On Saturday 3rd October, hundreds of sails will be seen gliding across the sea off Split for one of Croatia’s great sailing traditions – the 95th Mrduja Regatta (Mrdujska regata), one of Croatia’s oldest sailing regattas.

Organised by Split’s Labud Sailing Club (Jedriličarski klub Labud), it may be a challenge for sailing but not for navigation or manoeuvring, with a delightfully straightforward course: from Split to the tiny islet of Mrduja, around it and back again. Mrduja lies in the channel between the islands of Brač and Šolta, around 11 nautical miles from Split, making the complete course approximately 22 nautical miles.

Part of the appeal of the regatta is its scale and the variety of vessels of different sizes and classes that gather off Split before setting out together, creating a spectacular mass of sails. For those on shore, the fleet is visible from the waterfront and from higher viewpoints around Marjan.

First held in October 1927, with a gap for the Second World War, the race has been part of the city’s maritime tradition for almost a century. This is the 95th edition and the Mrduja Regatta is therefore also one of the oldest sailing regattas in Europe.

And, of course, a sailing regatta gives us an excellent opportunity to remind you of a little Croatian sailing vocabulary.

Sailing vocabulary

jedrenje – sailing

jedrilica / jahta– sailing boat / yacht

regata – regatta

jedro – sail

posada – crew

vjetar – wind

sidrište – anchorage

vez – berth / mooring

bura – bora, a strong north-easterly wind

jugo – a southerly wind

maestral – the north-westerly sea breeze typically associated with summer afternoons on the Adriatic

So, if you happen to be in Split on Saturday, look out to sea. You should have no difficulty spotting the sails.