AP Sails in Greece - and our greek representative - is on their second generation with the sail loft in Thessaloniki. AP Sails has been selling and supporting Elvstrøm Sails in two periods, from 1989 to 2004, and then again from 2020 with lots of success.
AP Sails was founded by Athanasios Papaioannou, and it has been in business since 1979, being a well-established name in the sailing world of Greece.
It also means that the first generation at AP Sails, Athanasios Papaioannou, has lots of memories from racing and from working with Paul Elvstrøm and Elvstrøm Sails.
The family loft at AP Sails is today led by his daughter, Nikoletta Papaioannou, who took over the baton and runs the company today.
Working with Elvstrøm Sails
For Athanasios Papaioannou - and just like Paul Elvstrøm, many good things evolved around the Finn. The dinghy class in which Elvstrøm became quite the institution.
- I picked up sailing as my sport and hobby at the age of 13 in 1965 in Thessaloniki. Initially, I sailed the Optimist, but it didn't take long before I started dreaming of a switch to the Finn, and of course I also learned about Paul and his great achievements in these years. I dreamt of racing the Finn myself - and hopefully also to meet the master himself someday.
- Both dreams came true. I raced the Finn in the years 1978-1981 with a bronze in the Finn Pan European Championship in Gdansk in Poland. My career in sailing then headed more towards offshore sailing, he says.
Later, working with Elvstrøm Sails also became a part of the everyday life:
- Later, in 1989, we started working with Elvstrøm Sails, where I did not only meet Paul, but also started a great collaboration with the company that wears his name.
He adds:
- Getting onboard with Elvstrøm Sails was big for us. It is still one of the largest companies in the world of sailmaking, so for me as a sailor, enthusiast and sailmaker, it was a fantastic experience to represent the company for so many years. And I am glad AP Sails is back representing Elvstrøm Sails in Greece once more today.
Thanks to AP Sails, Athanasios Papaioannou and Nikoletta Papaioannou for the story! :)
