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Sailing

Illyrians have sailed the Adriatic from as early as the 11th century in order to defend it from the invaders. Even the adventurous Greeks came near to one of the most beautiful coasts of the world in making their colonies. After the old Romans had pervaded, they sailed with their battle and merchant vessels across the Mediterranean and they left a particular mark on the Adriatic. Later, through centuries, Croats sailed these waters starting with the reign of the duke Domagoj, across the first Croatian king Tomislav till the end of Petar Krešimir’s kingdom. Maritime forces Byzantium and the Venetian Republic also tried to dominate this sea area, and they all followed the Latin saying terra marique what means to be strong on land and on sea.

Today, instead of the battle and merchant galleys in Split and its surroundings people mostly sail for sports. People started to sail for enjoyment long time ago, and they founded clubs, like “Labud” for fun. Representatives of Split sailing clubs participate with success different present national and international regattas, but there are a lot of those who would say that the only real regatta is the one of Mrduja.

The regatta of Mrduja is a unique experience which was once enjoyed only by wealthier citizens of Split, among which regularly appeared even the new generations of old aristocrats from Split. It entered the tradition of town’s sailing and so at the beginning of October, every year, almost the whole Central Europe salutes Split with its skippers and sails.

Besides, citizens of Split, who are in love with their town, who have long time ago praised in song their Marjan (hill over the town), who fanatically and bravely cheer for their football club Hajduk, even when it plays badly, simply adore the mass Mrduja. It is participated more for fun than for victory.

Mrduja is in fact, for those who don’t know a small island only 500 metres from the coast line between Brač and Šolta. It is also the discovery site of the antique sarcophagus of a certain Mrs Julijana whose origins are little known. Not to offend nor Brač nor Šolta Split recreational sails, as a rule, just go round this specific “reef”.

Regatta doesn’t have some high prize fund but every year it attracts more and more competitors and friends of this sport. It is the most famous sailing competition on our Adriatic and it’s a real spectacle. Apart from sailing Mrduja also celebrates the sea and the Mediterranean way of life obtaining the perfect balance of competition and association. Apart from the regatta of Mrduja representatives of Split sailing clubs participate with great success different national and international competitions.