Split Olympic Sailing Week will be a meeting place of top sailors again this year.Even though the competition is a month away, entries are coming in daily from all over the world - hence, apart from Croatian championship hopefuls, we will also be able to see representatives of  Italy, Hungary, Russia, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Poland and many others. Great feedback from world's top sailors has once again proven that Split Olympic Sailing Week is becoming an inevitable event in the annual calendar of most important sailing competitions as well as a great promoter of both Split and Croatia.

One of this year participants of the Split Olympic Sailing Week, Pavlos Kontides, from Cyprus doesn't hide his enthusiasm for Croatia. Since 2007 his coach has been Jozo Jakelic, a Croat, and as Pavlos himself admits it's advice of this experienced coach as well as excellent training camps in Croatia that resulted with the dramatic improvement that can be seen not only in his results but in his sailing technique as well. Though he was briefly slowed down by the back injury in 2010. he still managed to finish 5th at the World Championship. Currently he is studying in Great Britain at the  Southampton University while getting ready for the 2012 Olympics.

Speaking of European gold medalist another interesting name showed up on the preliminary entry list for the SOSW. We are talking about Vasilij Žbogar who has also entered. This thirty years old sailor from Slovenia made his country famous with two great Olympic successes in class Laser. From Athens in 2004 he brought home bronze medal while 4 years later in Beijing he won silver medal. Today Vasilij sails in Finn class and his goal now is to sail at the upcoming Olympic Games. His competition is one of the best in Finn class, somewhat younger Gašper Vinčec, currently ranked 10. at  the ISAF list. Vasilij Žbogar often sails in Split's waters along with our sailors. According to him SOSW fits perfectly in his plan and program of work for the Olympics in London. It will be interesting on the Finn race course.

69 sailors from 13 countries is the number of contestants so far entered in the 7th edition of Split Olympic Sailing Week, an international regatta for the 8 Olympic classes. YC Labud, the organizer, is satisfied with this number which 40 days prior to the start of the races has surpassed the number of entries in previous years at the same time.
This years the SOSW in three classes will be lead by three european Gold medalists from Split's clubs.
Tina Mihelic who last year brought back her second consecutive European gold from Tallinn, Estonia. In doing so she has confirmed her indefectible effort as well as the faith of her club YC Labud that has recognized her qualities before the rest of Europe had a chance to see it as well.

Same location proved to be golden for Tonci Stipanovic from SC Mornar as well. First European gold for Tonci was also the first European gold for Croatia in Laser class thus giving this medal even more severity.
And when it comes to severity Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic, last year European champion in Finn class, can tell us a thing or two. This sailor from SC Zenta has won his second European gold right here in his hometown. The burden one feels when sailing his own waters this time seems to be blown away.
YC Labud, the head organizer of this regatta, along with SC Mornar, SC Zenta and SC Split, the co-organizers,  gave themselves the task of surpassing the bar they set last year. Incentive for doing so came from the numerous praises from various sailors long after the end of the regatta. 


It is no surprise then that the organization on water is going to be led by, to sailors well known, IRO Alen Kustic, and final word on the jury, as already announced, will have Marianne Middelthon who has been on the jury at the last three Olympics.
It seems golden section has sailed into Split's harbor.