In 1969 Bill Lefakinis a Greek conceived and US reproduced finance manager imagined a fantasy, which has since turned into a reality – Greece, The Yachting Capital of the World.
Bill passed on Greece at the early age of 13 to seek after a superior life and future for him as well as his loved ones. Bill went to the Hackley School and The College of Pennsylvania Wharton Institute of Business on full grants and served in the US Armed force and the Greek Flying corps. Having worked and voyaged broadly as CEO of Filtrine Global Co., Bill at long last gotten back to Greece in 1969 where he began his own organization, Valef Yachts.
Around then there were no marinas in Greece and something like 30 yachts, 20 of which were for private use. There was no public idea of the abundance Greece brought to the table to the yachting scene. Its extraordinary history, progress, friendliness, 4,000 islands and 13,000 miles of coastline (two times that of the USA where just 18% was yacht agreeable contrasted with Greece’s almost 100%) made it generally great for the universe of yacht contracting yachts cabo. Bill, in the wake of understanding the monstrous capability of Greek yachting, went to work applying his expertise taken from his Greek and American business openness. He persuaded four regarding his companions to allow him to contract their yachts and after just about forty years of steady work, showcasing, advertising, strain to the different Greek States to advance this extraordinary traveler include that is top notch, Bill’s devotion at last paid off. Today, Greece has north of 20,000 yachts for sanction and for private use, and more than 50 marinas. Valef Yachts turned into an effective and entrusted organization with workplaces in the states and in Greece. Bill started his organization and independently made a dream and an upheaval in the yachting scene in Greece with his witticism starting around 1969 being, “Find The Yachting Universe of Greece.”
To achieve this, along with Panos Tsafos, Bill established and directed The Expert Yacht Proprietors Affiliation, became Secretary General of the Hellenic Yacht Merchants Affiliation and Specialists Affiliation, and coordinated the Relationship of Greek Yacht Groups to facilitate endeavors to further develop yacht sanctioning in Greece. He likewise began a magazine called “Ocean and Yachting” to illuminate Greeks about the magnificence of their islands, their true capacity as well as the significance of partaking in seawater sports. He continually composed harsh articles addressed to the Greek Government in regards to their lack of care about further developing circumstances and regulations to administer appropriately proficient yachting in Greece. Bill likewise became co-distributer of the English Day to day Paper “Athens Mirror,” in 1971, turned into an individual from the Unfamiliar Press Affiliation, The Greek Travel Planners Affiliation, Hellenic American Office of Trade, Greek Boat proprietor’s Club and numerous others.