The event, which brought together more than 800 competitors racing on 80 sailing boats and attracted thousands of visitors, concluded successfully
The fifth edition of the Full Moon Sailing Spectacle took place in Pula from 25 to 30 March 2026, confirming the city’s status as an attractive nautical destination. The event brought together sailors and visitors from across Europe, with more than 800 competitors racing on 80 sailing boats and between 2,000 and 3,000 participants in the supporting programme. With the strong support of ACI, as one of the key stakeholders in the development of Croatia’s nautical tourism sector, the event additionally stressed the importance of high-quality infrastructure and continued investment in premium boating experiences. ACI’s long-term experience and network of marinas once again played a significant role in the highly efficient organisation and international visibility of the event.
A regatta spectacle in Pula: the nighttime and the daytime race
The central part of the event were two main races, full of exciting racing moments. The Full Moon Night Sprint, held in the Pula harbour, was broadcast live to spectators on the waterfront, as well as on television and radio. Despite the variable weather conditions, the race was successfully brought to a close, and the first to cross the finish line was the Shining maxi racer with Željko Perović as the skipper. Maxi Nautika with Korado Gobo at the helm won in the ORC class, while victory in the double-handed division went to the crew of the DWD 99 and their skipper Davor Škorić from Pula.
The point-to-point Full Moon Day Race, held on Saturday on an attractive course from the Brijuni Islands to the southern tip of Istria, further tested the crews’ skills and tactical abilities. The majority of the fleet completed the regatta, and this year’s running exceeded all expectations, the organisers said.
“Events of this kind play an important role in promoting nautical tourism, further contributing to the Croatia’s international profile as a destination for premier sailing and active holidays. They also bring an extra dimension to the early season and an additional dynamic aspect to the start of the high season, encouraging boaters to visit earlier. Such events confirm the sustained interest in boating and spending time at sea, while also underlining the importance of well-conceived sporting and tourist events for the continued development of the nautical sector. ACI lends continuous support to initiatives that play an important role in destination development, in offering an expanded range of nautical services and experiences, and in further positioning Croatia as one of the leading nautical destinations in the Mediterranean”, said Darko Starčević, Director of the ACI Marina Pula and Regional Director for Istria.
Sailing, culture and entertainment in a distinctive festival format
Along with the sporting programme, the event also featured a rich range of cultural and entertainment activities. Starting with the Pula Under Sail exhibition, held at the Pula City Library, and a film screening at the Valli Cinema, it brought together sports, culture and art from the very first day.
The musical highlight was the concert given by the Parni Valjak band at the Mate Parlov Sports Centre, which was inclusive in its nature – disabled persons and persons with Down Syndrome were admitted free of charge and had a special seating arrangement, which further stressed the social dimension of the event.
Today, the Full Moon Sailing Spectacle is much more than just a regatta; it is an event that successfully links sports, tourism and the local community, further positioning Pula and Istria as one of the leading sailing destinations in the Mediterranean. Lending continued support to such projects, ACI reaffirms its important role in the development of the nautical tourism sector and in strengthening Croatia as one of the leading boating destinations in the region.
Photos: Emil Pucić i regate.com.hr
