Two-time Corinthian World Champions on Mataran 24 Win Luki Baustoffe CRO Melges 24 Cup in Zadar
18 March 2025 - Zadar, Croatia - The Trogir crew of Mataran 24 has emerged victorious at the Luki Baustoffe CRO Melges 24 Cup regatta in Zadar. Organized by the Uskok Sailing Club, the event featured 16 crews from Croatia, Italy, and Poland.
While the first day saw sailors battling variable winds, allowing for only one race, the "Super Sunday" in Zadar brought stable conditions, enabling the race committee to complete four races. The Trogir team excelled in these conditions, securing their victory in Zadar with three wins and one second-place finish.
The two-time Corinthian world champions led by Ante Botica, thus ended the dominance of the Ante Cesic's Razjaren crew, which had been undefeated in the Luki Baustoffe CRO Melges 24 Cup regattas for nearly a year. Second place overall went to the Luka Sangulin's Panjić crew, while the Razjaren crew took the final spot on the podium.
"This regatta brought back memories of the state championship held in Zadar a few years ago, which we won in similar weather conditions. The first day, due to unstable conditions, we finished in ninth place, but on the second day, we sailed with ease. Ante Ćesić and his team have been on a roll lately; someone had to stop them finally," said Mario Škrlj, a member of Mataran 24.
While Ante Ćesić's winning streak with the Razjaren crew has come to an end, his brother Stjepan continues to enjoy success in the Corinthian division. Following victories in Hvar and Biograd, the Little A crew has achieved their third consecutive win in the Luki Baustoffe CRO Melges 24 Cup regattas in Zadar, finishing ahead of the Kolja Dumanovic' Zen and Lucijan Jakovlev's Panjić junior crews.
"After each regatta, we review camera footage from our boat to further improve as a crew and minimize mistakes. The results are evident; we are currently the best crew in the Corinthian division," said Stjepan Ćesić, the helmsman of Melges 24 Little A.
The third of six Luki Baustoffe CRO Melges 24 Cup regattas, held in partnership with Angelina Yacht Charter, Sailing Point Hrvatska, North Sails, One Sails, digital studio Akvarij, regate.com.hr, Raiser digital agency, ProMarine, EmergenSea, and Dustom Sails, is scheduled from April 3rd to 6th in Kvarner.
Yacht Club Croatia will host the regatta in Opatija on April 4-6, which counts towards the Melges 24 European Sailing Series.
