In the valley of the Neretva
In the valley of the Neretva, every other Saturday in August there is a boat marathon, i.e. an amateur competition of traditional Neretva boats (“lađe”) sponsored by the President of the country and organized by the Association of Shipowners of Neretva. The shape, length, and thickness of the board of the boats are prescribed by ordinances, and they must be made of wood. On average, 35 teams participate in the marathon. Their goal is to row the 22,500-meter-long route from Metković to Ploče along the Neretva River.
Before the main race, of course, there must also be qualifications, the so-called speed races, which take place a few days before the marathon itself. They are held in Opuzen on a 300-meter course, and all the crews compete in the same boat. The fastest team is the first to choose their starting position and so on until the last team.
Along with the title of the winner of the Boat Marathon, the first team to pass the finish line wins gold medals, a cash prize, the transitional victorious shield of Prince Domagoj, weighing as much as 27 kilograms, and a small shield which they get to keep. If the same crew wins the marathon three years in a row, the shield of Prince Domagoj becomes their permanent property.
It is worth noting that this competition is one of the most-watched live events in Croatia. It is believed that tens of thousands of spectators watch it along the entire route – on the coast, on boats, or from an organized train. It’s certainly a must-see event!