Croatian sailors have been at the top of the IOM class for years
This past weekend the Open Croatian Championship was held in Rogoznica, a competition for radio controlled sailboats in the International One Metre class. 42 sailors from nine countries took part, and after 11 sailings the first place and state champion title went to Ante Kovačević from Split’s Zenta Sailing Club. Second place was taken by Robert Matulja from the Opatija Sailing Club, and third by Mirko Ukas, another member of Zenta. Two-time world champion Zvonko Jelačić of Zenta took fourth place.
The radio sailboat regatta in Rogoznica was organised by the Val Sailing Club from Šibenik, also a general rehearsal for the European Championship, to be held at the same location at the beginning of April. Croatian sailors have been at the top of the IOM class for years. Zvonko Jelačić won the World Championship in 2009 and 2017, while Matko Matić was European champion in 2010.
The forthcoming European Championship will see Croatian colours defended by: Robert Matulja, Zvonko Jelačić, Ante Kovačević, Robert Grubiša, Boris Bakotić, Marko Matić, Vedran Vesanović, Paolo Mavričić, Mirko Ukas and Hrvoje Duvančić. This is the third such IOM competition to be held in Croatia: in 2008 it was hosted by the Orsan Sailing Club in Dubrovnik and in 2012 on Cres Island by the Rijeka sailing club SCOR.
