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Club Vass Then & Now

PART 2: Endless Evolution

After our initial look back into how Club Vass initially started, we look into how the Club has evolved over the years into the phenomenal success it is today. Marianne Booth delves into how the Club has built its team, provided the very best kit, catered for kids, the other activities available and of course those infamous parties that have kept the guests entertained over the years.

Photos: Protography Official // Global Shots // Jono Carmichael // JC!

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The Ultimate Toy Shop: Committing to the Kit

Tony & Roger understood early on that commitment to providing the right kit was key and they’ve put their money where their mouths are and always invested massively. Having a great choice of the best gear, with the majority replaced annually, really helped make it a stand-out operation.

Attention to detail has always been crucial, for example having kit properly maintained and rigged (on light carbon-rich masts and high quality booms) and sails stored boom-on goes above and beyond most centres. Offering an inclusive ‘pool system’, unlike the more standard ‘book a board’ system (offered by many centres) has allowed clients to swop & change kit as they liked and really sample all the toys on offer.

 “The biggest change is the tuition and the kit, it’s so much easier to use and so much lighter, people learn in a fraction of the time. It took me 2 seasons to learn to water-start and as for gybing, I was called One Tack Tony!” Tony Booth

Team Building

Including group lessons in the holiday was key; guests loved the sociability and found it made learning so much more fun at all levels. Club Vass have always prided themselves on their outstanding team and it’s really become the gold standard as the place to work as an instructor.

Associations with instructor training outfits Flying Fish and now Watersports Nomad have helped Club Vass pick the best of the best coaches.

On-going training and mentoring, under the expert guidance of Manager Ollie Scott, has helped maintain an ultra-professional crew who simply ooze enthusiasm for their sport. This is no mean feat when you consider it’s gone from a just a handful of staff to a team of over 60.

It’s always been about making windsurfing accessible to everyone, encouraging newcomers to the sport and keeping the fun factor. At the other end of the spectrum Club Vass offers exceptionally high-level coaching, with more advanced level instructors (including PWA competitors) than any other centre; there aren’t many places that run regular looping sessions!

Kids on Board

As the original clients grew older and started to bring their young families, a Crèche and Kids Club was introduced, primarily to give the youngsters a taste of windsurfing. With increasing demand for more full-on windsurfing for kids, ProKids was launched, generally for older kids and those who are really keen. Children’s kit has evolved significantly and is far more user-friendly which has allowed youngsters to start earlier and really get a sense of achievement. The Club Vass team work tirelessly to put the fun factor in and make kids genuinely want to get out on the water with their mates (and off their screens). The progress is unbelievable to see; many notable champions of the past and present started out on these kids’ programmes, including Max Rowe and George Grisley.

Getting Multi-active

Whilst windsurfing has remained the core, Club Vass understood their clientele’s energetic outlook and were always quick to embrace new trends. Mountain Bikes and SUPs were added as both sports started to grow, and were quickly embraced by those wanting to get active in the mornings whilst waiting for the wind. Yoga & Pilates were also introduced as great complements to windsurfing, run from the rooftop studio with amazing views over the bay. Mornings at the Club are now a hive of activity with guided bike rides & SUP fitness sessions setting off whilst the sun salutations are in full swing – it’s certainly a far cry from the early days of slow, slightly hungover starts!

Taking Off

As foiling started to become established, Club Vass were quick to embrace this latest evolution in water-sports. They wasted no time in setting up a separate dedicated Wing/Foil centre, run by Max Rowe, applying the same commitment to kit and coaching as they did for windsurfing. The centre is now fully stocked with an array of top-notch Duotone gear and there are clinics most weeks for beginners and intermediates and private instruction of the more advanced. Again, they’ve managed to make it accessible to everyone (whatever their level), whether it’s to allow more time on the water or for pure passion.

Freestyle Mecca

Led by Club Vass, Vassiliki has become one of the world’s top spots for freestyle and their staff have always been at the forefront of developments in this most challenging area of our sport. Some of the Europe’s top freestyle champions over the years have honed their skills here, including Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, Max Rowe, Jamie Howard and George Grisley. At the end of a great day on the water, over a chilled beer at the bar, one of the highlights for many is watching the mind-blowing skills of the staff at play in the ‘trick zone’ just off the beach.

The Inimitable Club Vass Vibe

Windsurfers tend to be a like-minded bunch, but there’s something more about Club Vass, there’s an intangible vibe about the place. For many it just feels like home; guests and staff alike return year after year and they’re the ones who’ve made it all happen. Long-lasting friendships, marriages and families have been forged at the Club over the years and there are enclaves of ex-Club Vass crew to be found all over the globe. Many of the current staff have grown up spending their holidays and learning to love windsurfing in Kids Club/ProKids. In many ways and for many people it’s so much more than just a holiday.

Word of mouth speaks volumes and it has played a huge role in the growth of the Club. Back in the early days the Vass Class helped put CV on the map, not only as an incredible spot but also as a great party place. Strong bonds over the years with the likes of Pete Hart, Guy Cribb, Whitey, Ian Gregorelli from Boardwise as well as Windsurf Magazine have also helped cement its reputation. The Club has been a major driving force in Vassiliki for nearly 40 years, and its strong connexion with the local Greeks has been an essential part of that. In particular, George Kiriakos, who ran both the old Centre 1 and current restaurant before setting up Nautilus Dive operation (close Club Vass associates), has very much been part of the club’s journey over the years.

Let Them Entertain You

Right from the start, CV has played a major role in defining the Après Surf scene in the bay. The Friday night BBQs have gained legendary status. In their heyday the ‘Mega Parties’ at the end of Speed Week resembled mini festivals, with live bands, DJs and fireworks. The talented team have always pulled out all the stops and put on the most incredible shows, with much of the entertainment rooted in the early days, including the Club Vass Song and the unforgettable Plate Dance (now reserved for Diva Weeks, outside school holidays!). And some of the films produced for Oscar Week, like the Top Gun Maverick re-make are clearly award-worthy. This party spirit has evolved over the years but it’s always been underpinned by a uniquely quirky sense of humour.

Sarah Bradford (Hotel Manager:) “I love the history of the entertainment, The Song for example and how the charm of a small centre or “Club” has stayed…It’s the personal touch for returning and new customers, it is very unusual if the staff don’t know the guests’ names by day 2 despite the volume of the operation.”

People Power

A lot of the soul of Club Vass is down to its incredible crew, who have passed on the baton over the years, with notable mentions of Roddy Coull (sadly departed but forever greatly missed), Neil ‘Fish’ Salmon, James ‘Smiley’ Waters, Christian Harris, Simon Hurrey, Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, Colin ‘Whippy’ Dixon, Benny Harrison, Sean Jamieson, Marco Wedele, Pip Pardoe, Adam Chubbock and Jonny Freshwater, to name but a few…

But a special shout out has to go to Ollie Scott who’s been at the helm for over 20 years now and has been pivotal to the Club’s evolution throughout that time. His exceptional people skills are constantly in evidence as he handles all aspects of customer service with professionalism and a personal touch. He prioritises the development of his team, nurturing their talent both on and off the water. He’s literally a force of nature to be reckoned with; he’s still one of the top sailors in the bay and he shows the way when it comes to fancy dress and getting the glitter ball out on a Friday night.

Ollie Scott (Centre Manager) “I’d say it’s gone from being a great Windsurf Club to a Mega Club in that it is by far the biggest club in the world. But we still keep it all personal and running smoothly, especially with regards to customer service, and we’ve managed to keep that vibe intact, even though it’s grown so much”.