CLUB VASS: SET-UP DIARIES!Club Vass Set-Up DiariesAfter a winter of hibernation, Club Vass has officially launched its 2025 season in Vassiliki! Getting the club ready for a busy summer takes serious behind-the-scenes effortbut this crew are the best in the business. Theyve been perfecting this finely tuned operation since 1987 and this major operation runs like a like a well oiled machine! From rigging sails to fine-tuning every detail, were taking you backstage to see what it really takes to get one of the worlds most iconic windsurfing clubs ready for action. Let the season begin!Countdown to Summer 2025Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Club Vass? Winters here are almost eerily quiet; the bay is reclaimed by fishermen, many of the locals migrate to Athens and most of the cafs and tavernas are shuttered. The Club itself is stripped back to a skeleton to hunker down for winter, with most of the kit sold to make way for the incoming brand-new selection the following season. While the weather stays fairly mild, there can be storms and that renowned thermal summer wind becomes distinctly less reliable. But come spring its game on again!The Swallows ReturnBy April, Vassiliki shakes off its short winter hibernation and the endless-summer-swallows start to make their way back. Among the first to fly in is manager Ollie Scott, fresh from his winter adventures, which this year included Cape Town, Bali and Sumatra. Max Rowe and Adam Chubbock (Watersport Nomads) are already in place, having spent quite a bit of the winter here, with their kids attending the local school, which just shows how infectious this place is. Hotel Manager Sarah arrives after a spell working on the yachts in Palma, followed by some of the senior team, including Tom, Benita and Eoin, having also wintered in exotic climes. Chefs Tim and Brad along with Greek coach Tilemachos head over from the Alps and Dan and Hannah arrive fresh-and-freestyled from Bonaire. Its a tough life, but someones got to do it! With around two weeks to go before opening, the rest of the set-up squad trickle in from various corners of the globe and its all goSpring is in the AirMeanwhile, Vassiliki village begins to stir, with Greek Easter usually marking the unofficial start of the season, and the tavernas begin opening up. The island is beautiful, lush and vibrant at this time of year. The beaches are blissfully empty, Agiofili beach is sunbed-free, and all you can hear is the gentle lapping of that crystal-clear Ionian seaWildlife, welding and wrenches!The first task for Ollie is a full site inspection walk-through, when he assesses the state of the hotel and beach facilities after their winter nap. The main occupants are feline and there are usually some surprises; this year its a litter of kittens in the harness box! Getting power, water and internet fully functioning is a top priority and local tradespeople are now in hot demand across the island, often working on a very Greek just-in-time basis (which, to be fair, somehow always works out). Cue the Clubs top trade team, which includes Vassili (electrician/plumber), Vangelis (welder, carpenter, boat driver, fireman, you name it), and Lee, AKA Mr. Maintenance himself. Its all hands to the pump, often quite literally.Controlled chaosThis is where the magic and the muscle come in. Hotel, restaurant and beach teams get fully briefed on everything from service and safety protocols to emergency procedures. Its a pretty slick operation these days, and Ollie (with 20 years at the helm) keeps things surprisingly calm. Still always expect the unexpected is his main maxim, with freak storms and late lorries almost predictable challenges.Its full-on and physical, requiring plenty of good old-fashioned elbow grease to deep clean and polish the hotel, restaurant & bar. Just call those blisters pre-season windsurf prep! The beach bar is rebuilt and fitted out with fridges, dish-washers & the all-important ice machine for keeping everyone in the necessary frapps, freddos and cocktails throughout the season.An army marches on its stomach!Expert chefs Tim and Brad fine-tune the menu to ensure the hungry windsurfers every need is fulfilled, with all options covered from healthy to hearty. Food is fuel for the troops at this time; the boys keep the team well fed with substantial set-up meals and no ones slacking on their portions. Meanwhile, under Sarahs eagle eye, hotel rooms get the full five-star treatment. Health & safety is always a priority, from fire extinguishers to first aid kits, everythings checked and everyone learns the drill.Gearing UpAll hands on deckBeach-side, its time to turn attention to the star attraction: the beach and all that glorious kit.First, the team rebuilds board and sail racks, sets up the watch tower, organises rental areas, and lays down grass carpets and decking, for comfort-launching and to protect all that precious equipment. Every year, a huge batch of brand-new windsurf and wing gear arrives via lorry (usually from the Far East via Athens). When the truck rolls in, its all hands on deck, with everyone mucking in to unload and carry the gear to the rigging area.Rigging upThen comes the rigging marathon, with over 300 sails to be expertly rigged on high-carbon masts and booms. Quality control (AKA Beach Manager Tom) takes no prisoners, theres no place for a baggy un-tuned sail at Club Vass! And screwing in foot-straps and deck plates on over 300 boards takes precision (not to mention resistance to repetitive strain), a windsurfers rite of passage if ever there was one.Team Building & BondingWork hard, play hardClub Vass runs on its amazing people, many of whom return year after year, clients and staff alike. Every season brings new faces, keen to become part of the legend and the new team bonds at work, on the water, and over beers at the beach bar. Its definitely work hard and play hard here. Everyone mucks in, chefs help unload boards, bar staff rig sails (under careful supervision of course) and the beach team are more than happy to lend a hand with the beer barrels. Theres a palpable sense of pride and a lot of laughs in pulling it all together.The knowledgeThroughout this time, instructor development is also prioritised, with refresher courses in crucial elements like driving the power boats and first aid. It goes without saying that the Club Vass beach team are all fully qualified and experienced (of course many have been coming back for years). But new faces need to be brought up to speed on how it all works, the particular conditions here and what it takes to be amongst the best of the best. The veterans are happy to help pass on their knowledge to the rookies and assist in developing individual coaching styles. The underlying ethos here is on tirelessly fine-tuning the tuition program. The new instructors trial-run their sessions on new members of the restaurant & bar team.Newbies and rites of passageThis is one of the great perks of coming to work at Club Vass as a newbie; you get to use the kit and everyones on hand to help you learn. Some of the instructors first discovered their passion for the sport while working on the bar. And of course, there are the rites of passage that have been handed down over countless generations; look out for the tartan paint and the long weight (if you know, you know)!The RewardsEmpty bay & early blasts!Sure, the pressures on, but the energy during set-up is something else and the excitement just builds as opening day approaches. One of the biggest rewards? Those dreamy early-season cross-shore days with barely a soul in the bay. And this year, late April and early May have already delivered the goods with some mega days. OK, the waters not bathtub warm just yet, but no ones complaining.Cross-Shore ApartmentsAnd new for 2025, right next to Club Vass theres a uber-luxurious complex with an exclusive choice of spacious 1 and 2-bedroom apartments. Theyre amongst the highest quality accommodation on the island, fully equipped with no detail overlooked. The location of course could not be better, with outstanding views and all this with Club Vass literally on your doorstep. Theyre nearly ready and will be available soon, so watch this space!Fine-TuningA few days before opening, its soft launch time, a full days test-run of hotel and beach operations to snag any last-minute issues. Everyones focussed now and nothings left to chance. Even the beach bar gets tested and of course the beer and cocktails dont escape quality controlyou can trust the CV teams endless enthusiasm and attention to detail!May 18th 2025: Opening Day!The wait is finally over, the first transfer coach rocks up, the hotel and restaurant are ready for first guests, the racks are full of box-fresh top gear, the bars open and cross-shore is kicking inUp and runningNow the tried and tested operation, honed over many years, beginsEveryone soon settles into the rhythm, with a weekly cycle of incoming and outgoing guests, including some new but many familiar faces; once youve experienced the Club Vass magic its hard to stay away. Ollie kicks things off with the Monday morning staff meeting, where the team debriefs the week just gone and gears up for the one ahead, all with the goal of maintaining that trademark passion and excellence throughout the summer. After that he introduces the team to the clients on the terrace and runs through whats happening and how it all works. Then its straight into coaching groups and out onto the water, with gentler starts for newcomers and full on cross-shore afternoons for the more advanced.Of course, windsurfing and winging are the main events, but theres plenty more here for the action-addicts, including yoga, SUPs & mountain biking. And the aprs-surf scene is awesome, from post-session sundowners at the beach bar to the legendary Club Vass BBQ to round off an unforgettable week.The Club Vass team are expecting youHeres to an awesome summer 2025!Club Vass | Windsurfing & Watersports Holidays In Greeceinfo@clubvass.net01992 874566Photos:Miles Taylor @protographyofficialThomas VandewalleOllie ScottThe post CLUB VASS: SET-UP DIARIES! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.