ORC mourns the passing of Akis Tsalikis

4 October 2025 - ORC is saddened to announce the untimely passing of Management Committee member Akis Tsalikis. Akis died recently in Thessaloniki, the city where he was born in 1963 and lived his entire life. Akis had a lifelong passion for the sea and sports. For more than three decades he made substantial contributions for promoting and improving the ORC system, as well as numerous events and organizations throughout Greek sailing.

It all started for Akis at a young age, when he was a member of the Greek national team in the 470 Class. In 1992, he raced across the Atlantic in the “Columbus Race.” Ever since, he has been active at the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki, serving as a member of the club’s board and its Commodore since 2010, as well as owning and campaigning boats like the X-35 Oxygonon and other larger offshore yachts.

His volunteer work for the sport started nearly 30 years ago, while attending his first ORC Annual Meeting in Sydney in 1999, when he joined the Race Management Committee. Soon thereafter he became a member of the ORC Congress representing Greece. He served as Chair of the Offshore Committee of the Hellenic Sailing Federation from 1998 until 2021.

In collaboration with the Ministry of the Aegean, he administered the foundation of the Aegean Regatta in 2001, a popular annual race tour of the Aegean Sea with overnight stops at numerous islands and a highlight in the Greek offshore racing calendar.

ORC Deputy Chairman Ecky von der Mosel reports that it was in 2002 that Akis recognized the need for guidance to race managers on how to use the various tools made available by the IMS. He started working on the IMS Guide, the first version of what is now known as the ORC Race Management Guidebook. For this and his other active work with ORC, he was elected to the ORC Management Committee in 2021 and succeeded Ecky as Chair of the Race Management Committee in 2023.

During his chairmanship of the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki, Akis brought top international sailing events to Thessaloniki, highlighting the city as a sailing center, while also promoting all the aquatic sports in which the Club was active.

While not sailing and contributing to the sport, Akis was busy as a scientist being a professor of Dentistry at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

His love for the sea and sports, his selfless contribution and passion for progress and creation left an indelible mark. His calm and measured manner impressed all who knew him. His legacy will continue to guide future generations and remind us that true leadership stems from contribution and love for sports.

Condolences for Akis Tsalikis have been expressed by the Hellenic Sailing Federation, the Rowing Federation, the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis as well as many friends, fellow athletes and coaches.

The ORC constituency expresses its deep sadness and sincere condolences to Akis’ wife, Yanna, his family and the entire sailing community of Thessaloniki.

Fair sailing, Akis. We will miss you.