Young people in traditional boats were a special feature of the recently finished 13th Rovinj traditional lug and latin-rig sail regatta. This year the regatta was held on June 10th as part of the Mala barka 2 — INTERREG SI-HR project aimed at preserving the maritime heritage of the Northern Adriatic.
The regatta is traditionally organized by the Eco Museum and the Association Batana House (Kuća o batani — Casa della batana) in cooperation with the „Maestral“ Yachting Club from Rovinj, the Town of Rovinj-Rovigno Tourist Board, the Town of Rovinj-Rovigno, the hospitality company Maistra and the Rovinj Port Authority.
Experienced yachtsmen once again adorned the Rovinj waters with their boats, but this year numerous young yachtsmen and yachtswomen also took part: at these events they gain the experience of sailing on traditional boats and take on the preservation of the rich maritime heritage of the Northern Adriatic. Twenty-eight crews from Croatia, Slovenia and Italy competed in 8 categories (cutter, topi, catboat, leut, dinghy, gajeta, kvarner guc and pasara and the batana). Each category had its winner, but in the category most important to us, that of the batana, the Rovinj crew Ennio Cherin and Ermanno Turcinovich shone by winning the first place with the batana Regina.
Before the regatta the Eco Museum held its program at the Great pier, bringing together many Rovinj residents as well as visitors to the town. To awaken love for the batana, awareness about its value and the importance of the conservation of Rovinj’s intangible cultural heritage at the earliest age, the Eco Museum organized a children's workshop where small hands made batana models by painting their sails. Another skill children and parents could learn was the wrapping of carboys with cord. With Mediterranean snacks and a glass of wine a new activity of the Eco Museum was presented — a course in Mediterranean cuisine, held in April as part of the Academy of Old Naval Crafts within the Mala barka 2 project that will continue to take place as a special cultural and tourist program in the tavern Spacio Matika. The most eagerly anticipated moment happened at 11:00 am when traditional wooden sailboats spread their colorful lug and latin-rig sails and, pushed by favorable winds, set off to conquer the Rovinj waters.
After passing the finish line, all the crews carefully anchored their boats and went to the Great pier for a well-deserved lunch and socializing, followed by an address from the host to all regatta participants. The deputy mayor of Rovinj and one of the founders of the Eco Museum, Mr. Marino Budicin, the president of the Association and expert program director of the Eco Museum Batana, Tamara Nikolić Đerić, and the regatta director Mr. Alvise Benussi all emphasized that the Rovinj regatta is the culmination of the efforts of the Association and the Town of Rovinj-Rovigno, who from year to year systematically work on the preservation, fostering and promotion of maritime heritage. Everyone in attendance was also addressed by the deputy Minister of Culture Davor Trupković and Robert Mohović, President of the Coordination of Associations for the Conservation and Revitalization of Croatian Maritime Heritage, both of whom commended the organizers and pointed out the value of events such as these. On the occasion of the regatta, Rovinj was visited by partners of the Mala barka 2 project, with Rovinj mayor Marko Paliaga also attending the prize-awarding ceremony.