Biograd CRO Melges 24 Cup at Sailing Club Briva
by CRO Melges Press 13 Mar 2023 10:46 PDT
11-12 March 2023
Racing area in Biograd archipelago © Hrvoje Duvancic / regate.com.hr
Biograd once again raised the bar for the CRO Melges 24 Cup regattas. After 10 boats at the premiere two years ago and 14 boats last year, 18 crews from Croatia and Ukraine and more than 70 sailors participated in the 3rd edition of the Biograd CRO Melges 24 Cup organized by JK Briva this weekend.
'The first historic regatta in this class was held in Biograd in 2021. Now, in the third season, we had reached an impressive figure of 18 crews at the start. That's more than 80 percent of the Croatian fleet and an indication that Melges 24 on the Adriatic is a project that brings together the best of sailing,' proud is Luka Šangulin, a member of the regatta's organizing committee.
After Panjic, Iggy, Tutta Forza, Universitas Nova and Mataran 24, Razjaren is the sixth crew to win the CRO Melges 24 Cup regattas, the strongest sailing series that in Croatia.
The Razjaren (Ante Cesic, Lukasz Podniesinski, Žarko Rogošic and Tonci Knezovic won the Biograd CRO Melges 24 Cup, in front of local crew Panjic in second and third Fjonda crew from Opatija. In the Corinthian division, the Tutta Forza crew won the second regatta in a row ahead of Zen and Iggy.
The racing area in front of Biograd provided excellent sailing conditions for the best Croatian crews, and during the weekend the organizers completed a complete program of six races. On Saturday, the competitors were tested by light southerly winds, and the regatta was best opened by PointOne with helmsman Karlo Kuret.
'I am happy for the team because we trained a lot during the winter. That effort is coming back to us, and in the future it will come back to us even more', commented one of the best Croatian sailors and a former participant in the America's Cup.
Razjaren and Panjic were the best in the remaining two races and started the battle for overall victory that lasted until the last race.
On Sunday, Ante Cesic's Melges 24 won in the fourth race, the home team Panjic returned the blow with first place in the fifth race, and then in a tense finish, Razjaren won second place, and Luka Šangulin's crew took tenth position. With a loud celebration, Ante Cesic broke the two-year dominance of Panjic on the home field and made his first win in the CRO Melges 24 Cup.
'Our first victory in the CRO Melges 24 Cup. The competition is getting stronger, which is also shown by the fact that here in Biograd four different crews (Panjic, Razjaren, Mataran 24 and PointOne) won in six races,' said the former junior world champion in the 470 class.
Among the many Croatian Olympians who entered the Melges 24 class is Enia Nincevic, winner of European silver in the 49er FX class. She returned to the cockpit of Melges exactly one year later.
'Has it been that long since the last regatta in Biograd? To us, Cezibordo is a family project where we combine socializing and good racing. Noa and Ivan are a well-coordinated crew, but without dad there is nothing,' explains Enia.
And dad is Srdan Nincevic who, even in his retirement years, regularly sails in Melges regattas.
'It's a good sailing story. The concentration of quality in one place is huge. Because of the top sailing names, every Melges regatta in Croatia is like a mini World Championship,' says Srdan.
CRO Melges 24 Cup is held with the partnership of Angelina Yacht Charter, Sailing Point, North Sails, One Sails, digital studio Akvarij, digital agency Raiser and regate.com.hr.
Biograd CRO Melges 24 Cup results (6 races):
1. Razjaren
2. Panjic
3. Fjonda
4. PointOne
5. Mataran 24
6. Amor Wave
7. Tutta Forza
8. Cezibordo
9. Obi- Wan
10. Zen
11. Barmaley
12. Universitas Nova
13. Yikes
14. Joyrunner
15. Iggy
16. Palmina Nova
17. Orage
18. SHE
Full results here
For further information about the event, notice board, documents, daily reports and photos please visit the event website: cromelges24.hr