Kvarner Pliva - Mali Lošinj

In 1868, Mali Lošinj reached the zenith of its maritime influence, commanding a merchant fleet that eclipsed the tonnage of Venice and Trieste. This golden age of sail transformed the island into a hub for hundreds of captains, whose legacy of navigation is still honored today when local vessels sound their horns while passing the 16th-century Annunziata chapel on the Čikat cape. As you swim through these same waters, that same chapel serves as a perennial landmark, standing watch over the bay just as it once greeted the returning merchantmen of the nineteenth century.

The waters of Čikat

The swim takes place in the sheltered embrace of Čikat bay, a coastal stretch developed as a bathing resort in the late 1800s. While you navigate the course, look toward the shore to spot the historic villas like Karolina and Diana, which have been meticulously preserved as boutique hotels. The area is deeply tied to the history of the sea, having fostered world-class aquatic talent, including Olympic sailing gold medalists Agostino Straulino and Nicolò Rode. This tradition of excellence extends below the surface, as the town remains a global epicenter for underwater fishing; the bronze monument to the underwater fisherman, crafted by Vinko Matković, remains a poignant reference point for those competing in the area.

Race day logistics

Organized by the KDP Primorje, the event offers a range of distances including 1500m, 3000m, and a 10000m test of endurance. Because the island is separated from the mainland, most participants arrive via the ferry routes from Valbiska to Merag or Brestova to Porozina. The timing of your arrival is critical, as these ferry schedules are strictly dictated by the local maritime traffic and the logistical requirements of the island’s ports. The 3000m event consists of two laps of the 1500m challenge course, keeping swimmers within the calm, protected waters of the bay. Whether you are aiming for the shorter sprints or the full ten-kilometer marathon, you are swimming through a landscape shaped by both human enterprise and the ancient geography of the Kvarner Gulf.