Mataran 24 world champion in the Corinthian division

The new sensational success of Croatian sailing at the World Championship for the Melges 24 class, which took place last week in Middelfart, Denmark. In the competition of 47 crews, Mataran 24 from Trogir (Ante Botica, Ivo Matić, Mario Škrlj, Damir Civadelić, Bruna Princivali) won the title of world champion in the Corinthian division (non-professional crews) and the bronze medal in the overall competition.

In her first appearance at the World Championship for Melges 24, Panjić from Biograd (Luka Šangulin, Tomislav Bašić, Noa Šangulin, Duje Fržop, Helena Purić) won ninth place, while Razjaren from Split (Ante Ćesić, Lukasz Podniesinski, Tonči Knezović, Pepi Jardas) finished in 13th position.

The Mataran 24 crew specializes in the big stuff. At last year's European Championship in Genoa, Trogir became champions in the Corinthian division and silver in the overall competition, and Denmark brought them the world title among Corinthians and bronze in the overall order behind the American crews Pacific Yankee and Raza Mixta.

"It will take some time for impressions to settle. In the last sailing, we were able to defend the gold in the Corinthian division and catch the American crew in the battle for bronze overall. We are overjoyed,' said Mataran 24 member Ivo Matić.

From the very beginning of the World Championship, the people of Trogir held themselves high in the ranking and emphasized their candidacy for the world gold in Corinthian, and the opportunity for bronze opened up for them in the last sailing at the WC.

'We went strong in the last start with the intention of shutting down Germany's White Room in the battle for gold at Corinthian, and then in a head-to-head duel for third place overall we were faster than the American Monsoon, while the second competing US crew for the medal, Dark Energy, earned a disqualification at the start. So the cards lined up nicely for us to win two medals. This was a great experience for us because we had the opportunity to sail against the Americans, who are famous for the best crews in Melges 24', said Mataran 24 member Mario Škrlj.

It should also be added that Mataran 24, with four medals won at the last two major championships (EP and WC), is the world's most successful crew in terms of results in the past year.

Photos: Mick Knive Anderson