Grand finale of the CRO Melges 24 Cup: Sail battle in Trogir
November 16, 2023 - Trogir, Croatia - The grand finale of this year's CRO Melges 24 Cup season will be sailed from November 17 to 19 in Trogir. As befits the end of the current most substantial Croatian sailing competition, as many as 27 crews from Croatia, Italy, Hungary, and Great Britain entered the Melges 24 Croatian Open Championship.
The closing of the European season in the Melges 24 class, organized by the Trogir Sailing Club, carries with it huge stakes, so it is not surprising that there was a great turnout of sailors at the last regatta, where from Friday to Sunday, three prestigious titles will be decided:
- the winner of the CRO Melges 24 Cup,
- the Melges 24 champion of Croatia and
- the winner of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series.
"I’m happy that our Croatian class is constantly growing in all directions. This is also shown by the many top foreign crews that arrived at the regatta. The complete start list in Trogir is a real 'All-Star' as far as one design sailing is concerned in Croatia and beyond," explained Croatian sailor Tomislav Bašić.
After six regattas of this year's CRO Melges 24 Cup, the showdown at the O.K. Trogir will be between Biograd's Panjić and Trogir's Mataran 24. A one-point advantage for Panjić means tension until the very end, as double points are awarded at the last cup regatta.
"We know we have a slight advantage but are not worried about the points. In the nine scheduled races, anything can happen. If we beat Mataran 24 at sea, on their home field, then we deserve the title,' said Tomislav Bašić.
The local Mataran 24 crew Mataran 24 won the title at the Open Croatian Championship in Zadar last year. On the eve of this regatta, they received an award from the city of Trogir for numerous sporting successes in the Melges 24 class over the past year. With two golds (WC and EC in the Corinthian division) and silver and bronze in the overall order at the EC and WC, Mataran 24 is the world's most successful crew in one of the most popular one-design classes.
'It was only when we watched the video material at the ceremony that we became aware of our successes. Thank you to the city of Trogir for the award! It's always nice when your hard work and medals are recognized at home. On the eve of this last regatta, we have a little bit of positive trepidation because of the home field, but that too will pass as soon as the sailing starts,' said the helmsman of Mataran 24, Ante Botica.
Another novelty that CRO Melges 24 in Trogir will present at Croatian regattas are the intelligent electric buoys brought to the Adriatic by Croatian sailor in class ILCA 7 Filip Jurišić.
"In the last couple of years, these buoys have made a big step forward for regatta organizers. All major world sailing competitions use them. I am proud that for the first time in the Adriatic, we will present the buoys at the strongest Croatian sailing competition,' emphasized Filip Jurišić.
ENTRY LIST: Orage, The Pimp, Makako 24, OBI-WAN, Amor, Cezibordo, Zen, SHE, Palmina, Tutta Forza, Mataran 24, Razjaren 2, Panjić, Fjonda, Point One, Universitas Nova, Joyrunner, Blue Label, Sugar Daddy, Razjaren (all Croatia); Forever G, Strambapapá, Arkanoè by Montura, Zuxu, Daito Nano (all Italy); Chinook (Hungary); Gill Race Team (Great Britain).
CRO Melges 24 Cup is sailed with the partnership of Angelina Yacht Charter, Sailing Point, North Sails, One Sails, digital studio Akvarij, digital agency Raiser, regate.com.hr and EmergenSea, while ACI, Split Airport, Way Point, Sailing Forever, Marina Trogir, Bocel, Lanterna, Wild West, Vilim Halbarth also supported the Croatian Open Championship.
