“MANIATAKEION CUP” - Two-day Sailing Event in the Gulf of Messinia

On Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6, the “Nestor” Marine Yacht Club, in cooperation with IONE (Yachting Association of South Greece), organized a two-day open sea yachting event in the Gulf of Messinia under the title “MANIATAKEION CUP 2010”.

The organizers had decided to dedicate the race to the Maniatakeion Foundation, after which it was named. This gesture was in acknowledgement of the Foundation’s service in highlighting Koroni as a favorite yachting destination as well as to support the activities it promotes in the cultural, economical and social lives of the residents of the historical castle-town of Messinia.

The contest consisted of two yacht races, in which 10 vessels, 6.50 m and over in total length (rated according to ORCi and ORC club), took part. The first yacht race, Kalamata-Koroni, was held on Saturday (start time at 13:00 hrs) and the second, Koroni-Kalamata, was held on Sunday (start time at 12:00 hrs).

On Saturday night, both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Maniatakeion Foundation received the yachters at Koroni; they thanked them for their participation in the race and awarded prizes to the crews of the vessels “Evi”, “Alter Ego” and “GTI”, who won the first three places respectively in the first yacht race of Kalamata-Koroni (15 nautical miles).

The representative of both the yacht clubs who had organized the event, offered the Chairman of the Maniatakeion Foundation an honor plaque, wishing him a long-term continuance and success of this event. To honor the athletes, the Foundation, offered dinner followed by music and dancing until the early morning hours.

It is worth noting that the “MANIATAKEION CUP” event took place on World Environment Day and, according to the International Maritime Organization, yachters are considered to be the leaders in environmental protection awareness.

Before the awarding ceremony, the yachters had the opportunity to experience the beauty of Koroni, while the archaeologist, Dr. Yiannis Poulios took them on a tour of the Castle and the Church of Panagia Eleistria.