When did you start as a race official , name few most demanding events where you have been in charge?

I've started helping race committee very early – at the age of 16 I was already scoring the results for my club races, but before that I used to go on RC boat with my father who also was a judge in sailing and I recall worlds championship in Cadet in Split in 1972. I've become a judge in 1982, later national judge and finally International race official  in 1998. At the moment I’m in charge of the Croatian Judges Committee. The most demanding event I've been in charge was Match racing worlds 2000 here in Split in terms of pressure because it was important for us and I was working in front .
It was very difficult on North American Championship  in Curacao (Dutch Antilles)  where I was a principal race officer-  400 meters depth at a starting line with average 20 knots wind and big waves and you have to anchor two boats to set a start line. I recall 470 worlds in China 2006 as a complicated venue due to hundred  fishing nets along the course which were not visible during high tide and we had to set trapezoid course practically between them. There is no easy event in terms of race management – you cannot be relaxed and you should always have a backup plan. It looks  like a pressure but I’m used to it and always on alert. One of the hardest job is to run big match racing events, but it’s not less demanding to run properly any other big event. On the other hand thanks’ to sailing I was able to see many countries and beautiful places on all continents – I’ve just spent New Year’s in Malaysia and I’ll be in New Zealand for the next new year with many races on different places in between.

What is important to run the regatta on the water properly? What is more important: good team, technical stuff, logistics?

To manage the race on the water you first need sailing conditions which we have here in Split. Experienced RC team is a key factor for a successful event – sailors will always remember the atmosphere ashore but they stories will always begin with what was going one on the water. I tend to work in RC with the same people for many events because we understand and respect each other and after so many events together we can manage the race with less stress for us and competitors.

In how many SOSW have you beeing envolved so far?

I think all of them – my experience goes back to early eighties when we used to have Grand Prix Adriatic here in Split. Split Olympic Sailing week has become top event in Croatia.

What can you  suggest organizers so they can improve and ensure that event continues to grow in all aspects?

It’s all about consistency. You need to maintain and repeat all you have already achieved before which is not an easy thing to do. It’s crucial that we have Croatian top sailors here in Split because they are the best messengers SOSW can get. The same apply for our neighbors  - SOSW must keep the presence of the top sailors from the Adriatic area.

When you spend so much time on the water usually there are many interesting stories to tell?

I will always recall mother and father of Optimist  world champion Rios from Portorico. They have jumped with their clothes on into the water from the shore line in Cesme (Tur) with national flag and after some swimming they were et the edge of sinking down. Even than you could see a joy on their faces – I had to put them out of the water.
One of the nicest things I have felt is the joy here in Split – when Fabris has one the race on European’s, or twelve years later Mate Arapov has do it againa and finaly Ivan Kljaković Gašpić has won the European title. The atmosphere at the end of the final match during the match racing worlds  here in Split  was hot on the water –similar to football match with lot of smoke, bengal fire, sirens and couple of thousand people applauding from the Sustipan hill.