2nd place at the Croatian Nationals 2013

Last week I participated at the Croatian Slalom Championship in Bol on the island of Brac. It was a beautiful slalom week with 30 participants from Croatia, Slovenia and Austria. We finished two full eliminations with 6 jibing marks. The first leg was really short,Â only 10-15 seconds to first jibing mark, which was placed directly at the famous Zlatni Rat, the Golden Horn. This beach belongs to one of the top rated beach in the world. The wind was really steady and was blowing with 12 to 25 knots. I used my 8,6, ad 9,2 Reflex 4 and iSonic 107 and 117 Wide with Pfaffi fins (S4) and Z-fins.

During the first final I missed the start a bit and was last at the first jibing mark. The green flag went up several seconds before the countdown on my watch, but I managed to fight back, overtook 5 people, but took too much risk at the last jibe and crashed. This was my only crash during this week. Enrico Marotti from Rijeka, a 102kg slalom machine, Sailing on Starboard won this first elimination.

At final number 2 Â I recognized a little wind shift and started at the boat blasting downwind to the first mark, where I managed to jibe a few meters in front of Enrico. I kept my lead, but a big battle started. He tried to push me down, up, but I had great speed on the 107 with the 8,6 and was able to hold him off on the 6 minute long course until the finish line. Happy. So I got this win in my pocket.

On the final day a third round got started and Enrico and myself made it again into the final. Just before the final would have started, the wind dropped below the 11 knots rule and the event got called off, which meant that we had no discard and my chances to win the event this year again, were gone.

But I am happy with my second place,Â as I am satisfied with my slalom performance. My speed and jibes are much better and I am more aggressive on the course. So, the winner is Enrico Marotti, I got second and in third came the Croatian RSX sailor, Luka Mratovic, who competed at the Olympic Games in London. Big congrats to Enrico, who sailed really great with a lot of speed and positive vibes!!

I had a great week at the Zoo Station windsurfing center, the organizer of the event. Thanks again to the sponsors Hot Kastil and Zoo Station. The atmosphere was great and I am looking forward to come back to Croatia soon.

At the moment I am at the Costa Brava! I sailed my first heat today. Unluckily with 8,6 instead of 9,2 as I broke a mast just before my heat. And the wind was really light.