The most beautiful wooden boat in Crikvenica named

Mario Kružić and Marino Ferenčić in front of Eufemia in Crikvenica (Photo: County Port Authority of Crikvenica)

For the ninth consecutive year, the County Port Authority of Crikvenica held a competition to select the most beautiful wooden boat, aiming to encourage wooden boat building and the maintenance of wooden boats that are part of Crikvenica’s and Croatia’s heritage.

The County Port Authority of Crikvenica has long offered a 50 percent discount on the annual mooring fee for wooden vessels, and the winner of the most beautiful wooden boat is completely exempt from paying the annual mooring fee.

The competition was judged by a panel consisting of Davor Lončarić, Goran Cerović, and Vladimir Matejčić. The criteria for selection included the quality and level of boat maintenance, possession of oars, masts, and sails, and overall impression.

This year, the title of the most beautiful wooden boat was awarded to the sports sailboat Eufemia, registration number CK 28, owned by Marino Ferenčić from Crikvenica and moored in the port of Črni mul in Crikvenica.

The winning boat has been owned by Mr. Marino Ferenčić since 1977, when it was built by Anton Jurić, a boat builder from Klimno.

The sailboat, a Halcyon 27 type, is 8 meters long and 2.40 meters wide. It is a cutter-type sailboat with a cabin and a partial deck, constructed from oak for the framework, spruce for the planking, and mahogany for the cabin.

The planking method is carvel, the bow shape is raked, and it is equipped with sails. Interestingly, the sailboat was named after the owner’s grandmother, Eufemia.

(Photo: County Port Authority of Crikvenica)

Eufemia participates in numerous regattas under the flag of the Sailing Society Val from Crikvenica, where Marino Ferenčić has been the long-time president. Notable achievements in regattas include first place in last year’s Fiumanka in the group of six family cruisers and first place in the wooden sailboat regatta in Split – the Labud Classic.

“I would like to thank the County Port Authority of Crikvenica and Director Mario Kružić for the award. This award is also a recognition of the effort and investment in the sailboat, which has been in my ownership since day one, and in whose construction I actively participated,” said this year’s competition winner, Marino Ferenčić.

“I am extremely pleased to once again witness a case where the awarded vessel has remained in the same family from its construction to the present day. It is wonderful to witness the love for wooden boats being passed down from generation to generation for 48 years. Finally, I once again congratulate Marino Ferenčić on his award and also wish him a happy birthday for yesterday,” stated Mario Kružić, Director of the County Port Authority of Crikvenica.