Δημοσιεύτηκε στον Εφοπλιστή (εδω το κείμενο μεταφρασμένο στα Αγγλικά)
AEGEOTISSA II
Lady of the Aegean Sea
Hull destined not only to remind but to be an old fashion, traditional wood hull of other times. Made to carry pure lovers of the sea, that seek to live truth in all her length “…guide is the sky”
Thanks to a dream, with our Lady Mary of the Aegean Sea to make her presence real, the ship was named AEGEOTISSA -daughter, Mistress, Madonna of the Aegean. It wasn’t either made as a merchant, like the old hulls (cargo, potatoes etc.) carriers or fishing vessel, but exclusively as a professional yacht.
Self made with love and care. A life long passion for the sea, a Greek captain in love with the old fashion wooden hulls, a dream comes true never to be regretted. A work dared by Captain Stavros Arelis, his “Kapetanissa” Maria and their daughter Stefi.
Born Captains, who already in 1986 they had constructed their first AEGEOTISSA a wooden hull 24 meters long that later was elongated to 32 meters, a life long education that they live today.
Sailing boat made with Iroko wood beams, 6,5 meter long logs straight and curved from eucalyptus and oak tree, pieced together with love and art like the old ship makers used to. Looking old notebooks of ship makers, asking Lloyd’s for affirmation to the construction, the nailing, and the matching of the logs. Captain Stavros wanted her to be 8 meters wide, everything according to tradition proved best and tested to stand the hardship of rough seas. He also wanted and still does this hull to be magnanimous and impressive to make her presence known in ports by looking stylish and strong. He wanted her to single out from all other ships that slowly but steadily were running in the Aegean Sea. He wanted her to defy the “meltemi” north winds of August.
AEGEOTISSA II a mini cruise ship that proudly crosses the Greek seas every year from May to October.
25 passengers, Americans, Europeans and lately Greeks come again and again every year. In cruises of one or two weeks they become a united lot with Captain Stavros, his Kapetanissa Maria and the crew. With them they learn what Greece is and why the Aegean blue is that blue. They live more, they see more, they learn more from a land full of history .They become mates. For trips like this it’s worth living.
Let us call these tacks on the blue “cruises”, as there is no other word. Possible to everyone and miles away from what most people have in mind for life onboard a yacht. This vessel and the people that make the difference, in times of typical nobility and cold professionalism, oppose the sensitivity of the crew. In times of high speed and high tech, we insist on sailing traditionally with a speed of 10 knots. Heading not only to destinations known to everyone, but to small isolated, uninhabited islands, like modern Robinsons.
Besides, no one is turning to look at those cloned super and mega yachts, those high speed vessels in ports; no one takes pictures of them, nor do the little kids ask to go onboard them. But every one wants to board AEGEOTISSA and see what -in their mind- looks like a pirate ship! Those onboard the super vessels cannot taste the salt from the wake neither to dream on the gun rail watching the sunset at Anafi island as the boat steers through the Aegean blue waters. They don’t even have the good fortune to watch dolphins playing under the bow, almost touching the hull.
This boat was made not only to remind but to be a traditional wooden vessel of other times destined to travel lovers of the sea. People seeking the truth, wanting to carry Greek images of white asbestos islands, to sail calm seas -but also rough seas where Poseidon and Triton fight.
In 12 large 2berth cabins all with private facilities and A/C, our 24 passengers sail to every destination, to every small or big island where the real non touristy Greece exists. But finally what counts in every voyage are the destination and the way that you can live on a cruise like this.
She does trips to all the well known Cycladic Islands such as Myconos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Delos, and Tinos either by whole charter or cabin sale, but giving a unique approach to these places. In Santorini when everyone is watching from atop Caldera Island, she crosses proudly and stops on top of the Volcano. In Paros, she visits Naoussa, Parikia and Piso Livadi where she stops and you can dive at Despotiko where ancient civilization is apparent. In Naxos, ouzo and octopus while watching the ferries in and out of the port. In cosmopolitan Myconos she looks for a leeward to Rhenia island just across with beaches full of sand and shells. In Tinos worship The Madonna and at night says goodbye to her passengers with a traditional Greek party.
On the other hand she visits the unknown to many islands, chartered in whole for individuals with love to the unknown.
She can coast to each and every rock, port, harbor or island. There is no place that she can’t go
And it’s not only the Cyclades… As many as the islands that many are the cruises that AEGEOTISSA II can do. Cosmopolitan Dodecanese, but also isolated little islands, like Arkious and Marathi where each arrival excites the locals. In the green Sporades she drops anchor where the green meets the blue and the seals are looking for a cave to live in.
In the calm sea of Ionion Pelagos she finds virgin shores untouched by the hordes of tourists, likewise in Crete and Peloponnesus.
The dolphins sail with us under the bow. A bow that does not antagonize, does not provoke does not challenge. A bow of their own, a bow of the sea and the waves.
It takes a few hours to remind us that paradise is not that far away, it’s next to us and inside us and in paradise we can travel. A Paradise that includes not only the vision but also the soul.
Voyages in a sea full of stories to tell and hear among the crew and passengers.
A journey once lived, always remembered and repeated.
BON VOYAGE
