Strong bora winds of over 15 knots and about 100 sailors traditionally marked the 22nd edition of the memorial regatta
Once again this year, ACI Marina Pomer was the starting and finishing point of the 22nd Captain Marko Marinović Memorial Regatta, a regatta with a long-standing tradition, organised by the Delfin Pula Sailing Club. The Medulin archipelago played the host to about 100 sailors, and demanding conditions with strong bora winds of over 15 knots provided for a close-fought race and attractive sailing moments.
ACI Marina Pomer keeps alive the memory of Captain Marko Marinović
The regatta has a special significance because it honours the memory of a long-serving colleague, distinguished seafarer and great sailing enthusiast, Captain Marko Marinović. ACI has traditionally supported this sporting event, which brings together sailors, sea enthusiasts and afficionados, and nurtures the values of togetherness, friendship and team spirit.
“The Captain Marko Marinović Memorial Regatta has a special significance for ACI because with it we keep alive the memory of our long-serving colleague, distinguished seafarer and great sailing enthusiast. We are proud to have traditionally supported this event, which has, from year to year, brought together sailors, sea enthusiasts and afficionados, and nurtured the values of togetherness, friendship and team spirit. We are especially happy that ACI Marina Pomer has, once again this year, been the starting and finishing point of the regatta, giving us the opportunity to continue to support the local sailing community and preserve Istria’s rich maritime tradition”, said Darko Starčević, the director of ACI Marina Pomer and the regional director of the Istrian Region marinas.
Bravissima the fastest overall
In the overall standings, the fastest was the Croatian crew of the Bravissima, with skipper Elvis Kaić. Second place was taken by the Moon Sailor, with skipper Matjaž Bajc from Slovenia, while third place went to the Croatian Nuvola, with Oleg Togon as skipper.
This year’s Memorial Regatta once again proved how sailing serves to bring together different generations. Participants of different ages and experiences sailed together on the boats, and among them were experienced sailors as well as members of a younger generation. A combination of experience, youth and different generations once again confirmed the strength of sailing as a sport that connects people of different ages, with different experiences and belonging to different generations.
Chili Team celebrated victory in Group 4, which had the largest number of competitors
An especially interesting battle was fought in Group 4, which was the one with the largest number of competitors in this year’s regatta. First place was won by Chili Team, with skipper David Galić aboard the Elan 350. Second place went to Ikigai Team aboard the B. Match Race 35, led by skipper Sanja Vale Čupić, while third place was claimed by Canarino Furioso with Boris Radolović-Šep as skipper.
Ferdo and Vesna Matulja from Cres aboard the Fly 5, B. Match Race 38, especially stood out, recording the fastest time in the regatta, which once again showed the importance of experience and teamwork on a demanding racecourse.
Albanež as the Memorial Regatta trademark
The Albanež Shoal, one of the well-known challenges of the Memorial Regatta, once more played an important role on the racecourse. The traditional route across the Albanež required the crew’s full concentration and excellent assessment skills, and it is this section of the race that inspired the appearance of the special awards.
The participants received attractive 3D visualisations of the Albanež Shoal, made by the Magla Lab brand, as a lasting memory of this year’s regatta.
Memorial regatta linking sports, tradition and friendship
Over the years, the Captain Marko Marinović Memorial Regatta has outgrown the limits of just another sporting competition. Although the atmosphere at sea was serious and competitive, once the finish line had been crossed, the regatta regained its social dimension.
After the race, sailors gathered at the After the Regatta Party in Konoba Istriana, where the award ceremony was held and where they spent time socialising, talking about the competition that had just finished and analysing the race.
For ACI, support for the Captain Marko Marinović Memorial Regatta is a way to maintain a long-term relationship with the local sailing community and contribute to preserving Istria’s maritime and sailing tradition. This year, ACI Marina Pomer has once again been the regatta’s starting and finishing point, proving its links with sporting events and the life of the local community.
