THE BUILDING OF ARGO SHIP

DURING THE CREATION OF ARGO SHIP IN VOLOS , 2006. ADMIRAL APOSTOLIS KOURTIS, AND BOATBUILDERS YIANNIS AND NIKOS REPPOS WERE THE CREATORS.

building Argo by Apostolis Kourtis, Nikos Reppos Δημιουργία της Αργούς από τους Γιάννη και Νίκο Ρέππο

journalist Athina Krikeli in an interview with Apostolis Kourtis. Building ARGO

ELLOPIA PRESS MAGAZINE- NY -ATHNA KRIKELI
Recently, the launch of Argo ship took place in the city of Volos. The replica of the ancient exploratory ship that led the famous Argonaut extravagance. Argo is the creator of Admiral Apostolos Kourtis, who, after a long study of ancient shipbuilding, has agreed with the municipality of Volos to proceed to the creation of the most famous ancient ship of the planet. Throughout this effort, the last but most important step  was to find the people who would "build" Argo. Father and son Giannis and Nikos Reppos from REPPOS BOATBUILDERS rebounded to load their knowledge and experience. Nikos Reppos few days later came with "the" blue prints. 
the creation of Argos begins

It was in 2006 when I came to Hellas for filming. I grabbed the opportunity to visit some friends while my stay in my country. Volos was one of the destination. We were sitting neatly with my colleague and dearest friend Dimitris Halas, competing  in the famous sport - known in Volos - as Tsipouradika, (drinking local drink)  when Fouli  - his wife - started talking about Argo the famous ancient ship, and that I could see it if I wanted too!. 'its only  200 meters from our house" she said to me and  ... I looked at her in sock!   .... "did Argo rise from the sea? If yes why wasn't breaking news all over the world?" - I asked having the face of the person who has lost the evolution of the century. Dimitris explained "they rebuild Argo in Volos" and tomorrow he can take me there, getting a chance to 'meet' her. Obviously couldn't sleep all night! I couldn't wait to see with my own eyes what seemed so unreal.


Some 'crazy' scientists one skilled dreamer admiral and researcher,  two shipbuilders masterminds son and father Yiannis and Nikos Reppos undertook to build the dream!, Proponents were the logs of the trees that respond to the vision of those people 'bowing' proudly to the effort and as partners taking part 'alive like' with opinion and stubbornness as well. Everything moves around those moods everybody works with their trunks carrying them simply to another dimension.

Jason watches inexpressibly a rigor warrior. His ancient builders present as well, waiting to see what modern shipbuilders can do. "it would have been over in three months if we were leaving in ancient times," says Apostolis Kourtis, "but know we definitely need 16 months", and in his words the Ancients agreed, likewise Nikos Reppos, the boatpbuilder who makes reality the vision of Kourtis. He turned it into blue prints in order to build it as close as possible to the original one. Keeping in mind the deviation of  thousands of years past from the building of the original one. .


Collaborators of Yiannis and Nikos Reppos, who are uncharacteristically immersed in the building!  Watching them you think that they are doing this job for ever; As if Jason had come to show them the way. "we are not building a dream, it is a vision that gets flesh and bones. It impresses us how it transforms in front of our eyes," says Mr. Nikos Repos.  

​Isn't this how dreams become reality. The vision of a few that always makes the majority to question you, raising thousand of questions and doubts?

I spend six days there with Argo!  Going up and down the metal ladder touching every new wood was added, gazing at the sea that appeared from the yard door, Watching the rocking of the waves trying to transform myself to that ancient Hellas,  with no luck though, everytime   some modern conversation was interrupting me. I could not feel any ancient vibe!  "neither did the time machine brgouth me face to face with Jason." It was the moment I was saying my goodbyes to the builders, I turn around to look one more time ARGO before I left! I felt something strange, and for a split second I thought the ship wasn't touching its brackets...



more info about building Argo here www.repposgr.com. 

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Apostolis Kourtis is watching Nikos Reppos while curving the Φ, the upper part of the mast