24th Betina Regatta celebrates Adriatic maritime heritage
by Betinska Gajeta 15 Aug 21:37 UTC
16 August 2026
Lateen sails return to Betina as the iconic island fleet prepares to host international crews and celebrate centuries of seafaring culture
The picturesque village of Betina on the island of Murter is set to reclaim its status as the beating heart of Croatia's maritime culture. The 24th edition of the iconic Regatta za dušu i tilo (Regatta for the Soul and Body) returns, widely recognized as one of the Adriatic's most spectacular gatherings of traditional lateen and spritsail wooden vessels.
Organized as the crown jewel of the Days of the Betina Gajeta, the regatta honors the art of traditional wooden boatbuilding, centered on the legendary Betina gajeta, a vessel deeply intertwined with local identity and island life. The starting grid is exclusively reserved for traditional wooden hulls: gajetas, kaici, and leuts. Their timeless lines and impressive longevity stand as a living testament to generations of Croatian seafaring craftsmanship.
This year's festival extends well beyond race day. Leading up to the regatta, visitors can enjoy maritime lectures, youth workshops, and a photography exhibition capturing the spirit of the fleet. A highlight of the festivities includes a violin concert set against a night procession of illuminated gajetas gliding across the harbor.
Betina's Dugi mul (Long Pier) will transform into an open air museum. As the island with the highest concentration of wooden craft in the Adriatic, Murter brings together shipwrights, owners, and enthusiasts who keep this impressive fleet afloat, a nod to the era when lateen sails were the lifeline of the archipelago.
The 2026 edition carries strong international weight. Following an invitation from Tisno Municipality Mayor Kristijan Jareb, a high profile delegation from Gaeta, Italy, led by Mayor Cristian Leccese, will attend the festivities. This reciprocal visit follows a trip by Tisno officials and the Betinska Gajeta Association to Gaeta, a historic maritime republic dating back to the 11th century. To mark the bond between these two seafaring communities, an encased scale model of the Betina gajeta will be gifted for display in Gaeta's Maritime Museum.
The Italian delegation will be received at Tisno Town Hall before touring local cultural sites and the Museum of Betina Wooden Shipbuilding, culminating in their active participation in the regatta aboard a Betina gajeta.
Further elevating the event's diplomatic profile, Italian Ambassador to Croatia Paolo Trichilo will attend the central ceremonies. Adding to the fleet, the Italian vessel Hormiae from Formia, commanded by Captain Giovanni Di Russo and named after the ancient Roman port city, will participate, symbolizing centuries of trans Adriatic connection.
This year's regatta also celebrates a major philatelic milestone: the official presentation of a joint stamp issue by Croatian Post and Spanish Post titled Mediterranean Fishing Boats, featuring the Betina gajeta as a global symbol of maritime heritage.
Off the water, delegates will judge a traditional fish stew (brudet) competition, while the Betinska Gajeta Association will host a showcase of authentic island gastronomy along Dugi mul.
At its core, the Regatta for the Soul and Body remains a passionate tribute to the islanders, shipwrights, and sailors who keep the legacy of traditional sail alive on the Adriatic.
The event is organized by the Betinska Gajeta Association with the support of the Betina Tourist Board and the Municipality of Tisno.