| In 1969 Bill Lefakinis a Greek born and United States | | | | General Motors, ex-Chairman of the Board of |
| bred businessman envisioned a dream, which has | | | | Intercontinental Hotels Corp. Mr. Hans Sternik, |
| since become a reality - Greece, The Yachting Capital | | | | ex-German President Richard Fon Weizsacker, |
| of the World.Bill left Greece at the early age of 13 to | | | | internationally acclaimed cellist Mr. Rostropovich, Bruce |
| pursue a better life and future for himself and his | | | | Springsteen, Sting, John Denver, Kenny Rogers and |
| family. Bill attended the Hackley School and The | | | | Charlton Heston. He has been an advisor to the Greek |
| University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of | | | | National Tourist Organization, Greek Ministry of the |
| Business on full scholarships and served in the US | | | | Merchant Marine and member of the Greek |
| Army and the Greek Air Force. Having worked and | | | | Government's Advisory Council for the Development |
| traveled extensively as Chief Executive Officer of | | | | of Greece, yachting marinas, and the yachting |
| Filtrine International Co., Bill finally returned to Greece in | | | | infrastructure.In 1978, with the increasingly heavy air |
| 1969 where he started his own company, Valef | | | | pollution in Athens and water pollution in the Hellenic |
| Yachts.At that time there were no marinas in Greece | | | | Seas, Bill co-founded "PAKOE" (The Panhellenic |
| and only about 30 yachts, 20 of which were for | | | | Ecological Research Foundation) together with a group |
| private use. There was no national concept of the | | | | of volunteer scientists and doctors. As the Secretary |
| wealth Greece had to offer to the yachting world. Its | | | | General of the organization, he chartered airplanes and |
| unique history, civilization, hospitality, 4,000 islands and | | | | helicopters to take hundreds of air samples by |
| 13,000 miles of seashore (twice that of the USA | | | | University and Government scientists (including |
| where only 18% was yacht friendly compared to | | | | reporters abroad) to analyze the contents for air |
| Greece's 99%) made it most ideal for the world of | | | | pollution around the Acropolis, Athens as well had |
| yacht chartering. Bill, after realizing the immense | | | | several Valef Yachts with the same groups to test for |
| potential of Greek yachting, went to work applying his | | | | water pollution in the seas. All evidence was confirmed |
| know-how taken from his Greek and American | | | | by Government scientific laboratories and independent |
| business exposure. He convinced four of his friends to | | | | research centers. The high extent of pollution was |
| let him charter their yachts and after almost forty | | | | widely published with articles, photos to all the media as |
| years of constant work, marketing, public relations, | | | | well as full reports to the Greek Authorities including |
| pressure to the various Greek Governments to | | | | the President, Prime Minister and all parliamentary |
| promote this unique tourist feature that is second to | | | | members. As a matter of fact, pollution was the main |
| NONE, Bill's dedication finally paid off. Today, Greece | | | | subject for the next year's election. Now the Greek |
| has over 20,000 yachts for charter and for private | | | | Seas are the cleanest in Europe according to the |
| use, and over 50 marinas. Valef Yachts became a | | | | findings of the European Union and the air pollution has |
| successful and trusted company with offices in the | | | | dropped dramatically, the Parthenon is protected and |
| states and in Greece. Bill began his company and | | | | many laws have been made to protect the |
| single-handedly created a vision and a revolution in the | | | | environment.Bill and Kathy, his wife of 27 years; run the |
| yachting world in Greece with his motto since 1969 | | | | North American Headquarters of Valef Yachts and Bill |
| being, "Discover The Yachting World of Greece."To | | | | travels frequently to the Greek headquarters always |
| accomplish this, together with Panos Tsafos, Bill | | | | keeping his finger on the pulse of the market. Kathy |
| founded and presided over The Professional Yacht | | | | and Bill met in 1978 while she was traveling in Greece. |
| Owners Association, became Secretary General of | | | | Within months they were married and moved to |
| the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association and | | | | Greece where they settled and began working |
| Consultants Association, and organized the Association | | | | together. Kathy and Bill realized in 1981 the need to |
| of Greek Yacht Crews in order to coordinate efforts | | | | establish a USA North and South American |
| to improve yacht chartering in Greece. He also started | | | | Headquarters for more direct contact and more |
| a magazine called "Sea and Yachting" to enlighten | | | | efficient response and information for potential clients. |
| Greeks about the beauty of their islands, their potential | | | | Running two offices half way around the world from |
| as well as the importance of participating in seawater | | | | each other keep Kathy and Bill quite busy.In 1986 Bill, as |
| sports. He constantly wrote caustic articles addressed | | | | President of Valef Yachts and President of the Yacht |
| to the Greek Government regarding their apathy about | | | | Owners Association, invited 200 American yacht |
| improving conditions and laws to govern properly | | | | brokers on 20 yachts to "Discover the Yachting World |
| professional yachting in Greece. Bill also became | | | | of Greece." They went to many islands where |
| co-publisher of the English Daily Newspaper "Athens | | | | mayors of the islands greeted all with parties and |
| Mirror," in 1971, became a member of the Foreign | | | | festivities and the famous Greek Easter was |
| Press Association, The Greek Travel Agents | | | | celebrated with the traditional roasted lamb on the fire |
| Association, Hellenic American Chamber of | | | | and great fun was had by all.Such hard work leads to |
| Commerce, Greek Ship owner's Club and many | | | | an appreciation and understanding of a proper |
| others.In his efforts to promote Greece internationally, | | | | vacation. This has given them further insight into the |
| Bill brought the Miss Universe Contest to Greece in | | | | development of the ultimate holiday vacation that |
| 1973 (it was the first time they held the competition | | | | caters that caters to the clients every desire. The |
| overseas); movies James Bond in 1980 & 1983 and | | | | personal touch and hands on approach offered by the |
| The Greek Tycoon; TV series The Love Boat in 1980, | | | | yacht owners make chartering a luxury yacht with |
| Heart to Heart, The Life Styles of the Rich and | | | | Valef Yachts a true pleasure.Bill and Kathy's two |
| Famous with Robin Leach, The Evening Magazine | | | | daughters, Alexandra and Kassandra, have spent |
| (which featured Greece for one entire week), The | | | | numerous summers working in the yachting business, |
| Arthur Frommer Show, Eyes on LA, Canadian and | | | | learning the ropes from the ground up. Having been |
| Japanese Government television; magazines Playboy | | | | brought up in both countries spending quality time in |
| and Penthouse, Conde Nast's "The Traveler" and | | | | Europe and cruising the Aegean, they have a great |
| dozens of other international TV shows, movies and | | | | head start in knowing Greece, what yachting is all |
| magazines continuing to the present. Internationally | | | | about, and what the client ultimately desires. Alexandra |
| noted personalities were brought to Greece by Bill to | | | | and Kassandra both passionately work where Valef |
| promote yachting. To name a few, Hugh Hefner and | | | | Yachts has its roots; and continue to infuse fresh |
| daughter Christina, Bob Cuccione, John and Bo Derek, | | | | energy into their family business and one of the first |
| John Wayne, Anthony Quinn, Christina Onassis, Baron | | | | names in Greek Yachting.Valef Yachts remains a |
| Hans Heinrich von Thyssen, Patricia Gucci - fashion | | | | company that continues to flourish, raise industry |
| designer, | | | | standards and client expectations while remaining firmly |
| Claude Arpels - Van Cleef and Arpels jewellers, | | | | anchored in the ever-flourishing Greek yachting |
| Garavani Valentino - fashion designer, Max Fisher, | | | | community. All of the above activities have finally |
| John Clinton (Chairman of Dunhill and Rothman Group), | | | | helped establish Greece as the Center of the Yachting |
| Ernest Gallo, Giovanni-Yanelli of Fiat, Henry Ford II of | | | | World! |
| Ford Motor Corporation, Roger Smith, ex-CEO of | | | | |