Greek Inflatable Boat Racing Championship 2013
April 30, 2025
Despite the pause in offshore racing caused by the economic crisis, 2012 marked the return of the Greek inflatable boat championship — and with it, the comeback of Olympic RIBs, stronger and more refined than ever. That year, Olympic RIBs participated with three racing boats, each one upgraded with the insights and modifications drawn from our early racing experience back in 2009. The first boat returned under the helm of H. Botzolakis, while two newly prepared boats were driven by S. Loulourgas and V. Serra. Loulourgas, a seasoned racer who had previously competed for years with a Technohull 888, chose to switch to the improved Olympic 840 Racing, while Serra competed in a boat carrying the colors of sponsor BoConcept.
In the season's opening race in Rhodes (May 19–20), Olympic RIBs delivered a commanding performance. In the Circuit race, our boats swept the podium — 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places — out of 13 total entries, proving the effectiveness of our design in calm-water high-speed conditions. In the Offshore segment, a new Olympic crew claimed 1st place in their class, while our second boat, which had held 2nd position throughout the race, suffered a mechanical failure just before the finish line, with the outboard’s lower unit breaking. This was another key lesson — a reminder of the extreme mechanical stress racing places not only on the hull, but on every part of the equipment.
The momentum continued in the third race in Chania. Once again, in the Circuit category, Olympic RIBs secured all three podium positions. In the Offshore race — held in exceptionally harsh weather conditions — our teams finished 1st and 3rd, showcasing both high-speed control and offshore durability. Throughout that year, we gathered invaluable data about boat behavior in both flat water and open-sea conditions. These measurements were integrated into the CFD models developed by MEKY, providing a concrete technical foundation for all future hull designs.
The 2012 season wasn’t just a return to competition; it was proof that our decision to begin with racing wasn’t just bold — it was essential. Each race, each mechanical issue, each podium finish contributed to refining our boats under real pressure. We don’t develop boats in theory. We test them — and evolve them — where performance is mandatory, not optional.
