The Second Spring Regatta of the CRO M24 Cup Set to Take Place off Zadar This Weekend
10 Mrch 2026 - Zadar, CRO - The second spring regatta of the CRO M24 Cup will take place this weekend (13–15 March) off Zadar, with between 15 and 20 crews expected on the starting line according to the latest entries. The weather forecast looks favourable, and sufficient wind is expected throughout the weekend to complete the full racing schedule. The regatta, known as Zadar CRO Melges 24 Cup, is traditionally organised by the Sailing Club Uskok.
No racing was held at the opening spring event of the CRO M24 Cup in Biograd two weeks ago due to a complete lack of wind. It was the first time in the six seasons of the CRO M24 Cup that not a single race was completed at an event. As a result, all crews planning to compete in Zadar are particularly eager to finally get racing.
The competition in Zadar will be strong, with all leading Croatian crews expected to compete, alongside several strong international teams. Among them is the Norwegian crew sailing Party Girl, helmed by Jens Wathne, a former president of the International Melges 24 Class Association. The Italian team Strambapapa, helmed by Michele Paoletti, is already in Zadar, while Paolo Brescia and the crew of Melgina have also confirmed their participation.
Two crews from Šibenik that occasionally compete in the CRO M24 Cup have also announced their participation: She, helmed by Ana Gojčeta, and Amor Wave, helmed by Teo Piasevoli.
It is particularly encouraging that three U25 teams will also compete in the regatta in Zadar: Panjić Jr., helmed by Lucijan Jakovljev; Otavić, helmed by Edo Fike; and Cro-a-sail, helmed by Matija Reljanović and Roko Stipanović.
A total of 19 crews had entered the regatta in Biograd, and the organisers of the CRO M24 Cup expect a similar number of teams to compete in Zadar.
“We are expecting a nice southerly breeze this weekend and hope for much better sailing conditions than we had two weeks ago in Biograd. Uskok is a very well-organised club, and the local coordinator is Tomislav Bašić, a crew member of Panjić, so we know that everything—both onshore and on the water—will be organised to a high standard. Everyone is eagerly looking forward to the weekend so we can finally get racing in the Melges 24s this season,” said the Chairman of the Race Committee, Marko Mišura.
Following the regatta in Zadar, the next event on the schedule will be the CRO M24 Cup regatta in Opatija from 9 to 12 April, which will also serve as the first regatta of this year’s Melges 24 European Sailing Series. A large number of international crews are therefore expected to attend as they begin their campaigns for the European Series title.
The CRO Melges 24 Cup is organised with the support of its partners: Luki Baustoffe, Angelina Yacht Charter, Sailing Point Hrvatska, North Sails, One Sails, Akvarij digital studio, Raiser digital agency, ProMarine, Dustom Sails and Smartmotion.
