Croatia celebrates New Melges 24 European Champions: Razjaren and Mataran 24
Split, Croatia - Ante Cesic’s Razjaren has taken the overall title, while Ante Botica’s Mataran 24 claimed the Corinthian crown at the 2024 Melges 24 European Championship. This event, organised by the Sailing Club Split in partnership with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), featured over 40 boats racing in eight varied-weather races.
Razjaren’s victory at the European Championship also secured the overall win in the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2024. Reflecting on the triumph and winning the perpetual Giorgio Zuccoli's European Championship Trophy, Cesic said, “The feelings are great; we had a plan and implemented it within a year of competing. It’s even more rewarding that our team, composed of sailors from JK Split, secured this victory in our home waters. This is an exceptional result for us and the Croatian Melges 24 Class Association, but we don’t plan to stop here. Next year’s World Championship in Trieste is our next objective,” he states, firmly celebrating his victory with his friends at their home club - Sailing Club Split. Razjaren by Lukasz Podniesinski was sailing onboard with Ante Cesic, Tonci Knezovic, Ljubo Jercic, and Andela De Micheli Vitturi.
View the interview with Ante Botica
Razjaren took control of the standings on Day Three. Meanwhile, Mataran 24, a double Corinthian world champion, led the non-pro ranking from Day One. Despite hopes for a final-day comeback from other teams, the wind never exceeded 5 knots, preventing PRO Marko Misura and IM24CA Championship Coordinator Europe David Bartol from completing the series’ planned ten races. As a result, the final standings were based on Day Four results. Mataran 24 by Ivo Matic was sailing onboard with Ante Ante Botica, Mario Skrlj, Damir Civadelic and Max Carija, defending their title from 2022 and winning the Menno Meyer Corinthian European Trophy.
Altea (ITA), helmed by Andrea Racchelli, completed the overall podium, followed by Mataran, 24, in third. In the Corinthian rankings, second and third places went to Ákos Csolto’s Chinook (HUN), the 2023 European Sailing Series overall winner, and Miles Quinton's Zhik Race Team (GBR), respectively. Rounding out the top five in the overall standings were Cuyler Morris' Dark Horse (USA) and Ivan Kljaković Gašpić’s Universitas Nova (CRO).
The event concluded with a festive and emotional prizegiving ceremony at JK Split, marking the successful end of the first major Melges 24 event held in Croatia.
IM24CA Class Administrator Piret Salmistu and Member Europe in IM24CA Executive Committee Michael Tarabochia, expressed their gratitude to the Sailing Club Split by presenting a large print of the Melges 24 family group photo made by Mauro Melandri / Zerogradinord on the dock a few days ago. This photo will be a kind memory for the club to remember the fantastic 2024 European Championship and the club's and sponsors’ exceptional hospitality.
The next opportunity to battle at the Melges 24 main event in Europe will be the 2025 World Championship Trieste, Italy, from 20 to 27 September.
