​Neretva boat marathon draws 28 crews this year

The 22nd edition of the traditional boat race on the River Neretva will be held on Saturday evening with rowers in traditional vessels rowing down a 22.5-kilometre-long stretch from Metkovic to the Bay of Ploce, southern Croatia.

This year, the Boat Marathon, an amateur sporting event, is bringing together 28 crews, and each consists of the helmsman and 10 rowers.

Their boats are the replicas of the indigenous local vessels which were used for transportation along the river. These vessels were used in the Neretva Delta for the transport of up to some 30 people and could carry a load weighing up to three tonnes.

The purpose of the Boat Marathon, annually organised by the association called "Udruga Ladjara Neretve", is to preserve the local tradition.

Over the past 22 years, the event has grown in size and has developed a sporting, cultural and tourist character.

Apart from local crews, also teams of Croatian expats in Australia and participants from Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia joined the race in the recent years. The race draws thousands of spectators every year.

The winner of the race is presented with the Domagoj Shield in Ploce. The trophy is in the form of a shield used by the Duke of Domagoj who ruled Croatia from 864 until his death in 876. (Hina/FaH)

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