Foundation

of the Association

October 1999

George Anomeritis, Yannis Kapsis and Manolis Psarros could not remain indifferent in front of the brutal destruction of the kaikia, the traditional Greek wooden fishing boats.

They form the group of friends with the hope and ambition to save, maintain, and promote these menaced vessels, the boatyards which build them and the related professions which tend to become extinct .

Twenty two more friends join them and the Association is legally established.

November 22, the bylaws are signed on.

Since then the Traditional Boat Association of Greece fights to preserve our maritime tradition and is continuously joined by new members.

Is to preserve our maritime tradition by saving, preserving and supporting traditional boats and boatyards which are facing extinction today.

Our aim

The senseless breaking of fishing boats resulting from a destructive interpretation of the EU directive designed to eliminate overfishing.

We try to draw public attention to this unforgivable and irreversible crime that deprives us of our national treasures and deletes

a most important part of our history.

We fight against

Meet The Board

President

Nikos Kavallieros

Rear Admiral (retired)

Business, Law, and Naval Academy studies.

Served in the coast guard of Piraeus, Lavrion, Rafina, Elefsis and in the consular Coast Guard of Odessa as well as in the Ministry of Merchant Marine.

Since he retired in 2002 he has served as commissioner in Institutional Issues of Coastal Shipping and as CEO in S.E.E.N, SEAJETS and today as CEO and General Secretary in the Association of Owners of Speedboat and Cruise ships.

He has been president of the Traditional Boat Association since 2004.

Vice President

Costas Nikas

Yachting | Business

Costantinos, is an economist working in finance.

During the last ten years he is taking loving care of Panagia Tinou, one of the very few “perama” kaikia still sailing on Greek waters.

His love for classic boats and for nautical sports motivated him to be an active participant in the Amfithea Nautical Club and in the Traditional Boat Association of Greece.

Secretary General

Annika Barbarigos

Yachting | Business

Professor of history and philosophy of art in the school of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and in Boston College. Art dealer in New York.

Got involved with classic and traditional boats when she refitted Freedom, a 1920 classic schooner and Agia Sophia, a 1967 trehandiri both of which she operates till today.

Founded the AB Felix ltd yachting company specializing in the brokerage, building and refitting of wooden boats. Member of the Yacht Club of Greece and Secretary General of the Traditional Boat Association of Greece.

Stamatis Koutoumanos

Treasurer

Yachting \ Business

Businessman. A sailor since an early age, Stamatis is passionate about the sea and wooden boats. He owns and pampers two trehandiria, Anima and SeaTzen and the historical perama Faneromeni (which has museum status).

He considers the kaikia as a most important part of Greek cultural heritage and that is why he became actively involved in the Traditional Boat Association of Greece.

Sozon Kamitsis

Member

Owner of Patmos Marine

A family business established in 1985, located at the southern part of Grikos bay in Stavros - Diakofti area of Patmos Island.

With more than 30 years of experience, the Kamitsis family is specialized in boat construction and maintenance providing as well a wide variety of other boat services.

In an area of 17.000 sqm with modern facilities, "Patmos Marine" can accommodate any type of vessel providing for also various marine equipment and other materials that are available at the Marine Store.

Sozon build the first traditional wooden boat - Elpis (9,4m) - powered by solar energy.

Nicholas ( Nikos) Gerassimou

Member

Maritime Lawyer

He is acting as a legal counsel in major shipowning, management, energy and insurance companies in Greece.

Board Member of the Hellenic Association of Maritime Lawyers & Law, legal counsel of the Board of the Hellenic Maritime Environment Protection Association (Helmepa), legal counsel of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association. He is member of the Piraeus Marine Club, / of the Yacht Club of Greece, / of the International Propeller Club of the United States International Port of Piraeus Greece. Former Deputy Governor of the Social Pension Fund (IKA) and regular member of the Institute of Democracy “Konstantinos Karamanlis” and the Shipping Committee of the New Democracy Party (ND).

Nikos Karanikolas

Member

Businessman

Car mechanic, owner of Ford car center company, Nikos is a great lover, and collector of classic things: from small cameras to classic cars. For the last 20 years he has left car racing to tame the waves of the sea with his small sailing boat "Navina"; consequently, he could not be absent from the Traditional Boats Association and from the effort to preserve our cultural heritage.

Manolis Psarros

Honorary Member

Carpenter

Owner of the famous shipyard in Perama, founded by his family, well known ship carpenters from Symi.