Three top regattas marked the beginning of the sailing season – the CRO Melges 24 Cup, the Skradin Cruiser Regatta and the Elafiti Slalom 2025.
The new nautical season on the Croatian coast has started dynamically, with a whole series of regattas that have attracted sailors from all over the world. Among the numerous events that marked the beginning of the sailing year, three regattas stand out in particular, with which ACI opened its season. These are the fifth edition of the CRO Melges 24 Cup, which started from the ACI Marina Opatija, the Skradin Cruiser Regatta, which started from the ACI Marina of the same name, and the last one, in which ACI sailboats competed, the Elafiti Slalom 2025. In addition to sports celebrations and togetherness, the regattas are also an opportunity for Croatia to show how much it cherishes its maritime heritage, cares about the environment and invests in the future of sailing.
With international crews, sportsmanship and sustainability, ACI gave a strong wind at the start of the sailing season
The 2025 sailing season on the Croatian coast started with a big step forward – for the first time in history, Opatija, or more precisely the ACI marina in Ičići, hosted a regatta from the prestigious European Melges series. This historic premiere put Opatija on the map of the most important European regatta destinations. The fifth edition of the CRO Melges 24 Cup, which took place from 3 to 6 April, brought together top crews from the region and abroad, officially opening the new sailing season on the Adriatic for ACI. With strong sporting competition and impeccable organization by Yacht Club Croatia, the regatta was also the third in the new season of the Luka Baustoffe CRO Melges 24 Cup, currently the strongest and most competitive sailing series in Croatia.
At the same time, the new nautical season on Lake Prokljan from 4 to 6 April was opened by the Skradin Cruiser Regatta, traditionally organised by the Kon-Tiki Sailing Club, hosted by ACI Marina Skradin, one of the most picturesque marinas on the Adriatic. The fifth edition of the regatta brought together numerous sailing teams competing in the Open and ORC classes, while a smaller number of crews decided to sail at a more relaxed pace, without a spinnaker. This unique competition marked the official start of the sailing season on Lake Prokljan, and in addition to the sporting part, the regatta was also an opportunity for all participants to traditionally socialise.
This year’s Elafiti Slalom Regatta, held from 11 to 14 April, brought together more than 180 sailors from all over Europe, with ACI’s ClubSwan 36 sailing yachts Tacit Consent and Bracing Breeze attracting particular attention, as they opened their 2025 regatta season here. The successful performances of the crews led by Olympian Tonči Stipanović and Croatian sailing national team member Alec Cvinar brought them first and second place in the OPEN 3 group, confirming ACI’s role in the development of top-level sailing. With a strong sporting character, the regatta emphasized sustainability and togetherness, and once again demonstrated the potential of the Elafiti as an ideal destination for future sailing projects. The prizes for the winners were made from recycled plastic collected right on the Elafiti, in collaboration with Maritimo Recycling and local creative studios BeCraft and Beluga. In this way, the regatta symbolically connected sport with environmental care and active involvement of the local community, promoting sustainable values among all generations of participants.
The new nautical season further highlighted Croatia as a leading sailing destination
The start of the 2025 nautical season on the Adriatic, marked by three significant regattas, further confirms Croatia’s position as a leading sailing destination. In addition, thanks to a network of top-quality equipped and strategically positioned marinas, ACI has become a key player in the development of nautical sports in Croatia. Through continuous support for sailing regattas – whether as a host of prestigious competitions, or through cooperation with top athletes and sailing clubs – ACI actively contributes to the promotion of sports, encourages young talents and promotes the values of team spirit, excellence and sustainability. The company’s long-term strategic direction is based on connecting tourism, sport and local communities, with the aim of positioning the Adriatic as one of the most attractive European regatta destinations, and ACI as a leader in the support and development of nautical tourism.
Photos: FOTO ADRIA, regate.com.hr
