Croatian Navy cutter sails at the “Rota Palagruzona”

The regatta was opened officially by the Croatian Navy Commander, CDRE Robert Hranj, also in the quality of the Envoy of the President of the Republic Ivo Josipović, under whose auspices the regatta was held.

Traditionally supporting this Festival of the Sea, the Croatian Navy this year participated too with a cutter, while the Navy training vessel “Andrija Mohorovičić and a Navy barge- 51 escorted the participating vessels. The Croatian Navy cutter, commanded by CDR Neven Katić, was a sensation of the Regatta and was awarded a “Charter of Honour for Rowing Success at the Palagruzona Regatta 2013”.

The regatta gathered 11 vessels – three small ones participated in the Small regatta (from Komiža to the island of Biševo), whereas the gajeta falkuša (a historic wooden sailing boat used by the Komiža fishermen) and other eight bigger vessels were racing from the breakwater in Komiža to a shore in the island of Palagruža. The “Kulaf” vessel from Hvar was the winner of the small regatta, and the falkuša “Mikula” from Komiža won the Rota for the second consecutive time.

The “Rota Palagruzona” is the oldest and in many ways a unique regatta in both the Mediterranean area and in Europe. It dates from the year 1593, although a written record was found on Komiža fishermen welcoming the Pope Alexander III in the island of Palagruža in the 12th century (the year 1177), and used to take place held from May to late September, in the oily fish season at sunset. It has seen its revival thanks to the efforts by a group of enthusiasts led by Professor Joško Božanić, the ideator of the Rota and the person who saved the falkuša from oblivion – both endeavours contributing significantly to the Croatian’s maritime culture. “Rota Palagruzona is a great cultural event, which at once evokes the famous story of fishermen of Komiža and the historic vessels as Croatia’s major cultural asset, promoting its maritime culture and a Mediterranean identity”, said Professor Božanić.