The 2026 ILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy, held at Marina Kaštela in Kaštel Gomilica, Croatia, has been awarded Gold certification by Sailors for the Sea under the Clean Regattas programme — a recognition of the outstanding work by the local organising team.
The EurILCA Sustainability Programme, founded in 2020, has been building a strong record since 2024, with three Platinum certifications and a Silver already to its name. This Gold reflects the growing commitment to sustainable practice across our events.
The result belongs above all to Marina Kaštela’s event manager Armano Zekan and sustainability coordinator Marijana Berket. Under their leadership, 328 sailors from 53 nations experienced a championship where environmental responsibility was present in every detail: water refill stations, waste separation, digital-only race communications, sustainable catering with vegetarian options, reusable wooden signage and awards, and both a beach and an underwater cleanup involving local schools and community organisations.
Marijana’s hands-on dedication — from coordinating the pre-event underwater cleanup to ensuring every aspect of the event met the Clean Regattas criteria — was central to earning this certification. The EurILCA Sustainability Programme was proud to provide guidance and mentorship throughout the process. Our warmest congratulations go to Marijana, Armano and the entire Marina Kaštela team.
The experience gained at Kaštel Gomilica will continue to shape future EurILCA events as we work with our host venues to raise sustainability standards across the calendar.
The Clean Regattas programme is run by Sailors for the Sea. Certification levels run from Bronze through Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Follow the EurILCA Sustainability Programme on Instagram: @eurilcasustainability
Agustín Argüelles
Director, EurILCA Sustainability Programme
