2024 – Periplus of Meganisi

We are delighted to announce that on September 28, 2024, the ExcellenSeas Pastra Cretonaxiosa team successfully completed the swim around Meganisi Island, covering 31 kilometers in a relay format in 10 hours and 13 minutes.

This swimming initiative was held under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, aiming to raise awareness and financial support for the ExcellenSeas Scholarship Program, which empowers students from remote islands to access education. This year’s event was dedicated to students from Greece’s border islands, reinforcing our commitment to equal opportunities in education.

The swim began in Vathy, Meganisi, and concluded with a warm and celebratory welcome by the local community. With the invaluable support of exceptional partners and volunteers, the effort was a great success.

Participants

The athletes who took part were: Evgenia Giannini, Vaggelis Zourmpakis, Apostolos Tsagkarakis, Sotiris Pastras, Vasilis Sofikitis, Petar Stoychev, Dimitrios Talaganis, and Vasilis Maroulis.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to:

• Ingvar Jensen, for generously providing the vessel Take Off 3.
• Captain Ilias Sfigakis and Dr. J. Kalambalikis, for their voluntary support and care throughout the journey.
• The Municipality of Meganisi and Mayor Gerasimos Katopodis, for their unwavering support.
• ANT1 and Isaak Karipidis, for showcasing our initiative.

Our Mission This swimming event is yet another testament to the power of collaboration and solidarity, as we strive to enhance educational opportunities and support young people in Greece’s remote regions.