The CRO M24 Cup season finale took place off Trogir, Croatia, on November 7-8, with Razjaren claiming overall victory in a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 campaign. Despite far from ideal sailing conditions, all six scheduled races were completed across the two-day regatta.
The competition proved tighter than usual. Lukasz Podniesinski’s Razjaren, helmed by Ante Cesic — the current European champion and winner of last season’s CRO M24 Cup — only sealed the win in the final race.
On Saturday, the fleet raced in a light easterly breeze of 5 to 6 knots. Conditions were marginal but two races were successfully completed before the wind dropped and rain moved in, preventing the scheduled third race. At the close of the first day, the Panjić crew led by Luka Šangulin sat atop the leaderboard.
Sunday saw the Race Committee send the fleet out early at 9:30 a.m., anticipating that a forecast of southerly wind and rain in the afternoon could disrupt proceedings. Four races were sailed, making up for the previous day’s shortfall. The first two took place in a light easterly breeze before the wind shifted south around 11 a.m., building to 15 knots. The course was adjusted accordingly and two more races followed.
At the finish, just two points separated the top three crews. Razjaren from JK Split took overall victory with 11 points. Panjić from JK Briva finished second on 12 points, while the home team from JK Trogir, led by Ante Botica sailing Mataran 24, claimed third with 13 points.
In the Corinthian division, the standout crew was Blue Label from YC Croatia, helmed by Hrvoje Petrović. Blue Label also placed fifth overall. Another impressive result came from the young Joyrunner crew of JK Uljanik, which finished eighth overall and won the U25 category. The team blended the experience of Boris Tomić with a talented group of young sailors: Ema Samaržija, Mara Samaržija, Hrvoje Mrsić, Leon Scheidl and Maro Bratonja.
This regatta marked the conclusion of the 2026 CRO M24 Cup season. A longer winter break now awaits, with the next event scheduled in Biograd from 12 to 14 March 2027. The fleet will then travel to Opatija in early April for a regatta that will also serve as the opening event of the new European Sailing Series season.
From 13 to 16 May, Pula will host the Croatian National Championship, which will double as the Pre-Worlds regatta and a European Sailing Series event. The highlight of the upcoming season, and the most significant event in the history of organised Melges 24 sailing in Croatia, will be the Melges 24 World Championship, scheduled to take place in Pula from 29 May to 6 June.
The CRO Melges 24 Cup is held in partnership with Luki Baustoffe, Angelina Yacht Charter, Sailing Point Croatia, North Sails, One Sails, digital studio Akvarij, Raiser digital agency, ProMarine, Dustom Sails and Smartmotion.
