Batanas sailed the port of Rovinj once again, rowed by Rovinj residents of all generations. The revived traditional tournaments gathered the largest number of participants and spectators to date, bringing the joy of competition, socializing, and the preservation of Rovinj’s maritime and cultural heritage. Accompanied by the indispensable additions of traditional dishes, music, and children's workshops, the "Batana" Eco-Museum (Ekomuzej-Ecomuseo "Batana") marked the celebration of the Day of the City of Rovinj-Rovigno and the Feast of St. Euphemia, giving it an authentic touch.

Special interest was drawn to the fish-crate carrying tournament, which this year was held in two categories – senior and junior. In both categories, participants demonstrated dexterity, strength, and competitive spirit, with the winners being Igor Tomišić and Nicole Maria Kučinić.

In the tug-of-war competition, two teams of seven members each tested their strength. Although the competition was fierce, the evening ended in the spirit of friendship and togetherness. First prize – prosciutto – and second prize – cheese – were presented on the Big Pier (Veliki mol), where team members shared them with all present that very evening, turning the competition into another fine example of Rovinj camaraderie.

There was no shortage of excitement in the traditional card games either. As many as 28 pairs participated in the briškula tournament. In mora, eight pairs tested their strength and skill, with Sandro Veggian and Norbert Bilić emerging as the winners.

A special place was reserved for mora cantada, a tradition that, thanks to gatherings like this, is once again being passed down to coming generations. Eight competitors participated in the contest, with Bruno Červar taking first place. Special recognition for their performance went to Vladimir Lazarić and Gianfranco Veggian, who executed the chant-song most accurately and faithfully. Through their participation over all these years, they have remained role models and teachers of this somewhat forgotten game, preserving the knowledge and singing style that represent an important part of Rovinj tradition.

For the fifth time, the program was rounded off by the extremely popular youth event: the greased pole climb over the sea—another attractive discipline that drew eight participants. The winner was Loris Obuljen, who once again showed the public how tradition, play, and good humor can bring different generations together.

What five years of efforts to bring these once-popular and beloved tournaments back into the bloodstream of city life looked like—and how a regatta dedicated solely to the Rovinj batana came to be—was vividly told through a photo exhibition at the gallery of the Eco-Museum "Batana," featuring numerous photographs that awakened memories and emotions.

Speaking about the overall program of the Eco-Museum "Batana," which joined the multi-day celebration of the City Day and the Feast of St. Euphemia, the director of the "House of Batana" Institution (Ustanova-Istituzione "Kuća o batani-Casa della batana"), Nives Giuricin, stated:

"There are traditions that are not merely told—they are lived, passed down from generation to generation; you row for them. Every time our batanas sail out into the sea, it is not just a regatta. It is our community coming together once again, it is the sound of oars on the water, it is the memory of our ancestors coming back to life, it is the sea that belongs to us and to which we belong.

And this year, all of this held even greater significance. We celebrated the fifth anniversary of our tournaments on the Big Pier, hosting dear competitors who came to us from other parts of Istria. We commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Rowing Batana Regatta in memory of Corrado Pellizzer with deep emotion, as well as the fifth anniversary of the greased pole tournament over the sea, right on the day dedicated to our patron saint, Saint Euphemia. Five years is not just an anniversary—it represents five years of people who believed, young people who learned, families who participated, and friends who rowed together. Five years of sea, batanas, and heart.

And this year, the heart of the celebration beat even stronger because, alongside the Senior (first place Mauro Venier), Junior (first place Patrik Pranić), and Lady (first place Eufemia Benussi Krelja) categories, the Mini category was born—divided into age groups from 9 to 11 years (first place Isabel Venier) and from 12 to 17 years (first place Gianluca Krelja).

These are children and young people who stepped up to this challenge alongside their mentor, Eufemia Benussi Krelja, who also mentors some of them as part of the EU project TRANS MARIS Italy - Croatia. With great patience, passion, and dedication, she prepared them for the regatta, instilling in them not only rowing techniques, but above all a love for the batana and Rovinj tradition. Because tradition is truly alive only when it passes from the hands of those who preserve and live it into the hands of those who will carry it into the future," emphasized Nives Giuricin.

The winners were presented with awards by Mayor Emil Nimčević, Mrs. Lidia Pellizzer (wife of Corrado Pellizzer), his granddaughter Pashmina Pellizzer, President of the Association "House of Batana" Ennio Cherin, and the Director of the Institution "House of Batana." It was a powerful moment connecting the past, present, and future.

A special feature of this year's celebration was TUNAFEST, held on Tuesday ahead of the fireworks, which gathered numerous locals and visitors, contributing to the cheerful and communal atmosphere of the celebration accompanied by the tunes of the band Le Cronache.

On September 16, members of the Eco-Museum "Batana" prepared 50 kilograms of sauerkraut with mutton for all visitors and citizens, while the gathering around traditional gastronomy was enriched by grilling fresh sardines. As a warm gesture of hospitality and care, the sardines were gifted to guests by the company Gaia d.o.o., owned by Mauro Venier.

A big thank you goes to the sponsors, the City of Rovinj-Rovigno and the Rovinj Tourist Board, as well as to everyone who rowed, cheered, organized, helped quietly behind the scenes, brought their children, were here yesterday, and are here today.

Because this is not just a regatta – this is Rovinj history continuing to sail.

The Eco-Museum "Batana" thanks everyone who spent their time on the Big and Small Piers, whether as competitors, participants, mentors, or supporters of our efforts. The greatest gratitude, of course, goes to the members of the "House of Batana" Association (Uda-Associazione "Kuća o batani-Casa della batana"), who showed love and respect for their city and its tradition through their hard work.

They are: Alessio Giuricin, Alessio Sponza, Andrea Veggian, Antonio Popović, Dario Poretti, Dražen Čolić, Edi Poropat, Ennio Cherin, Eufemia Benussi Krelja, Fabian Sponza, Giuseppe Bartoli, Jasna Bešker, Katia Dellabernardina Simmelik, Marino Budicin, Matija Medaković, Ornella Godena, Remigio Bogešić, Roberta Silvi Malusà, Roberto Zaharija, Silvija Jacić, and Teodor Tiani. Their effort, time, energy, and love for Rovinj-Rovigno and its batana are woven into every part of this year's celebration. Thanks precisely to the people who selflessly preserve, live, and pass on this heritage, the Big and Small Piers become places of gathering, unity, and living memory once again.