Croatia Celebrates New Melges 24 European Champions: Razjaren and Mataran 24 (COR)
04 October 2024—Split, Croatia - Ante Cesic’s Razjaren has taken the overall title, while Ante Botica’s Mataran 24 claimed the Corinthian crown at the 2024 Melges 24 European Championship. This event, organised by the Sailing Club Split in partnership with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), featured over 40 boats racing in eight varied-weather races.
Razjaren’s victory at the European Championship also secured the overall win in the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2024. Reflecting on the triumph and winning the perpetual Giorgio Zuccoli's European Championship Trophy, Cesic said, “The feelings are great; we had a plan and implemented it within a year of competing. It’s even more rewarding that our team, composed of sailors from JK Split, secured this victory in our home waters. This is an exceptional result for us and the Croatian Melges 24 Class Association, but we don’t plan to stop here. Next year’s World Championship in Trieste is our next objective,” he states, firmly celebrating his victory with his friends at their home club - Sailing Club Split. Razjaren by Lukasz Podniesinski was sailing onboard with Ante Cesic, Tonci Knezovic, Ljubo Jercic, and Andela De Micheli Vitturi.
View the interview with Ante Cesics
Razjaren took control of the standings on Day Three. Meanwhile, Mataran 24, a double Corinthian world champion, led the non-pro ranking from Day One. Despite hopes for a final-day comeback from other teams, the wind never exceeded 5 knots, preventing PRO Marko Misura and IM24CA Championship Coordinator Europe David Bartol from completing the series’ planned ten races. As a result, the final standings were based on Day Four results. Mataran 24 by Ivo Matic was sailing onboard with Ante Botica, Mario Skrlj, Damir Civadelic and Max Carija, defending their title from 2022 and winning the Menno Meyer Corinthian European Trophy.
Altea (ITA), helmed by Andrea Racchelli, completed the overall podium, followed by Mataran, 24, in third. In the Corinthian rankings, second and third places went to Ákos Csolto’s Chinook (HUN), the 2023 European Sailing Series overall winner, and Miles Quinton's Zhik Race Team (GBR), respectively. Rounding out the top five in the overall standings were Cuyler Morris' Dark Horse (USA) and Ivan Kljaković Gašpić’s Universitas Nova (CRO).
The event concluded with a festive and emotional prizegiving ceremony at JK Split, marking the successful end of the first major Melges 24 event held in Croatia.
What an incredible honor to see sailors from 9 to 75 years old competing in the Melges 24! Hats off to 9-year-old Luka Jelacic on board Yikes CRO516, 12-year-old Bela Jelaca on Blue Label CRO827, and 75-year-old Srdan Cuco Nincevic on Cezibordo CRO517! Age truly knows no limits in this amazing class!
IM24CA Class Administrator Piret Salmistu and Member Europe in IM24CA Executive Committee Michael Tarabochia, expressed their gratitude to the Sailing Club Split by presenting a large print of the Melges 24 family group photo made by Mauro Melandri / Zerogradinord on the dock a few days ago. This photo will be a kind memory for the club to remember the fantastic 2024 European Championship and the club's and sponsors’ exceptional hospitality.
The next opportunity to battle at the Melges 24 main event in Europe will be the 2025 World Championship Trieste, Italy, from 20 to 27 September.
2024 Melges 24 European Championship Top 10 boats (after 8 races, one discard):
- RAZJAREN (CRO 867) – Ante Cesic, 19 (1, [14], 1, 5, 2, 8, 1, 1)
- ALTEA (ITA 722) – Andrea Racchelli, 30 (5, 4, 7, 1, 1, [19], 3, 9)
- MATARAN 24 (CRO 649) – Ante Botica, 33 ([12], 3, 2, 9, 4, 3, 8, 4)
- DARK HORSE (USA 870) – Cuyler Morris, 34 (7, 1, 3, 7, [BFD], 1, 9, 6)
- UNIVERSITAS NOVA (CRO 760) – Ivan Kljaković Gašpić, 35 (3, 8, 6, 3, 5, 2, [13], 8)
- MELGINA (ITA 854) – Paolo Brescia, 58 (17, 6, 4, 2, [BFD], 6, 11, 12)
- CHINOOK (HUN 850) – Ákos Csolto, 58 (10, [34], 12, 10, 7, 5, 12, 2)
- CRO-A-SAIL (CRO 782) – Matija Reljanović, 60 (2, 11, 13, 11, 11, [33], 5, 7)
- PANJIC (CRO 739) – Luka Šangulin, 61 ([21], 16, 5, 6, 6, 13, 10, 5)
- ZHIK RACE TEAM (GBR 694) – Geoff Carveth, 74 (6, 18, 15, 4, 8, 20, [23], 3)
Top 3 Corinthian boats:
- MATARAN 24 (CRO 649) – Ante Botica, 33
- CHINOOK (HUN 850) – Ákos Csolto, 58
- ZHIK RACE TEAM (GBR 694) – Geoff Carveth, 74
Full results
Race Day 5 photos | Prizegiving photos | All event photo galleries
Videos and interviews
2024 Melges 24 European Championship is organized by the Sailing Club Split in partnership with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), and the Croatian Melges 24 Class Association (CRO M24CA).
#melges24 #melges24europeans #cromelges24
2024 Melges 24 European Championship is organized by the Sailing Club Split in partnership with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), and the Croatian Melges 24 Class Association (CRO M24CA).
#melges24 #melges24europeans #cromelges24
Hats off to 12-year-old Bela Jelaca on Blue Label CRO827
Hats off to 75-year-old Srdan Cuco Nincevic on Cezibordo CRO517
Celebration of the 2024 Melges 24 European Champion - Razjaren CRO867 - Lukasz Podniesinski, Ante Cesic, Tonci Knezovic, Ljubo Jercic and Andela De Micheli Vitturi
Celebration of the 2024 Melges 24 European Champion - Razjaren CRO867 - Lukasz Podniesinski, Ante Cesic, Tonci Knezovic, Ljubo Jercic and Andela De Micheli Vitturi
Celebration of the 2024 Melges 24 European Champion - Razjaren CRO867
Celebration of the 2024 Melges 24 European Champion - Razjaren CRO867
PRO and Croatian Melges 24 Class Manager Marko Misura
Hats off to 12-year-old Bela Jelaca on Blue Label CRO827
