On Saturday 2nd September 2017, Filip Jurišić won the Mornar Grand Prix over fellow sailors and Olympians.
It seems Filip Filip Jurišić is on fire this year; recently he was interviewed by Sportske Novosti with fellow club member and 'rival' Tonči Stipanović about their expectations for the upcoming Laser World Championship which will be held in Split from the 11th – 19th September.
Stipanović is a big name in the world of sailing, after securing Croatia's historic first Olympic medal for sailing in the Men's Laser Class, Rio de Janeiro 2016. However, while Jurišić may be younger, he is proving to be fierce competition.
The Mornar Grand Prix is the world's shortest regatta and takes place just in front of the Mornar's hangar in the Split ACI Marina. Being the world's shortest regatta isn't the only unique aspect of this event, it is also a night regatta, which creates a lively atmosphere. The athletes exited the hangar and made their way to the water, to loud music, lights and cheers from the committed crowd who had gathered, despite the forecast of rain.
It was an international line-up with no shortage of Olympic medals. Group One: had Tom Burton (AUS) who won Gold at the Rio Olympics 2016, Sam Meech (NZL) who took bronze and Francesco Marrai (ITA) who also competed in the 2016 Olympics.
Group two: Matt Wearn (AUS), Elliot Hansen (GBR) and Charlie Buckingham (USA) who also competed in the Rio Olympics.
Group three: saw Mornar 'rivals' Jurišić and Stipanović go head-to-head along with Thomas Saunders from New Zealand.
Being that the event is the shortest regatta in the world and takes place within the harbour, it is possibly the closest spectators will get to watching Olympic sailors in action. As the final minute counts down before each race, you can see the sailors working hard to get into position at the right moment.
In the group three race, Stipanović faced a penalty which he was not impressed with and it was Jurišić who proceeded to the finals with Sam Meech (NZL) and Charlie Buckingham (USA).
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Credit: regate.com.hr; Jurisic with Meech and Buckingham
At around 8.30 pm they had a crisis meeting, “we were close to cancelling the finals, but someone was looking out for us, the rain disappeared and we had the best conditions” Jozo Jakelić (Mornar coach), told Radio Dalmacija.
Jurišić had a strong start off the mark, while Meech had to double back around; Jurišić and Buckingham battled it out but on the last lap, Jurišić clearly had the win and began celebrating 10-metres out from the buoy to the delight of the crowd who all cheered him over the ‘finish line’.
Credit: Andro Krstulovic Opara
credit: Regate.com.hr
“I promised everyone that I would fight to the end, regardless of the fact that I was in the ring, face-to-face with some big titles. But I was not afraid and it was a great fight. It was a special feeling to win in front of my club and crowd, that’s indescribable” Jurišić told Radio Dalmacija.
Credit: Regate.com.hr
Credit: regate.com.hr; Victory hug with his beautiful girlfriend Antonija Zuvela
Bravo to all who competed, congratulations to Jurišić for the win and club Mornar for putting on a great event. This was a fantastic warm-up to the Laser Sailing World Championship and we cannot wait to follow the action!
Watch the full regatta below and to support Jurišić, visit his official page here.
