Emperor Diocletian founded the city by building at the foot of the hill Marjan, in 293. AD a lavish 30.000 square meters imperial villa that he retired to after his retirement from throne of the roman emperor.
Palace forms into a city with the arrival of the inhabitants from nearby Salona who have found safety inside the imperial walls from the attacks by the Avars and Slavs.  Expansion of growth and immigration spread the city even outside the palace walls and so the city limits changed with every year and from century to century as did the rulers who governed in Split. From the 10th century Croatian kings, over the Hungarian and Venetian administrations to the French rulers and the Austro- Hungarian monarchy.
History left the traces on the way the city looks but also in its inhabitants that in time changed their home, made it the center of Dalmatia and the pearl of the Mediterranean.

People of Split, without hiding their pride, describe their city as the most beautiful in the world.
We would like to add the „the most sportive city in the world “since it is rare to find the city of 350.000 populated with this many Olympic competitors and medal winners.
Town itself grew around Diocletian's Palace and for the past 1700 years writes it famous history. City at the foot of the hill Marjan is UNESCO protected and registered site of World Cultural Heritage as well as second largest city in Croatia and a true metropolis of Dalmatia.
Mediterranean charm, mild climate and warm people are ideal mix for comfortable living but in this case we will only point out that most important to the sports and sailing in particular.
Mild climate, excellent sailing area with perfect conditions that is always followed by „ there is always some wind“are the magnet not only for the local but also for the foreign sailors who choose Split as their winter training destination.
But also as the site of great competitions.

Other that the good hosts, Labud members are also good medal gatherers at Finn competitions and for this edition we will only name the European championships.
It all started with legendary Minski Fabris who in 1978. Became the Champion of the Old Continent in Sweden.
Karlo Kuret took the silver in 2000. and the bronze in 2002.
Marin Mišura, then member of Labud had 2 European bronze titles, first in 2005 and second a year later in 2006.
In this line of European championship medal winners who sail under CRO marked sails best is Ivan Kljaković-Gašpić, member of Split's Zenta, who holds two silvers from 2007. and 2008. and a gold in 2009. which he defends at this championship.

This year the Sailing club Labud celebrates its 85th birthday, which will be celebrated while working since the members of the club in Uvala Baluni are renowned as organizers of prestigious competitions in sailing world.
Solely for Finn class Labud was the host of the 1997 European championship as well as World Masters championship only to have world’s best once again at the 2006 World Senior Finn Championship.
That is not all- other than current Senior and Junior European Championship Finn sails will be back in Labud for the World Masters Championship held from May 23. till 28.

Once again Split is the center of the World!
At least that is what it seems from the, so far, 109 entries at the Open Senior and Junior European Finn Championship this year being organized by the YC Labud.
In time period between May 8th and 16th all the best helmsmen in this royal class from the European continent but also from far away New Zealand and USA, making the total of 27 nations, will come to a city at the foot of hill Marjan ready for skirmish on water.

The record number of entries promises unsparing battle of the favorites at the race area in Split's waters as well as true enjoyment in the top quality sailing .
Another interesting fact is connected to this already engaging competition. Title of European champion is being defended by Split native - Ivan Kljaković-Gašpić, member of SC Zenta.
Legendary Bambi has in this past season won the gold medal at EC sailed in Varna, Bulgaria and the bronze at the World Championship. Medal collecting was continued and in this year at the World Cup regattas with the silver at the Palma de Mallorca and the bronze at Hyeres.
Side by side with Bambi another Croat deserves the mention as the favorite to win – Marin Mišura, member of Split, who, after a short brake, has returned to racing in top form. At the last year EC he finished fourth while this year he sailed in only one out of seven regattas of the World Cup, Hyeres, where he won the gold medal.

Even though the Croatian sailors are in excellent form, the next six days on water won't be easy on anyone. According to the schedule for the following  five days 2 races are planned for each day and next Sunday only one but most important one known as the medal race.
If weather permits the competitors and their caring organizers should present us with masterful sailing in front of Split's Harbor since in a current entry lineup it is hard to foretell who will take the title of the best European Finn sailor.

As favorite for the medal  is also mentioned Great Britain’s Edward Wright  who is after so far finished four World Cup regattas (out of seven total)  at the top and thus cementing the title of number one favorite as he also has a bronze medal from the last year's European Championship.
We mustn’t forget Tapioa Nirkkoa from Finland who was silver at the last EC or our neighbor from Slovenia Gašper Vinčec currently fourth in the World cup ranking. Entry list also has top Finn names such as Rafael Trujillo from Spain, as well as Great Britain's Giles Scott, Rafal Szuikel from Poland, New Zealand’s Dan Slater, and French duo Jonathan Lobert and Thomas le Breton that are second and third in the world rankings. In this story of first places we can also add Slovenia's Vasilij Žbogar winner of silver and gold Olympic medals in class Laser who, in this season, has started to sail in Fin class. But top sailor remains top sailor.
Prognosis is there, what happens on water remains to be seen....

Labud, the oldest Croatian yacht club, is once again the host of the prestigious competitions beneath the sails. In 2010, this club from Split, has again been awarded a spot on the international regatta map, since it will proudly host European finn class championship in May.
The best skippers in this royal class, how many refer to it, will be joined not only by the competitors from countries of the Old continent, but by many leading competitors from all over the world, since this regatta offers competition in open category as well. Before they come together, organisational commitee and the competitors will have a chance to test themselves 2 months prior to competiton at the traditional Split Olympic Sailing Week.

Read more: SOSW as an introduction to European Finn class championship