Plan your sailing vacation around these events, you won't regret it
The Croatian coast is a heavenly sailing destination, with a great number of tourists flocking to the Adriatic exactly for this reason. Most of them spend a couple of weeks at sea and sometimes join racing events – but only those organised by charter businesses or boat manufacturers, somewhat corporate events with tourist competitors. Our not-so-mainstream summer sailing calendar includes five regattas rarely joined by foreign amateur crews, which is a shame as this is the best way to feel the local sailing vibes.
Photo: JK Labud
The first one on our list is Komiža Regatta Sailing Weekend, organised at the end of May by the Labud Sailing Club from Split. The race course leads from Split to Komiža on Friday, and the other way around on Sunday. This event is a kick-off for the sailing season in Dalmatia. As the peak tourist season is still a few months off, there are no crowds either ashore or on the sea. The hosts in Komiža are still relaxed, there is enough wind and the sea is already warm enough for a dip. Many crews use the free day on Saturday for a trip to Biševo. Usually, there are around 50 sailboats participating in the regatta.
Photo: JK Mornar
Early in June, Mornar Sailing Club organizes Regatta Sušac 100 x 2. The number 100 stands for distance in miles from Split to the remote island of Sušac and back, and number 2 is for crew members on the boat. Yes, you read it well: rules of the Sušac regatta allow only two crew members on the boat. This demanding offshore regatta has very strict propositions for application and they don’t let just any Tom, Dick, or Harry join the race. However, if you are an experienced sailor and you have a reliable sailing partner, this regatta is right up your alley. Cruising around the gorgeous outlying island of Sušac at daybreak is a unique experience.
Photo: Dubravka Pajk
Split Cruisers Regatta is held in mid-June and has become a popular event on the sailing calendar due to the interesting race course, excellent organization and warm welcome in Jelsa, where participants can find free berths and good parties. During the 64-year-history of this event, race courses often changed – but for the last seven years the course has remained the same: from Split to Jelsa and back. Sailors especially love the part of course going through Hvar Channel because of the very strong Maestral wind which is very challenging for all participants.
Photo: Srđan Kurajica / One Frame Media
Four-day Southern Dalmatia Regatta is held in the first week of August and the course goes through the most beautiful part of the Croatian coastline. Starting from Orebić on the Pelješac Peninsula, the course leads past the town of Korčula, and then to Mljet. The first leg finishes in Pomena, and the second one in Prožura. The race regularly attracts between 30 to 50 sailboats, and all participants have free berths secured on Mljet. The last leg leads from Prožura to Dubrovnik where the organizers from sailing club Orsan throw a great farewell party. This regatta is very popular among sailors from Split and Dubrovnik, and many of them plan their vacation around the event – sailing first to Orebić, attending the regatta, and sailing north from Dubrovnik, which usually means two weeks onboard.
Photo: Robert Matić
Little Night Regatta is held in mid-August in Postira on Brač Island and is undoubtedly the most unusual regatta on the Croatian coast. Everything is odd here: night-time sailing under floodlights, inside the port, on a tiny race course, right in front of spectators. Mozart’s famous Eine Kleine Nacht Musik is a soundtrack for the start and the race is accompanied by live commentary and classical music. The tiny island village island comes alive for this event – all the locals and tourists gather to watch the event followed by a huge party and a live rock concert.
So, there you have it, some unique regattas not to be missed!
