Greek Wildfire Crisis: ILCA Sailing Coaches Become Heroes Saving Stranded Locals

31st July 2023

Sailing coaches in RIBs travelled 10 miles across the bay to Nea Anchialos, Magnesia, to help with Wildfire rescue efforts

Sailing coaches at the ILCA 4 Youth World Championships in Volos, Greece, have been hailed as heroes after they saved over 130 people from wildfires.

The coaches witnessed the scene from across the water as racing concluded and quickly sprang into action.

They grabbed bottles of drinking water and headed for the nearby village to evacuate residents and local native wildlife from the beach after fires blocked all exits from the area on the mainland.

The ILCA 4 Youth World Championships coaches in Volos, Greece witnessed the wildfire scene from across the water as racing concluded and quickly sprang into action

The coaches then travelled the 10 miles across the bay to Nea Anchialos, Magnesia, at full speed.

Around 60 boats saved more than 130 people from the beach and returned them to Volos.

The rescue has been praised by Andrus Poksi, Field Operations Officer at the International Laser Class Association, who said, “The selfless and quick reaction of the coaches was inspiring to see. The contribution of the coaches to help the local people shows that sailing is a sport where teamwork and camaraderie shine through in even the most challenging circumstances.”

An aerial firefighting aircraft at the scene of a wildfire close to the ILCA 4 Youth World Championships in Volos, Greece

The city of Volos is now considered to be the safest place in the area, and all sailors and coaches are unharmed.

Ireland is represented at the 440 boat boys and girls championships by 21 youth sailors. Entry list here.

Published in World Sailing, Laser, Youth Sailing

Published in World Sailing

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World Sailing Information

World Sailing is the world governing body for the sport of sailing, officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Founded in 1907, World Sailing's vision is for a world in which millions more people fall in love with sailing; inspired by the unique relationship between sport, technology and the forces of nature; we all work to protect the waters of the world.

World Sailing is made up of 144 Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world and 117 World Sailing Class Associations.