Sailing connects – The Kornati Cup 2025 in all its magic

The Kornati Cup once again showed how strongly sailing connects

Sailing is not just a sport. Sailing is team spirit, trust, shared moments, and lived passion – whether on a relaxed summer cruise or on the regatta course. On the water, the crew becomes a unit. Every move counts, everyone relies on each other.

It's the crew moments that remain. All moments and the review of the Kornati Cup 2025 summarized: demanding races during the day, relaxed socializing in the evening, good food, dock parties, sailor talks, and open-air parties. Sailing with soul, year after year.

That was the Kornati Cup 2025

From April 26 to May 1, 2025, Biograd was all about the Kornati Cup – the highlight among the Adriatic regattas. With the best weather forecasts, challenging races, and a perfectly organized program of dock parties, live bands, DJ parties, and culinary highlights, the regatta week offered everything a sailor's heart desires. Sailing took place in several classes: from the Pitter Charter Class with and without spinnaker to the one-design class Bavaria Cruiser 46 and Dufour 41 Performance to the ORC Mixed Class, which formed the largest starting field with around 37 boats.

Regatta Training and Opening Evening

In high spirits and with early summer temperatures, the first training sessions were sailed on Saturday in the Biograd channel and in the sheltered cover of the island of Pašman, practicing spinnaker and gennaker maneuvers with sporting ambition, before the official start of the Kornati Cup 2025 was marked with a lively opening evening at the Marina Biograd on Sunday.

From 6:30 PM, participants were welcomed with a generous opening buffet in the indoor and outdoor areas of the marina restaurant – a relaxed atmosphere and lively conversations provided the perfect start. Around 8:00 PM, the regatta week was officially opened by Klaus Pitter and Marin Katičin, and a live band created a lively atmosphere with rocking rhythms.

1st Regatta Day: Kick-off under Ideal Conditions

On Monday, the first race day, the journey began under bright sunshine, initially under engine from Biograd towards Sali, waiting for the best wind for the start. Around 12:00 PM, after the initial Bora had completely died down, a strong Mistral set in, providing ideal sailing conditions. The first race was finally started from Otočić Gnalic.

At the height of the island of Žut, the wind significantly decreased and began to shift – conditions that demanded everything from the crews: tactically challenging sailing was now required. But with the freshening wind from the north-northwest, the fleet quickly picked up speed again. Around 3:30 PM, the first yacht crossed the finish line in front of Sali, where all crews were welcomed with hearty Croatian goulash and pasta before the evening ended atmospherically with the legendary Gin Tonic Party at the Pitter Racing Team's yacht in front of Café Maritimo.

2nd Regatta Day: Sali – Piskera, Two Races through the Kornati

On Tuesday, two extraordinary races were on the program – with the spectacular island world of the Kornati as an impressive backdrop. Initially, the journey went under engine through the narrow passage of Mala Proversa to the starting area. The first race was started at the height of the island of Levrnaka and led to the first mark, the lighthouse Sestrice. With increasing westerly winds of 15 to 18 knots, a dream race developed, carrying the crews with set spinnakers and gennakers through the heart of the Kornati, with the finish in front of the island of Lavsa. This race offered the crews plenty of opportunity to demonstrate their sailing skills – on the broad reach course, numerous gybes with demanding shift maneuvers were required, demanding full concentration and tactical skill.

In front of Lavsa, the second race started immediately after the last one crossed the finish line. An up and down course to the island of Gustac, around the buoy back towards Piskera, where the finish was, before all boats found their place in the marina according to their draft. But not only on the water was it hot, in the evening the floating dock finally turned into a vibrant dance floor: At the atmospheric Cuba-Libre Party of the Yachts Meltl & Segelmanufactur/Elvstrøm team, there was laughter, dancing, and celebrating until the dock shook. 

3rd Regatta Day: Dream Sailing Conditions, Lavsa – Murter 

Ideal sailing conditions and a dream route made the way to Murter on Wednesday a delight for every sailor's heart. The start was again at the island of Lavsa, then the course went north around a buoy, then along the Kornati Channel to the Opat passage, further to slightly south of Vrgada, around the island of Visovac, with subsequent upwind course to Vela Artica and Mala – where the colorful spinnakers and gennakers could be set again – past the south quadrant, around the island of Sustipanak and from there to the finish – which was located directly in front of the Marina Hramina. 

Conclusion of an unforgettable sailing day: Even though there were some collisions and torn spinnakers along the way – the freshening wind with gusts over 20 knots and the sporting ambition of all crews took their toll – at the end of the day, the smiling faces prevailed. The sailors were warmly welcomed at the new Pitter base in Marina Hramina. A big dock party with delicious pasta variations as a welcome meal provided new energy after the long race. The good mood carried on well beyond dinner: Around the dock, the crews gathered, and at the Pelinkovac Party sponsored by Dufour Yachts with its own DJ, there was lively celebration until late into the night – an after-show party that had already become a cherished routine during this regatta week.

The venue was the new Dufour 41 Performance, where the Dufour team not only ensured the best party atmosphere but also presented the yacht's features. The Dufour 41 Performance yachts impressed in the regatta deployment across the board and exceeded expectations for the new one-design class. The Dufour crew was happy to answer any questions about the new model – a successful combination of sailing fun, information, and lived community.

4th Regatta Day: Final Day with Perfect Sailing Wind

Thursday and thus unfortunately already the last regatta day: Race director Alen Kustić once again demonstrated tactical flair and patience: The starting position had to be relocated twice before the wind stabilized – but the wait paid off. From 1:00 PM, perfect sailing wind with 18 knots set in, and the starting signal for the last race towards Biograd was given. A worthy conclusion to a great regatta week: In bright sunshine and perfect wind conditions, everything was given once again. The dreamlike last stage once again underscores why the Kornati Cup is considered the cult regatta in the sailing scene and attracts more and more international participants to Croatia. 

Crowning Conclusion: Award Ceremony and Party

Happy participants with beaming faces were celebrated in the evening at the award ceremony for their great achievements. And to crown the week, the big closing party with DJ Gee once again brought all emotions to life: joy, pride, and pure enthusiasm. A finale of a regatta week that will be remembered for a long time. 

Do you want to feel the regatta spirit?

In October, the Offshore Challenge continues – our sporty autumn regatta with real team spirit, long-distance feeling, and a varied program in Dubrovnik!