Boat Marathon Neretva

This is a traditional cultural event and race that takes place once a year in August, and participants on traditional boats race along the Neretva River from Metković, through Krvavac, Opuzen, Komina, Banje, Rogotin, Stabline, up to 22,580 meters of distant goal in Ploče. The Marathon begins under the bridge in Metković and ends in Ploče.

The boat marathon on the Neretva, the 29th in a row, began with a cannon shot under the bridge in Metković, where the platoon of the Kubura group marked the start of the crews. On the route from Metković to Ploče, more than 500 rowers fight for the shield of Prince Domagoj.The crew of each ship consists of 10 oarsmen, a drummer and a steamman or helmsman. The densely packed ships are moving towards the finish line in Ploče with the sound of drums. The boats must be of traditional shape and dimensions prescribed by the regulations with a precisely determined number and dimensions of ribs, and the hull of the boat must be made of wood with a precisely determined thickness of the planks.

The race for starting positions - Speed ​​races - is scheduled in Opuzen a few days earlier - on August 5th, and on August 6th, the 13th Women's Boating Marathon will be held from Metković to Opuzen. Women's boating crews will race from the Lučki most in Metković to Opuzen, on a 10 km long course.

Saturday's 29th marathon starts under the Lučki most in Metković and ends in Ploče at the level of the Church of the Queen of Heaven and Earth. The winner receives a large transitional Domagojev shield as a gift, as well as a small shield in permanent ownership.

The Neretva Boat Marathon has become one of the most important tourist events in the southern part of Croatia. Also, in terms of viewership, the Boat Marathon is one of the biggest events in Croatia, and at the same time a tourist spectacle and attraction. It is watched live by over fifty thousand spectators along the entire route, some along the banks of the Neretva, some in tourist and private boats.