Meltemi Causes Monday's Racing to be Cancelled

Wind stops racing at Schinias
© FISA

The locals call these August winds meltemi and they are strong enough to make the Schinias rowing course unrowable. The first day of repechages has been postponed as the Olympic rowers in Athens wait for the wind to die down.

The meltemi winds are known by old Greeks as the Etesian northern winds and are not viewed in a bad way as they bring cooler weather, low humidity and good visibility.

FISA member of the jury and local Athens resident Efthimios Kasampalis says the winds are accepted by the locals. "The old people in the village see meltemi as practical. They don't worry about a scientific explanation," says Kasampalis.

The wind at the Schinias Rowing/Canoeing Centre comes from the north blowing directly down the 2000 metre course making for strong tail wind conditions and currently there are white caps forming equally across the course.

Regular forecasts are being monitored by regatta organisers and an updated decision on racing will be made later today.