Summer races III, Porto Rafti Regatta

Porto Rafti is a bay on the east shore of the Attica peninsula.  Four islets (Rafti, Raftopoula, Praso, Circe) are inside while one (Koroni) is outside and slightly to the south of the bay.  Porto Rafti and the surrounding region belonged in the demoi (Δημοι)  Prasiae and Steiria, two of the 139 municipalities of Ancient Athens.  Pausanias tells us that Athenians built a temple of Apollo and erected a statue of Erichthonius at Prasiae.   Erichthonius, the son of Cecrops and an Attic hero, was also buried at Prasiae according to Pausanias(1,31,1).

It is not known whom the enigmatic statue on top of the Rafti islet honored and what was its purpose.  The colossal marble statue likely was sculpted during the Emperor Hadrian reign (78-138 AD).  Pausanias submits that it was Erichthonius while local folklore suggests it was a tailor as the word rafti means tailor in demotic Greek vernacular. Even a casual inspection of the statue convinces even the most uninitiated that the statue is a woman.  Therefore,  deities such as Athena, Artemis or Demeter or prominent women such as Hadrian’s wife Sabina or Herod Atticus’ wife Regilla are likely candidates.  Its purpose is also unknown but I strongly believe that it served as a lighthouse to assist ships returning at night from the Cyclades islands the nearest of which Kea is 20 miles away to Attica.  Two more reasons in support of my theory that its main function was that of a lighthouse are first that it is facing east towards the Aegean islands and Asia Minor and second one of its arms is raised where I would like to propose a metal cauldron was placed and used for the purpose of lighting a fire. Etching by Irish traveler E. Dodwell who visited Greece from 1801 to 1806. 

Porto Rafti Regatta is a three-day event with the first race run was from the starting line around the islets of Praso, Rafti and back to the finish line a length of approximately 5 nautical miles. The crew of Okyrhoe in day I was my brother Nikos, his wife Alexandra, our friend Kostas and myself.  

The course in the second race was similar to that of the first day and the crew of legendary Okyrhoe was Nikos, Kostas, Myrto a most able woman sailor, her daughter and our cinematographer Alecos.

In the third and last day of Porto Rafti Regatta my brother had an all women crew. It is interesting that Okyrhoe was first at the finish line in all three races. It was a most pleasant weekend and a great way for me to celebrate my 73rd birthday with relatives and dear friends. In closing, I would like to thank my friend Alexander Syris who was the cinematographer and producer of the three beautiful videos of Porto Rafti Regatta.

Summer races II; Lavrio-Patroclos-Lavrio

The race from Lavrio around Cape Sounion to Patroclus and back to Lavrio, a distance of approximately 20 nm, took place on Saturday June 26, 2016.  The annual offshore race was organized by the Nautical Club of Lavrion. 

Patroklos (Greek: Πατροκλος) is an islet approximately 3 nautical miles from Cape Sounion.  Although the islet got its name in antiquity, it is not known why it was called Patroklos.  Similarly, the nature of the friendship between Achilles, the bravest of the Greeks, and Patroclus is also not known.  Patroclus and Achilles grew up together.  Patroclus acted as a male role model for Achilles, as he was both older and wiser acting as his counsel.  Some authors in the classical period and in modern times have suggested that their relation was homosexual.  Others believe that their strong bond was what is commonly observed among comrades during wartime.  Because the friendship between Achilles and Patroclus features prominently in the Iliad I would like to clarify for those not familiar with the Greek  language the words εταιρος and φιλος Homer is using to describe the friendship between Achilles and Patroclus point towards a strong, bond commonly encountered among brothers-in-arms.  

Homer's epic poem Iliad is the most famous narrative of Achilles' deeds in the Trojan War.  Achilles' wrath is the central theme of the poem. The Homeric epic begins with Achilles' withdrawal from the battle after Agamemnon dishonors him. Agamemnon has abducted the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo, and refuses to return her to Achilles.  Agamemnon refusal enrages Apollo who sends the plague amongst the Greeks.  
Achilles' most notable feat during the Trojan War was the slaying of the Trojan hero Hector, following the killing of Achilles’s friend Patroclus.

Triumphant Achilles dragging Hector's lifeless body in front of the Gates of Troy from a fresco in the main hall of Achilleion. 

It was on a sunny day with strong northerly 25 knots winds gusting to 35 knots.  It is noteworthy that one of the boats got dismasted in the upwind leg of the course.  Okyrhoe, our boat was first at the finish line, on elapsed and corrected times (results).  The movie was recorded and produced by our friend Alexander Syrris who sailed with us on that day and played a dual role that of the cinematographer and also a crewmember who offered incalculable assistance during critical moments of the race.