2. PRESS RELEASE

                   Leros, 7.2.2012

The organization of the race sponsored by the Italo-Hellenic Cultural Association -AIAL- and the Nautical Club of Leros is proceeding apace. The race will start from Leros on Saturday, May 26 and will finish at the same island on Sunday, June 3.

At this stage, the following program has been proposed:

There has been provision for an ‘orc-club class’ for racing boats and an “OPEN CLASS” for non endorsed cruising boats, which will be assigned a provisional rating by the Organizing Committee.

In order to allow the participation of those who would be interested in joining the race for a shorter itinerary, AIAL has sponsored the award of the “CARIAN TROPHY” which is scheduled as follows:

Eligible boats for this race will be drawn from racing and cruising boats in “OPEN CLASS” as well as traditional wooden boats classified as “GUEST CLASS”, which will be scored separately according to their elapsed time, and will not take part in the final race in the harbour of Lakki.

In addition, provision has been made for those boats competing in the “OPEN CLASS” to compete for the “LEROS CUP”, sponsored by the Municipality of Leros.  This has the following program:

Participation in the race means automatic inclusion in the classification for the assignment of the above trophies as well as for the “CVF TROPHY” that will console the boat that comes last in the overall ratings.

Enrolment and entry fees, either for the race or for the individual trophies, includes any financial or bureaucratic obligations contingent upon national entry/exit requirements, which will be necessary for the conduct of the competition.  All such fees and formality will be met by the Organisation. For this reason, entry will be closed a week before the start of the race.

In order to assist boats coming from Turkey with the completion of the necessary paperwork, there will be at their disposal and free of charge the services of a shipping agency upon arrival at the two closest ports of entry (Patmos in the North and Kalymnos in the South), as well as facilities for issuing visas before departure for crew members who might need it.

Because of these issues, the total number of boats admitted to the race will be limited to fifty and that of traditional wooden boats participating in the “CARIAN TROPHY” in “GUEST CLASS” to eight. Entry by multi-hull vessels will be accepted as long as there is a minimum of five such entries.

The official Notice of Race and entry forms will be available shortly.

Contacts: a