Navigate the Legend: Co-Skipper the Sv. Nikola Regatta 2025
One-On-One with the Open Sea: Become the Co-Skipper for the "Sv. Nikola Singles & Doubles Regatta 2025"
This is not an open invitation. This is a unique opportunity for just one sailor to join a seasoned skipper
and truly experience what "short-handed" offshore sailing is all about.
We're not just looking for crew. We're seeking a partner for a double-handed challenge.
Forget theory. This is 100% practical, hands-on experience. We're offering you a seat in the cockpit for one of the most prestigious and challenging Adriatic regattas – the "Sv. Nikola Singles & Doubles Regatta." This race is limited to only 20 crews, and you will be part of one of them.
This is your chance to embark on an entire expedition, in tandem with a skipper-mentor: from Pula to the mythical Palagruža and back.
Veruda Sailing School has a proven track record in demanding offshore conditions. The instructor has a deep passion for offshore racing and a history of remarkable success, achieving a first-place finish in their class at the Pesaro-Pula offshore regatta last year. This year, they successfully taught the challenging Pula-Palagruža-Pula course, covering 400 offshore nautical miles, the La Cinquecento double-handed regatta course, which was an 800-nautical-mile journey, and the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025 epic sailing course spanning 2300 offshore nautical miles in one month. The school also boasts numerous nearshore regatta victories (1st place in group in prestigious Argonaut cup, in 2023. & 2024., as well as a fastest double-handed crew overall in 2024.) further demonstrating our expertise and commitment to excellence in competitive sailing.
Your instructor will provide unparalleled hands-on experience and a wealth of tactical and practical knowledge to guide you through the demanding conditions of the course.
Sv. Nikola Singles & Doubles Regatta 2025
Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, holds a special status in Komiža. Every year before the feast
of St.Nicholas, an old, worn-out wooden boat is dragged by hand from Komiža to the front of the monastery.
On the day of St.Nicholas the boat is set on fire in a large bonfire. The remaining ash is used to
consecrate and bless new boats. This ritual, which sacrifices an old boat for the blessing of those still
sailing, once again emphasizes the primordial connection of the people of Komiža with the sea.
This regatta is a tribute to that ancient bond. The highlight is the passage to mystical Palagruža – the holy grail of Komiža fishermen, a lighthouse halfway to Italy. Reaching it in December, as a single- or double-handed crew, is the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and partnership.
What to Expect:
- Crew & Vessel Readiness: Comprehensive preparation of crew and vessel for optimal regatta performance.
- Strategic Navigation Planning: Regatta navigation preparation, focusing on forecast conditions (wind, sea state, tide).
- Racing Regulations Mastery: In-depth understanding and application of the Racing Rules of Sailing and regata event rules modifiers.
- Start & Event Tactics: Effective strategies for race starts and optimizing performance throughout the regatta.
- Sail & Rig Optimization: Advanced techniques for trimming sails and masts to maximize speed and efficiency.
- Spinnaker & gennaker: characteristics, preparation, hoisting and lowering techniques, maneuvering, maximizing speed.
- Plus everything covered in our Advanced Course and much, much more...
Prerequisites:
- Basic Sailing Skills: You should be comfortable with basic sailing maneuvers, terminology, and have some experience handling a sailboat.
- Navigation Knowledge: A basic understanding of navigation principles, chart reading, and compass use is beneficial.
- Safety Awareness: Familiarity with basic safety procedures and equipment on board is essential.
- Physical Fitness: Offshore sailing can be physically demanding, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
- Dependability and Responsiveness: Be prepared to perform roles and assignments as they are designated by the skipper, demonstrating flexibility and a proactive approach to teamwork.
- Team Spirit: A positive attitude and willingness to work as part of a team are crucial for a successful offshore experience.
This is a comprehensive adventure divided into three phases, where you will actively participate in every decision:
Phase 1: Preparation & Transfer
We start immediately with a challenge. We embark on a non-stop sail from Pula to Vis. Here, we hone the essential skills for double-handed sailing:
- Detailed route planning and meteorology
- One-on-one watch system management
- Night sailing and fatigue management
- Boarding: December 3rd (evening)
- Departure from Pula: December 4th (early morning)
- Route: Pula → Komiža
- Length: approx. 150 NM
Phase 2: The Ultimate Test - "Sv. Nikola" Regatta
Here, it's just you and the skipper against 19 other crews and the Adriatic Sea. No spectators.
- Regatta Start: December 7th at 10:00 AM
- Route: Komiža → Palagruža Island → Glavat Island → Stipanska Island → Split
- Length: approx. 180 NM
- Expected End of Sailing: December 9th at 8:00 PM
Phase 3: Debrief & Return
After the regatta, we'll have the transfer back to Pula. Depending on weather and crew fatigue, this can be another non-stop leg to solidify your knowledge, or a more relaxed return with race debriefs, anchorages, and summing up what you've learned.
- Route: Split → Pula
- Length: approx. 150 NM
Route:
Pula → Komiža → Palagruža → Glavat Island → Stipanska Island → Split
→ Pula *Ready for an adventure?
Don't miss out on the opportunity and secure your place in the course today!
For general information about our advanced courses, the boat and the skipper: