Andy Denison visited the venue for the 2023 Masters in May 2022. Here is his report...

Although we raced from the town of Kavala in 2015 I felt it was necessary to visit the new location of the 2023 Finn World Masters, the fishing town of Iraklitsa.

In summary: Great hospitality, great facilities and a warm, enthusiastic, big welcome awaits us from our friends in Greece. It was pleasing to see how much they have embraced the needs of the Finn Masters.

Iraklitsa is located around 20 minutes drive west from Kavala. As you venture out of Kavala you really do see the proper Greece, quant fishing villages, unspoilt towns with limited influences. Iraklitsa is one of those, a lovely fishing village/town with an unspoilt marina extending on to 3-4 km of sandy beach, with a backdrop of taverners and small bars, so typical of Greece.

The town has two large supermarkets just behind the proposed event centre, where you can get everything you need if you are planning on camping or Airbnb.

Food/Drink. Bar and tavernas line the waterfront and offer great value, with a number of different traditional dishes, but mostly the lovely Greek locally sourced fish and meats together with the most amazing salads and deserts await your consumption. Try the traditional Ouzo with ice as an accompaniment and the local wines. In the back streets and the neighbouring villages you can also find those little gem tavernas. 

The sailing club is a migration from the old Kavala sailing club, which ceased action a couple of years ago. It is proposed to host the event from the beach side parking area with registration in what I call ‘the blue building’, the property is raised up and provides a great spot for hosting the event activities with measurement and jury based in the grounds of the premises. There will be coffee and refreshments around the premises, together with the beach side.

Trailers and cars can all be stored at this central location; we are spoilt with the room available to the Finn sailors. Please ensure that sailors travelling outside Europe or entering Greece through a non European country, must prepare all the proper documents for customs clearance.

The Finns will be located on the vast hard standing parking area next to the beach, small ramps will be in place to allow the sailors to launch from the shallow sandy beach. There is no anticipation of waves and launching is easy to manage.

Portable toilet facilities with ample fresh water, boat wash down hoses, together with fresh showers will be installed at the dinghy race park.

Camping/motor homes. It doesn’t get any better. The camping is on the edge of the dinghy park with some electrical hook ups and a chemical disposal facility, the views and location for camping is excellent, being right in the hub of it. Tent pitches will be available in the camping site Paradiso (with charge) adjacent to the event area. There will be a small charge for the camping and motor homes.

Transportation. There are two airports to consider: Thessaloniki and Kavala. Thessaloniki has more flights and is located around 1.5 hours distance (145 km) from the town of Iraklitsa, the organisers are keen to assist and may ask for flight arrival times so they can organise transportation. However, regular bus services to Iraklitsa are around €50 (includes taxi from airport to bus station). Kavala airport is around 30 mins, again, organisers will look at picking up with a reduced rate. Taxi is around €75 from Kavala airport. Car hire or mini bus hire is also, naturally an option.

Weather. My visit to inspect the venue was around 22 May and the temperature during the day reached 27°C, while the sea temperature was at around 17°C. This is typical at this time of year and looks promising for the regatta

Containers. These can be collected from Thessaloniki (there will a charge for the transfer to Iraklitsa) these can be lifted and stored at no charge close to the venue, enabling you to come weeks earlier, if you wish. The club has encouraged this and will welcome you with your requests.

Car travel. The preferred routes from the west are: ferry from Ancona or Bari in Italy to Igoumenitsa in Greece. It’s then a straightforward five hour drive to Iraklitsa along a superb road.

Ladies/Partners Programme. The ladies are going to love this place with the beach and restaurants and the gorgeous surroundings – the sailors are going to have some happy partners. One of the other attractions for the sunworshippers is the free beach sunbeds and umbrellas, (all they ask is you buy a coffee or so from the café owner) and who wouldn’t.

Ladies programme:

Monday: visit to a vineyard to sample the local wines, Red, white and rosé, followed by a typical Greek lunch. The perfect start to the week and a chance to meet.

Friday: For those who love a local market, a trip is organised to visit the market in Kavala.

Options: Should a small group wish to visit any of the ancient sites or the isolated beaches, this can be arranged at an extra cost, depending on the numbers. The OA has also offered a trip together with food and beverages, out onto the race area at an extra cost; further details to follow.

Please note that there will be additional small costs for trips/excursions and partners tickets for the Masters Dinner.

Safety. A number one priority is safety, which the organisers have embraced. There will be on shore medical assistance on standby and it’s noted that the hospital is 10 min drive.

NOTE FOR SAILORS The OA are very keen to welcome sailors or visitors at any time of the year. Those travelling from the southern hemisphere may wish to transport their boats and use the facilities for training or just to enjoy the Greek hospitality.