Members' Projects

From Hermoupolis, Syros. Passionate about the cultural heritage of his birthplace.

In 2021 he founded a non-profit organization, HERMOUPOLIS HERITAGE, which organizes events that help the participants experience what it was like to live in Syros long ago.

Trips with traditional boats and antique vehicles, along with visits to old factories and other sites that evoke the Hermoupolis of former times, give the feeling of living in a remarkable past.

 

For this initiative, Mr. Stavrakopoulos was honoured with the Tourism Prize of 2022.

​

Originally from New York and now resident in Syros. There he created the ARCHIPELAGO NETWORK, which is dedicated to preserving and documenting contemporary Cycladic culture. Another member of our Association, Andrew Spyrou, advises and supports Jacob’s team. The ARCHIPELAGO NETWORK began with a founding grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Its initial project involved documenting the traditional boats of Syros. The results of this research, a collaboration with the renowned architect Iris Lykourioti, were presented in January, 2023.

 

The current project of Jacob Moe and his team is to document the maritime trades and crafts of Koufonisi, Amorgos, Santorini and Paros.  

Ronda, a well known international designer, along with a team of 4 people and more than 30 volunteers, initiated the GALAXIDI ISLANDS REGATTA in September, 2021. This annual regatta is a free spirited event for wooden boats up to 7m in length, propelled by sails and oars. It is an exciting long weekend full of adventure, fun and cultural activities at the historical nautical town of Galaxidi.

​

Ronda worked with OUZO OF PLOMARI and the RED Design Consultants to create the new duty free packaging with paintings of traditional boats, supporting our mission #savekaikia. We thank them both for an initiative that promotes our cause and makes our wooden boats worthy ambassadors of Greece!

Over the past two years Mr. Tzalas has written an extensive article for the scholarly journal Archeonautica that details his projects in experimental nautical archeology with special reference to today’s traditional boat building practices in Symi and in Perama. In December, 2022, Mr. Tzalas reported on his largest project - construction of the Athenian trireme OLYMPIAS - to a forum at the Evgenidio Foundation. Among the best-known of Mr. Tzalas’ projects was KYRENIA II, an exact replica of a 4th century BC trading ship of 16m based on the remnants of the original hull and built in the Psarros yard at Perama using ancient techniques.

 

After KYRENIA II’s extensive sea trials, Mr. Tzalas became interested in the very early transportation of obsidian and, to test his theories, built a 6m Corfiot papyrella (made of papyrus reeds) that was rowed around the Cyclades.

Representing the Greek Ministry of Culture, Mr. Tzalas then supervised construction of the 37m OLYMPIAS trireme, built by the Hellenic Navy at Keratsini, based on the studies of marine archaeologist John Morrison and naval architect John Coates. 

​

Harry Tzalas is Honorary Member of the Traditional Boat Association; distinguished maritime historian; writer and archaeologist