Nautical Club of Thessaloniki means 64 years of dedication to the tradition and progress of Greek nautical sports. It means homage to culture, youth and the future of the country. It means organisation of World, other international and Panhellenic Championships. It means hard work by rowers, sailors, trainers and its officials, resulting in uncountable distinctions in International and Panhellenic competitions. Finally it means the second World Gold Medal in the history of Greek sailing the first in the "470" - class and the first for Thessaloniki, as well as the first pre Olympic Gold in this class.
The Nautical Club of Thessaloniki one of the oldest nautical clubs in Greece, was founded in 1931 by a group of people known for their love for the sea and the ideals of amateur sports. The first diploma of the Club, dated from 1931, carries the name of a founding member.
The first steps of the club are in rowing and are very dynamic: Í.C. Th. organised the first modern races in Thessaloniki, the reason being the opening of the International Fair. This encouraging start is marked by the Second World War, occupation and Civil War. During those years the targets were changing: First the fight for freedom, the effort to save members and friends, mourning for those who gave their lives for the freedom of their country. Despite all that, crews of the Í.C.Th. participated in the Olympic Games in London in 1948 and also in Helsinki in 1952.
For the first time in 1963, the oars of the oldest department of the Í.C. Th. place the club on the highest podium of the Pan-Hellenic Games. Since 1974 and afterwards, the club is continually at the top along with the best associations in the country. Í.C. Th. - rowers, members of the National Team, gain international distinctions, just like the Gold in Belgium this year. Beginning in its fifties, the club organised international regattas in the difficult waters of the Thermaikos, which recently were carried out under the hospices of the Municipality of Thessaloniki. The Í.C. Th. offers lessons in rowing of children, which are free of fee.
The decade of the fifties: The activities of the club are not just restricted to rowing. Steps are made to create a sailing department resulting in 1962 in the first participation in a Panhellenic Championship with a FINN. In 1970 the first medals with a FINN (young men) and a "420". Three years later, a Í.C. Th. FINN wins Gold in the Balkan Games and Thanassis Papaioannou returns from the European Championship with the bronze medal. In the following years, Í.C. Th. sailors more and more often win Panhellenic and International distinctions and the Club hosts Panhellenic Championships. In 1992, a "470" crew takes part in the Olympic Games in Barcelona. For the Games in Atlanta, two crews, both at the top of the World Rankings, are competing: Andreas Cosmatopoulos/Costas Trigonis and Danis Pashalidis/Thanassis Pahoumas. Their recent successes: Bronze and Gold in the Preolympics in Savannah (USA). Then the "470" Worlds in Toronto (Canada): Pashalidis/Pahoumas finish in the 6th place however Cosmatopoulos/Trigonis are crowned World Champions giving Greece its second World Gold in Sailing. Even after these successes, the Í.C. Th. is staying on the alert. For two years now, the club organises a sailing school for children and as a result is regaining positions in Panhellenic distinctions.
In 1979, the club makes a campaign on land resulting in the contraction of tennis courts. Today, it has a good tennis team playing in the First Greek League and organises two tournaments every year.
In 1974, the fist offshore sailing yacht anchors in the Í.C.Th. marina. Á school for
offshore sailing starts immediately afterwards. Í.C. Th. marina. Á school for offshore
sailing starts immediately afterwards. Í.C.Th. crews take part in the first race of the
area as well as the International Aegean Regatta.
These moves result in the creation of a department for offshore sailing and the following
year in the announcement of the 1st North Aegean Cup. Since 1986, the Í.C. Th. organises
a championship in Thessaloniki. Yachts of members win distinctions in races abroad as well
as in the international sailing week in the North Aegean, which is now considered the most
important nautical event in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In 1981, Í.C. Th. members cross the Atlantic for the fist time. Ten years later, the club
hosts the 1/4 Ton Worlds and a crew takes part in the Transatlantic Race which was to
celebrate the 500 years since the discovery of the Americas.
So the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki remains without wear but continually renews its activities, a worthwhile sensitive of the Greek nautical tradition.