Fiumanka—Rijeka’s Festival of Sailing and the Sea

Every year in June Rijeka turns into a big stage of sailing. Fiumanka, the international regatta held for over a quarter of a century, gathers hundreds of sailboats and lovers of the sea from Croatia and abroad. This unique event brings together sport, tourism, community, and fun—all of it underlined by the wind and the sails.

The Fiumanka is special because it doesn’t require any kind of participation fee. Everyone who wants to set sail, professionals and recreational sailors alike, is welcome. Upon application, the crews are given free mooring at the Port of Rijeka and the regatta’s official T-shirt—a symbol of friendship and memories from Rijeka.

The regatta traditionally starts at noon sharp, in front of the Rijeka breakwater. The sailboats start on two routes—the shorter one, perfect for family and recreational crews, and the longer, contestant one, intended for more experienced crews and professional teams. This particular model makes the Fiumanka approachable and attractive to all participant profiles.

Aside from the main regatta, this sport festival in the city upon the Rječina offers a variety of additional events, the most famous of which is the European Media Sailing Race, in collaboration with the Croatian Radiotelevision, with representatives from national and European media outlets. Recent years put an additional spotlight on the “Paper Fiumanka”, a programme which lets children, schools, and citizens participate in creative workshops and ship model building.

The Fiumanka is not just a competition—it’s a movement. During the days it’s held, Rijeka returns to the sea. Alongside the regatta, there are concerts, culture programmes, sport activities, gastronomy offers, and yachtsmen meetups. The Riva waterfront gets an additional influx of life, and the visitors get the chance to experience the city from a different perspective—from the sea and by the sea.

The Fiumanka shows that the sea belongs to everyone—those who sail and those who are just beginning to discover the beauty of being at sea. Sailing is not a privilege here, but a chance to meet, move, and hang out. The Fiumanka is not just a sports event—it’s the moment when Rijeka turns toward the sea, the people come out to the shore, and the city breathes in time with the wind, tradition, and companionship.