JK Delfin Pula
JK Delfin Pula is an active sailing club in Pula on the Istrian Adriatic coast, bringing together children and adults who share a passion for sailing. The club organises around ten cruiser-class regattas each year under OPEN and ORC rules, including Full Moon Sailing Spectacle, Brioni Cup, Ližnjanka and Memorial Marinović. Beyond racing, the club links sport and culture under the motto “Pula pod jedrima” with exhibitions, talks and youth projects. Independent since 2015 with roots from 2003, JK Delfin founded the Istrian cruiser league Argonaut Cup and is a member of the Croatian Sailing Federation.
History
JK Delfin’s roots go back to 2003, when the sailing section within PŠRD Delfin was founded in Pula (first at Kandlerova 25, later Verudella 1). The name “Delfin” has been used since 2004; founder and first president was Klaudio Krivičić. On 8 December 2015 the section became the independent non-profit association JK Delfin under PŠRD Delfin’s statute and is considered its successor. As early as 2004 the club organised three cruiser regattas: Brioni, Arena Cup and Memorial Captain Marko Marinović; the Brioni race continues a tradition from Archduke Karl Stephan’s Great Brioni Regatta of 1896. Arena Cup revived racing in Pula harbour for citizens along the waterfront. Over the years an Optimist sailor achieved strong national and international results, two crews raced in the Šljuka class, and one boat competed in the ORC Cup Croatia and at European and world ORC championships. From 2010 came the Barban regatta, then Tivoli Mandrač Cup; in 2015 the Argonaut Cup was launched as an Istrian cruiser league with friendly clubs and local tourism boards, and Ližnjan joined that year. In 2016 winter talks “Ćakule pod jedrima” began with Pula city library. In 2021 Argonaut Cup counted eight regattas; in 2022 Full Moon Sailing Spectacle (Pula–Cres), Tko prije na Unije and “Istra pod jedrima” were added, with Pula events under president Sanja Vale Čupić’s slogan “Pula pod jedrima”. Since 2022 club regattas follow OPEN Cruising, Racing and ORC. From 2023 to 2025 the club received awards from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport (BE ACTIVE EU), the City of Pula and the Istrian County Volunteer Centre. In 2025 partnerships followed with YC Venezia (L’Ammiraglia) and clubs in Rovinj and Umag. Today JK Delfin runs about ten regattas a year, counts over 96 verified athletes and promotes sailing as sport, recreation and culture for all ages.
Information
Facilities
Postal address Marsovo polje 8 in Pula; events and race gatherings among others at Lučica Delfin, ACI Marina Pomer and Pula harbour; the club reports it currently lacks dedicated club premises and is seeking suitable space.
Activities
Organisation of cruiser regattas (OPEN/ORC), Argonaut Cup, Full Moon Sailing Spectacle, cultural programme Pula pod jedrima, Ćakule pod jedrima, year-round training, participation in Adriatic and Mediterranean races, volunteering and maritime heritage projects.
Youth section
Active youth support: underage children of members join free of charge; historically a successful Optimist sailor; “Djeca na krstašima” / Miće regattas and year-round training for children and adults.