25th Kornati Cup: The Anniversary Edition

From 25/04/2026 to 30/04/2026, the 25th Pitter Kornati Cup took place. With 90 yachts, around 600 participants and crews from 22 nations, this anniversary edition once again became a special meeting point for ambitious sailors and leisure crews from across the globe. At the heart of the event were not only sporting competition, but also shared sailing experiences, team spirit and enjoyable evenings together.

Experience the regatta spirit of the Kornati Cup up close

The official aftermovie of this anniversary edition brings you right into the heart of spectacular starts, thrilling races, stunning island scenery and unforgettable evenings among sailing friends.

If this has inspired you to discover the excitement of regatta sailing for yourself, the next opportunity awaits this autumn. At the Croatia Coast Cup from 10/10/2026 to 16/10/2026, the course runs nonstop from Biograd to Rab along Croatia’s breathtaking coastline, offering a sporting challenge with genuine regatta atmosphere.

Ideal for ambitious crews eager to enjoy camaraderie, tactics and unforgettable days under sail.

The Kornati Cup 2026, a look back

The route led from Biograd na Moru via Sali and Piškera to Murter and back to Biograd, right through the spectacular Kornati archipelago with its demanding navigational conditions and exceptional natural scenery.

The event began on Saturday with the arrival of the crews, registration, yacht handovers, allocation of starting numbers and the ever popular crew photos. Many teams used the weekend for initial training manoeuvres on the water and to reunite with long standing sailing friends.

On Sunday, the ceremonial opening of the 25th Kornati Cup took place in Biograd. Accompanied by lively live rock music, a wonderful atmosphere and a Mediterranean buffet, the anniversary edition was officially launched and the start of a varied sailing week was celebrated in style.

Monday, 27 April 2026: A light wind opener demands patience and finesse

The regatta began on Monday, 27 April 2026, in prolonged light wind conditions. The yachts left harbour as early as 10:45 am and, following an initial postponement, the individual classes were sent onto the course from 12:00 pm at ten minute intervals.

The Pitter charter class without spinnaker opened the day, followed by the classes with spinnaker, EHK BAVARIA Cruiser 46, EHK Dufour 41 Performance and finally the ORC mixed classification. Due to the light to moderate wind conditions, the classes without additional sails were deliberately given more time on the course. All starts were clean, with only one yacht recalled after an early start and required to begin again. It quickly became clear that this was a day for patience, precise sail trim and tactical instinct. While some crews found themselves trapped in complete wind holes, others succeeded in picking up the decisive wind patches coming in from the west.

At 2:49 pm, “Trinity 3” from the ORC mixed classification became the first yacht to cross the finish line off Sali. In the Pitter charter class, Klaus Pitter followed at 3:11 pm in fifth place aboard the new BAVARIA Voyager 45, which was making its regatta debut and delivered an outstanding sailing performance.

The wind did not develop into a pronounced maestral, nor did it follow the typical daily pattern driven by the sun. Instead, it remained largely stationary and weakened noticeably in places. While the leading yachts were still able to sail to the finish under gennaker in relatively stable conditions, the breeze faded increasingly for the yachts further back in the fleet, and only towards the end of the race did isolated gusts and wind patches arrive again from the west. Under these demanding light wind conditions, many yachts ultimately crossed the finish line off Sali almost at the same time.

Only around 6:00 pm did the final crews manage to cross the line as a gentle westerly gradually filled in.

After arrival, all crews were served risotto on the pier. In the evening, the Pitter Racing Crew hosted its traditional gin and tonic party, an event no one wanted to miss. The evening brought celebration, dancing and lively conversations about the day’s experiences.

Tuesday, 28 April 2026: From Sali to Piškera

Under bright blue skies, the yachts left Sali as early as 10:15 am and set course for Piškera. Two races had been planned, with the decision on the second race to be made at short notice depending on how the wind developed.

By around 10:55 am, however, the wind had already become unstable. The start was eventually scheduled for 12:05 pm, but quickly turned chaotic due to numerous early starts, forcing the procedure to be abandoned. For the restart, the starting line was adjusted and an up and down course was laid.

A rather light south westerly breeze then established itself, making for a tactically demanding race. The yachts with additional sails completed two laps, while the yachts without them sailed one lap only.

The up and down course proved especially challenging at the windward mark, where a strong current was running. Many yachts misjudged their approach and were unable to round the mark. They had to tack, which gave priority to the boats sailing a direct layline to the windward mark.

After the race, it was decided to motor through the Kornati islands first and wait before attempting the second planned race. As the wind failed to return, the second race was eventually cancelled and the fleet then set course for Piškera.

As there is currently no restaurant at Marina Piškera, the crews had to cater for themselves on board with goulash. As a reward, sponsor Dufour Yachts invited everyone to an evening Pelinkovac party. The evening also brought plenty of expert discussion. The Dufour Yachts crew was on hand to answer questions on trim, tactics and boat setup, offering valuable advice and sharing more than a few useful tips.

Throughout the regatta, the shipyard also supported the Dufour crews on site with a complimentary Tec Race service: experts came aboard, checked trim and setup, and provided practical tuning and tactical recommendations for optimum performance on the racecourse.

Wednesday, 29 April 2026: Piškera to Murter

On Wednesday, the yachts left Piškera as early as 9:30 am. Because strong winds of up to 32 knots had been forecast for the following day, two races were originally planned. The starting line was laid off Veseljuh. After early starts and general recalls in several groups, the fleet started under black flag, meaning any yacht starting early was immediately disqualified. The course led upwind towards the island of Ravna Sika, which had to be rounded before the yachts beat to the finish under headsail.

The key was to reach the right hand side of the Kornati channel as early as possible, as this was where the more favourable wind shift developed for the layline to the island. As no stable wind conditions could be found for a second race in the Kornati area and the Murter Sea, the regatta fleet followed the committee boat towards the next possible starting area. However, the attempt to start another race near the island of Vrgada was abandoned, and the fleet instead headed for the day’s destination, Marina Hramina on Murter.

After arriving in Murter, the crews were first served a selection of pasta dishes on the pier before the Nautic Alliance pier party created an excellent atmosphere in the evening. Accompanied by a DJ and a saxophone player, participants enjoyed lively conversation to the sound of summery rhythms.

Nautic Alliance, an association of partner companies in Pitter Yachtcharter’s international charter programme, hosted one of the most atmospheric evenings of the regatta week.

The relaxed mood made the evening all the more special because it was already clear that, due to the forecast strong bora, the skipper briefing and start on the following day would not take place until around midday.

Thursday, 30 April 2026: Bora brings the regatta week to a close

The weather forecast proved accurate, so the teams initially had to wait and see whether the bora would ease during the day. It was not until 12:30 pm that the yachts left harbour for the assembly point. There, however, race management announced that, for safety reasons, no further race would be started due to the continuing strong bora with winds exceeding 30 knots.

For many crews, this meant a relaxed end to the regatta week, and the decision was expressly welcomed by numerous participants. Others, by contrast, would have needed a fourth race in order to count a discard in the overall standings. In the end, however, the safety of all participants remained the clear priority, with the aim of bringing crews and yachts through the regatta week unharmed and avoiding possible collisions on the final day of competition.

A shared passion for sailing brings people together

Once again, the Kornati Cup proved to be a thoroughly successful event that left nothing to be desired, both in sporting terms and in its organisation. Our sincere thanks therefore go to the race committee and the entire team on site, as well as to the sponsors Yachten Meltl, BAVARIA Yachts and Dufour Yachts, whose team led by skipper Mathieu Fountain secured first place in the EHK Dufour 41 Performance class. As Deputy Managing Director of Dufour and the Fountaine Pajot Group, as well as a member of the founding family, he brought not only sailing expertise but also a deep rooted passion for the sport.

It was an honour to welcome him and his team to the Kornati Cup, just as it was a pleasure to welcome all participants who, over the years, have made the event what it is today.

Even without your own regatta crew, you can experience the thrill of regatta sailing and become part of the Kornati Cup or our autumn regattas. As part of skipper training with regatta participation, you have the opportunity to join experienced sailors directly on the racecourse, gain valuable practical experience and enjoy the unique atmosphere of an international sailing event at first hand.

From regatta excitement to a relaxing sailing holiday 

We look forward to the next sailing adventure together, whether competing on the racecourse or enjoying a relaxed holiday cruise with family and friends along the most beautiful coasts of the Mediterranean. You will find the perfect yacht for it at Pitter Yachtcharter.