The inaugural Hellenic Sailing League powered by Grivalia got underway in spectacular fashion, 27-28 June, as 19 crews from Greece’s top sailing teams battled it out in over 20 knots of breeze on the Athenian Riviera.
Hosted by the Yacht Club of Greece, Round 1 – the ‘One&Only Aesthesis Season Opener & Gala’ – marked the beginning of this new RS21 league in Greece. Ahead of racing, sailors, sponsors and organisers came together in a welcoming atmosphere to exchange ideas and experiences, highlighting the strong community behind the sport before attention turned to two days of close, competitive racing in the club’s six RS21 keelboats.
Designed as a three-part series, the Hellenic Sailing League aims to establish Greece as a destination for high-level competitive sailing, combining world-class racing with exceptional hospitality and one of the world’s most iconic sailing venues.
George Chryssikos, President & Chief Executive Officer of Grivalia Hospitality, said: “The Hellenic RS21 Sailing League is a natural extension of our strategic commitment to investing in initiatives that elevate Greece’s profile internationally. Our ambition is to build an institution that draws athletes and teams from around the world, firmly placing Greece on the global competitive sailing map.”
The RS21 was chosen as the league’s official boat thanks to its combination of close, tactical racing, simple handling and sustainable design – one of the many reasons it was welcomed by the club as the first RS21s in Greece back in March 2026.
RS Sailing’s Head of Commercial, Michiel Geerling, is proud to see the RS21 continue to gain momentum as a modern keelboat platform for sailing leagues and clubs around the world: “It’s so great to see the RS21 selected as the choice of boat for these high-profile events. Ultimately, we just want people to have fun on the water – a wow, this opening weekend, with the 20 knots, crystal clear waters, and epic shots of the RS21 certainly shows just that!”
After two days of intense racing in demanding conditions, the Round 1 podium:
- 🥇 ΙΟΠ ΜΑΝΤΗΣ
- 🥈 ΝΟΕ 8 ΤΣΟΥΛΦΑΣ
- 🥉 ΝΟΠΦ ΓΟΥΡΙΩΤΗΣ
See the full results on the Hellenic Sailing League’s official noticeboard.
This league is exciting addition to the growing global network of RS21 sailing leagues, demonstrating how this modern keelboat continues to provide an accessible, sustainable and highly competitive platform for clubs and national sailing organisations alike.
The Hellenic Sailing League is keen to thank its sponsors. “It takes a few early believers to make great things happen. This regatta sets sail thanks to those who chose to invest in the vision before it became a reality. A heartfelt thank you to our Gold Sponsors: Eurobank, Goldair, Seajets, One&Only Aesthesis.”
With the opening event complete, attention now turns to the remaining two rounds of the inaugural season:
- Round 2: 5-6 September 2026
- Round 3 (Season Finale): 17-18 October 2026
Interested in joining the next event? Head to the Hellenic Sailing League to see how you can get involved.
Congratulations to everyone involved in delivering a fantastic opening event, and we look forward to following the rest of the season.
