The founder and lead instructor of “Fair Winds Sailing - Greece” is Dimitris Bampakos, a former Captain of the Greek Navy and an American Sailing Association Instructor Evaluator.
Most of his 26 years’ service in the Navy was at sea as a captain, executive officer and deck officer on board frigates and fast patrol boats where he did more than 100.000 miles all over the world.
After his last command on board a warship in 2006, he started cruising and racing every summer in the Med. When serving in Virginia, USA from 2013 to 2016, he completed successfully all the ASA certifications up to the offshore ocean passage level (ASA 108) and he became an ASA instructor up to ASA 206 level.
During this period, he also cruised and raced in Chesapeake Bay, as well as, in the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean becoming a proud member Patriot Sailing and BBSA. Since then he has taught sailing, seamanship and navigation providing ASA certifications.
In 2020, he was invited by ASA in Los Angeles to participate in a Instructor Evaluator Qualification Clinic. After the succesfull completion of the clinic he became an Instructor Evaluator.
Captain Dimitris Bampakos also holds a MSc. in Electronic System Engineering and he has been teaching radar and naval communication systems at a postgraduate level since 2000.
Demos is a very experienced skipper who has been sailing in the East Mediterranean Sea his whole life.
He was born and raised in Cyprus and his first professional background and experience was in the energy sector. He holds a BSc in Geology and an MSc in Environmental Protection and after his studies, he worked for several years as a Project Manager for renewable energy and infrastructure projects in Scotland and Australia.
In 2019, he decided to change his career and to completely devote himself to his true passion which is sailing. Since then, he has logged more than 15.000 miles as a chartered yacht captain, delivery captain and an American Sailing instructor.
He joined the “Fair Winds Sailing Greece” instructor team in 2022, after the successful completion of his ASA instructor training. His instructor Evaluator was the owner of the affiliate, Dimitris Bampakos. Since then, he cooperates with Fair Winds providing American Sailing certifications up to the 204 level.
Apart from his ASA credentials, Demos holds a speedboat operator licence (RoC), a STCW Basic Safety Training, a Skipper Certificate for coastal Vessels (RoC), a Seafarer Medical Certificate and an Advanced Diving Certificate (SSI).
He has also proudly served for two years as a Special Forces Officer in the Cypriot National Guard and he still remains a Reserve Officer.
Demos is a multicultural person who has extensively travelled all over the world through his life. He has also lived in several countries, including Cyprus, Greece, Scotland, Australia and Spain. He speaks Greek, English and Spanish.
Dimitris thank you for the best sailing experience of my life. I look forward to sailing with you in the future. Steve and I have been planning a circumnavigation for over 3 years. We intend to buy a boat in the fall of 2019 and begin circumnavigating in the spring 2020. If there is any possible way you could sail with us at any point it would be a privilege for us. Thanks again for all the memories.
Greece is truly beautiful and the people are wonderful too. Thank you Dimitris Bampakos for the best time taking sailing lessons from you. Walt and I look forward on more trips to Greece with more learning experiences. Cheers!
Thank you, Dimitris, for arranging our sailing trip in Corfu... it was fantastic!!
Sailing the Mediterranean and visiting the Greek islands was a life time experience. Dimitris is very experienced and professional Captain. I have sailed with him in the Caribbean as well and I highly recommend him as an ASA instructor.
Sailing and getting certified in the Greek islands with Captain Dimitris was a great experience. Highly recommended.
We had a lovely sailing week around the Greek islands of the Ionian Sea. Captain Dimitris is a very professional Captain and Instructor. We would love to sail with him again.
Amazing sailing week! It was my first sailing experience and I can't wait to go back to Greece. Dimitris is a great captain and I highly recommend sailing with him.
Had a wonderful week sailing around the Greek islands. Dimitris is a very confident and professional skipper. His teaching abilities and patience with students cannot be surpassed. Would love to sail with him again.
I sailed with Dimitris Bampakos. Fabulous trip with a very knowledgeable and competent captain. I'm looking forward to another trip to the Greek Isles.
Captain Dimitris, I appreciate your professional instruction of the ASA courses. Bob, Tescha, Matt and I had a great time sailing with you in Greece. The islands were breathtaking! Bob and I hope to connect with you next year to join your Flotilla. Wishing you the very best in your new endeavors.
