Old rivalries are being renewed on the water at Portorož this week, as the Master's Cup got under way in the Slovenian sailing hub.
Almost 30 crews from around the world will line up tomorrow for the 470 Open European Trophy and Master's Cup 2026. Among them are Slovenian 1987 Junior World Champions Marko Kocijančič and Željko Planinšič, sailing on home water in front of a fleet that spans generations.
Joining them in the Grand Masters category are Romanian pair Bujor Rosca and Mihai Nicolae Fagarasan Manci. They raced against the Slovenians back in the 1980s, and the years clearly haven't dulled the competitive edge.
The Grand Grand Masters fleet looks just as sharp. Reigning champions Bernard Boime and Gilles Espinasse (FRA 68) are back to defend their 2025 title, while Greek sailors Christos Mamtoumidis and Apostolos Makras will be looking to spoil the French pair's run. Mamtoumidis was a multiple-time Greek Champion in his prime and has picked up medals at this regatta before, making the fight for the Grand Grand Masters crown one of the highlights of the week.
Then there's Dušan Puh: 75 years old, a sailor and windsurfer, and widely regarded as one of the most experienced and versatile competitors in Slovenian sailing history. This time he's racing with his son.
Today was largely about registration and last-minute boat work. Light winds sat over the bay, tempting some crews out for a final training run while others stayed ashore fiddling with rigging and gear. Slowly, the clubhouse filled with sailors from different countries and different decades, greeting old faces.
Puh explained why he keeps coming back. "I participate in the Masters because, if we have it at home. I was coaching; my main class was Flying Dutchman for many, many years, so I learned a lot. Later, I was also coaching our Slovenian and Yugoslavian competitors, Olympians, and, finally, also my son. Now I have the possibility, or the challenge, to try it myself," he said.
Results aren't really the point for him.
"The goal is to have fun and to test a little bit, and maybe also to improve things for our young people, to show them that even if we're old, we can compete. And that we know something about sailing."
The regatta was officially opened at the club this evening, marking the start of an event built on more than just race results. For sailors who have spent decades in the sport, many of them former champions and international competitors, it's a rare chance to get back on the racecourse and catch up with rivals from years gone by.
Fathers and sons sharing a start line, old opponents lining up again after decades apart. It's an unusual mix, and one that gives the Master's Cup its character.
With close to 30 crews entered, racing across the Masters and Grand Grand Masters fleets is expected to be tight. First start is set for 11.00 tomorrow, when Portorož finally gets down to business on the water.
