For already the 15th year in a row, this year’s Internautica will host the Oldtimer Boats and Cars Meeting in the Piran “mandrač” (harbour), where the organizers of the event, Old-timer Boat Association Piran, will showcase around forty traditional boats. They expect a diverse international group of competitors – Slovenians, Italians, Croatians, Austrians and Germans. Friday, the 5th of May, will be reserved for the reception of visiting crews, which will continue in the evening, with reminiscing of memories from past gatherings. On Saturday, the 6th of May, at 10 a.m., the Mayor of Piran will officially open the event. The boats, categorized according to types and length, will compete against each other in regatta at noon. They will start in front of Piran, continue to the Portorož pier and back. If the god of wind shows mercy to the organizers, two rounds will be sailed. The gathering of sailors and old-timer boats will continue till late hours.
Simultaneously with the gathering of old-timer beauties moored to the Piran pier, on Saturday old-timer car meeting will take place, featuring approximately 20 most prestigious old-timer cars from Slovenia. The drivers, who will be dressed in original outfits from the times of car’s manufacturing, will be accompanied by the members of the »Rosa Klementina« society from Portorož. After the boats start the regatta, old-timer cars will drive through Portorož and stop at Internautica boat show site in Marina Portorož. The May old-timer boat regatta will take place for the 38th time in a row. Until 2003, before the founding of Old-timer Boat Association Piran, the event was organized by the owners of old-timer boats from Piran and maritime enthusiasts. During the last decade, in cooperation with Internautica’s organizers, the regatta developed into an important and recognized international event.
For a successful event, we wish the organizers fair winds and dry roads.
Janez Šabec
President of Old-timer Boat Association Piran