Swimming around Spetses
Our very own Armandos participated in the charity race Swim around Spetses from NGO Charity 4U, joined by two excellent swimmers, Lydia Papandreou and Amaryllis Angouridakis.
Oceans, lakes, rivers, are some of the most beautiful places in the world to swim. Nothing compares to the freedom that the open sea can offer you, leaving the four walls of the pool behind, and swimming in salt water for as long as you can.
You can feel the sun warming your back, watching the sunsets illuminate the seabed beneath you, hearing the sound of the air and the waves as you swim. The rhythm of your hands and feet helps you as you try to hold on to the water and fight the waves and the current of the sea to swim forward.
You are immersed in the music of these sounds and every day you swim is different. Every day you swim in the open water is an adventure and experience you do not know before experience it. When you decide to go into the sea this is when you discover it all.
This is the kind of adventure, I embarked upon on Friday August 31st; to swim around Spetses for the purpose of the charity race Swim around Spetses from NGO Charity 4U. For this adventure, I was also joined by my 2 co-athletes Lydia Papandreou and Amaryllis Angouridaki.
The race was scheduled for Saturday, September 1st, the best way for you to start the month with a great swim, helping to support Greek athletes, both amateurs and champions of young age, and help them achieve even more recognition for themselves and Greece.
You open the window of your room on a Saturday morning, tired with the problems of everyday life, and see the blue of the sea and the sky and immediately you feel impatient to experience all those feelings offered by open water swimming.
Going down the harbor to meet the escort boat I came across a wonderful Greek sea escort boat, a white wooden boat called “The Brothers” and a wooden fish for a sign. At that moment we all felt like that, like brothers. Captain Panos, young and pleasant; the first thing I told him was to be patient because we had five and a half hours ahead of us and asked him whether he had a fishing line. Patience was not a problem; however, the fishing line was nowhere to be found.
Our undertaking started from the beach of Agios Mamas and Amaryllis was the first to hit the water. The aim of the charity race was to swim around Spetses, alternating with one another, at a predetermined time. We decided to alternate every half hour. Amaryllis went in a wavy sea with opposite winds, I was the next one, I definitely got into the water with better conditions. After half an hour I gave my turn to Lydia, and then we proceeded; Amaryllis - myself- Lydia - Amaryllis - myself - Lydia - Amaryllis - myself and then we all went into the water together for the finish line. For the history of it we were the first mixed group, it does not matter of course, the only thing that’s important is the participation.
The race’s highlights were my second dive and sharing a high five with Giorgos (Firfilionis). And of course, the race. Although, this was hardly a race, more like everybody hanging out like friends, doing something we enjoyed; swimming.
In an open water race, be it short or a long distance, it's important not only to have sufficient supporters but people you trust. Trust is a very important element in the open water. I was lucky enough to have them, during those 5 hours and 20 minutes. Till next time, always swim safely and always with good company.
Armandos Linardos
Sports and Event Manager
Oceanman Greece Manager