Ireland’s two Aegean 600 entries have made strong progress since Afloat.ie’s earlier report on Wednesday, 8 July, and are now expected to finish on Thursday, 9 July. At the earlier 12.15pm update, Darkwood had 162 nautical miles remaining and Xcalibur Team HYC had 147 miles left.
By the latest update, Darkwood had cut that to 40 miles, averaging 7.0 knots, with an estimated finish at 5.08 am on Thursday, 9 July. Xcalibur Team HYC had reduced its distance to 65 miles, averaging 6.7 knots, with an estimated finish at 9.17am on Thursday, 9 July.
While the Irish crews continued their passage through the Aegean, the race's leading maxi yachts completed one of the most demanding editions of the offshore classic.
The 71-boat fleet encountered everything from strong Meltemi winds and 40-knot gusts to frustrating calms, prompting organisers to describe the race as a "mini round-the-world race" for the maxi fleet.
Claudio Demartis' 90-foot Prosecco DOC Shockwave³ claimed line honours after an intense duel with George Procopiou's Volvo 70 Aiolos. The Italian yacht crossed the finish off Cape Sounion in an elapsed time of 2 days, 8 minutes and 27 seconds, with Aiolos arriving just two minutes later after a dramatic final reach.
Marking Time: Prosecco DOC Shockwave³ rounds the Rolex turning mark during the opening stages of the AEGEAN 600 before going on to claim line honours after a thrilling duel with Aiolos. Photo: Deea Buzdugan
For Shockwave³, the victory came despite damaging two spinnakers during the opening stages. "The Meltemi was blowing very hard, and in the first 10 minutes we exploded a spinnaker," helmsman Lorenzo Bressani said. Navigator Andrea Micalli added, "The turning point of the whole race was getting free from the wind hole in the lee of Rhodes. We gained almost 10 to 12 miles there."
Although denied line honours, Aiolos successfully defended its IRC Maxi class title by more than seven hours from Prosecco DOC Shockwave³, with the Polish-crewed VO65 Big Sky taking third.
Podium Pace: The Polish-crewed VO65 Big Sky, skippered by Vendée Globe sailor Zbigniew Gutkowski, races through the Aegean on her way to third place in the IRC Maxi class. Photo: Alen Photography
"It's bittersweet to finish second when it is so close," said Aiolos navigator Konrad Lipski. "But our result is very good. We're tired, but happy."
Other maxi competitors also endured extreme contrasts, with several reporting violent gusts approaching 50 knots before becoming becalmed near the finish.
"The race had an epic quality to it," said Meliti owner Stratis Andreadis. "Like one of the old Whitbread Round the World Races."
The Aegean 600 prize-giving takes place on Saturday, while the International Maxi Association's Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge concludes with the Palermo-Montecarlo Race in August.
