CRO M24 Cup: The first regatta of the European Sailing Series set for Opatija this weekend
by Press Cro Melges 9 Apr 08:40 BST
10-12 April 2026
This weekend, Opatija will host the penultimate regatta of this season's CRO M24 Cup, organized by Yacht Club Croatia. The event also marks the opening regatta of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026.
As part of the European Sailing Series 2026, a total of 10 regattas will take place from April to September across five countries—Croatia, Italy, Austria, Norway, and Denmark. The final regatta will also be held in Croatia, in Pula, from September 25 to 27. Pula has been selected as the host of the ESS finale for a reason, as the city will also host the Melges 24 World Championship next year.
The level of competition at the opening ESS regatta in Opatija is exceptionally high. A total of 18 crews from five countries are entered, including all top Croatian teams and several of the best European crews.
Among those competing off Opatija will be the reigning European champions and two-time ESS winners, Razjaran, owned by Lukasz Podniesinski and helmed by Ante Cesic. Also competing are Panjic (Luka Šangulin) and Mataran (Ivo Matic).
From the international fleet, notable entries include Melgina (ITA, Paolo Brescia), Zhik Race Team (GBR, Miles Quinton), Chinook (HUN, Akos Csolto), Daito Nano (ITA, Dino Orioli), and White Room (GER, Michael Tarabochia).
Two U25 crews—Cro-a-sail and Otavic—will also compete in Opatija, continuing the Croatian Melges class's efforts to encourage youth participation.
Marko Mišura, Race Officer and Manager of the Croatian Melges 24 Class, commented on what to expect this weekend in Opatija:
"It is great to see crews from five European countries and a total of 18 teams on the starting list. Racing in Opatija is always demanding due to unpredictable wind conditions. Typically, we head out early in the morning to catch the well-known morning tramuntana. If we complete the planned three races in the morning, we usually continue in the afternoon with the expected maestral off Mošcenicka Draga. The first start on Friday is scheduled for 8 a.m., and the rest will depend on the weather forecast. Light bora winds are expected, and we hope to complete the full schedule of nine races this year."
The Opatija regatta is well known for its great atmosphere and rich social program. The event enjoys strong support from the local community, while the organizers from YC Croatia ensure seamless operations both onshore and offshore.
Unlike CRO M24 Cup events, which last two days, all European Sailing Series regattas are held over three days, with a total of nine races scheduled. All boats competing in Opatija are required to be equipped with Vakaros RaceSense instruments. The CRO M24 Cup partner, Sailing Point, provides rental options for crews without the system. The use of RaceSense is mandatory at all CRO M24 Cup events.
Following the Opatija regatta, the season will conclude with the final CRO M24 Cup event in Biograd, which will also serve as the Croatian Open Championship.