Safety at Pyraegea is everyone's responsibility — physical safety on the water, care for each other's emotional wellbeing, and respect for personal boundaries. There's no safety team that manages this for you. We look out for each other.
A useful way to remember the key elements of consent is the FRIES acronym:
You can change your mind at any time, say no without explanation, and ask someone to stop at any moment. If someone says no — respect it immediately, don't pressure them, and move on gracefully. For a deeper framework on giving and receiving, see the Wheel of Consent.
Consent is breached when there is coercion (physical, emotional, or psychological pressure), impairment (intoxication or unconsciousness), deception (deliberate lies about material facts), or withdrawal ignored (continuing after consent has been revoked). Deliberately misleading someone — about identity, relationship status, sexual health, or intentions — undermines their autonomy and may invalidate consent under law.
The Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence) provides an international legal framework emphasizing consent:
Greece ratified the Istanbul Convention in 2018 and has incorporated its principles into its national legal framework. Under Greek law, consent must be freely given:
For boat safety, swimming guidelines, marine environment (LNT on water), medical considerations, and emergency procedures, see Safety on the Water.
Never use alcohol or other substances while actively sailing or on watch. Greece has strict drug laws — your captain's rules apply on board. Don't pressure others, and don't be a burden to your crew.
If someone is having a difficult experience: stay calm, move them to a quiet space, keep them hydrated with water, don't leave them alone, and contact your boat captain. For in-depth harm reduction guidance, see Zendo Project and DanceSafe in the resources section.
In past years, participants have offered a sanctuary boat — a quiet, calm space where anyone can go to decompress, rest, or get away from stimulation. In 2023, a "chill boat" offered massages, Thera-guns, and quiet space with licensed therapists.
If your crew would like to offer a sanctuary or safe-space boat at Pyraegea, consider:
A Consent/Safety Incident Report Form is available.
The form link is shared in Telegram before each event (e.g., 2025 Incident Report Form).
Who to contact: your boat captain (first point of contact), trusted crew members, Pyraegea core organizers, or designated safety coordinators.
Address concerns early — speak directly with the person if comfortable, use "I" statements ("I felt..." not "You did..."), and focus on behaviour, not character. If direct communication doesn't work, involve your captain, ask a neutral third party to mediate, or use the incident report form.
Skippers and crews are encouraged to run a short NVC session on day one or two. At least one boat has done this and found it meaningfully improved crew dynamics. Even a 30-minute facilitated conversation about communication styles makes a real difference in a confined crew. See Center for Non-violent Communication and Bed Talks.
Respect personal sleeping areas, privacy in heads/bathrooms, quiet hours, personal belongings, and the need for alone time. Communicate your needs and boundaries clearly — when you need space, if something bothers you, and what your comfort levels are.
People can be identified in many ways beyond their face; by their body, tattoos, clothing, boat, or the location itself. If someone hasn't consented to being in a photo or video, obscuring their face and or body doesn't make it okay to post.
Drones deserve special attention because of their range and the involuntary nature of aerial capture.
Consent applies regardless of nudity. The idea of a "non-nude drone hour" — where drones fly freely as long as people are clothed — was explicitly discussed and rejected by the Pyraegea community. Some participants are not comfortable being filmed or photographed regardless of their state of dress. A person being filmed without their knowledge while sunbathing in a swimsuit is just as much a consent issue as any other unsolicited capture.
The community norm is that footage requires consent, full stop. If you're unsure whether someone wants to be filmed, ask.
If you're here, you belong here. Pyraegea doesn't maintain a welcome list — the principle is that anyone can come, and everyone who shows up is a full participant, not a guest.
That means the community you arrive in is the one you help shape. It works because people take responsibility for how they treat each other.
Nobody navigates social dynamics perfectly. If you make a mistake — an assumption, an insensitive comment, crossing a line you didn't see:
For emergency contacts and emergency procedures, see Safety on the Water.