recipe for success. Me and Orly would like to thank Periklis Livas, Simon Sweetman, Meletis Paterakis, Prodromos Petridis and Kalamaki Nautical Club staff and representatives for the hospitality and the well thought fast track program that they offer”, stated 25-year old Yam Wirtheim, member of the 49er Israeli National team for 3 years(21-24), and finisher in the last two AEGEAN 600s in both monohull and multihull full crew classes.
OPTIMUM Sailing Academy is operating and providing its services to the young generation that is willing to dig in the tough top level offshore racing scene, test themselves and progress their dreams and aspirations. We can only keep doing so with the kind support of great partners like Performance Technologies, Quantum Sails, Helly Hansen, K-Ropes, Ropealign Rigging, Daltec and many individual tech related experts that stand with us with a smile and a helping hand. Thank you!
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