October 10, 2020 – The Nautical Patrol of Jutarnji list awarded the “Zlatno sidro“ ("Golden Anchor") awards to Croatian marinas, according to the surveyed boaters. This year, ACI Marina Cres was voted as the best.

As Jutarnji list reports, their Nautical patrol sailed around the most important Croatian marinas on the Adriatic for the fourth year in a row. This floating editorial office, as they are also called, witnessed how top-notch nautical tourism persisted, if not increased, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Once this was affirmed, it was time to reward the best marinas based on many survey questionnaires in which boaters expressed their impressions of the marinas in which the Patrol would find them. They passed 32 marinas and 22 anchorages and small coves.

Exceptional marinas

This year, at a ceremony in Skradin, the prestigious Nautical Patrol Award of Jutarnji list "Zlatno sidro" ("Golden anchor") was given to ACI Marina Cres, which won the most votes of satisfied sailors who said that this marina excels in its beauty, infrastructure, and hospitality.

The recognition for the development of elite nautical tourism in Croatia went to the ACI Marina Dubrovnik, which delighted its guests with its sports content.

The oldest Croatian marina, the one in Punat on the island of Krk, received a prestigious award for its exceptional contribution to the development of Croatian nautical tourism. Namely, this marina is a favorite for guests because of its exceptional investment in high technology, such as surveillance applications with which every sailor can instantly check the condition of their boat via their mobile phone.

Marina Vrsar won second place as a beautiful, safe, and friendly marina, and third place went to Marina Tribunj, thanks to its peace, quiet, and discretion.

Vrsar / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

Special recognitions

A special recognition “Dragulj Jadrana“ ("Jewel of the Adriatic") was given to the great Mediterranean park of Marina Sutomišćica on the island of Ugljan. Also, ACI Marina Opatija received a special award called “Zlatni osmijeh Jadrana“ ("Golden Smile of the Adriatic") for the kindness of their staff and their willingness to help.

Although the Nautical Patrol did not find any cases of coronavirus infection in any marina, they still introduced a special recognition for the safest corona-free marina, ACI Marina Šimuni. It is located in a quiet bay in Pag with excellent nautical comfort and it consistently implemented corona protection measures.

Opatija, a pioneer of Croatian tourism / ACI Marina Opatija received a special award for the kindness of their staff / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

"Green and blue Croatia"

This year, the Nautical Patrol of Jutarnji list, in addition to nautical marinas, also visited nearby family farms (OPGs), thus connecting "blue" and "green" Croatia.

Numerous family farms at the time of the corona adapted their business, such as family farms that deliver fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and other products (even roasted meat) directly to the ship. That is why this year, for the first time, Đorđe Studić from Vodice, whose family farm of the same name received the most comments from readers of the Jutarnji.hr portal, was given the special "Biser zelene magistrale" ("Pearl of the Green Highway") award.

'Adriatic was safe throughout the summer'

"In this challenging period, we managed to find our way to the readers, we started the action in April, we showed the sustainability of this branch of tourism with arguments. This was recognized by our partners, so we received broad support from nautical tourism stakeholders, there were, for example, more than last year," said the editor-in-chief of Jutarnji list Goran Ogurlić, adding that the Nautical Patrol consisted of 16 crew members, who worked the whole summer in four shifts.

ACI Marina Vrsar won second place as a beautiful, safe, and friendly marina / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

"The marinas are well organized, all the recommendations of the National Civil Protection Headquarters have been respected. So we can clearly and with experience say that we are living health proof that the Adriatic has been safe throughout the summer, with responsible behavior," concluded the editor-in-chief.

The leader of the Patrol and the author of this successful project, Mladen Gerovac, says that the fourth edition of the Patrol was difficult to organize due to special conditions, but they still succeeded.

"Our floating editorial office proved that even during the pandemic, there is nautical tourism and that our floating guests trust us," said Gerovac.

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