Šime and Mihovil Fantela achieved their own speed record in a 49er, and it was at the foot of Mount Velebit in Croatia where they reached their record speed with the help of the powerful wind known as Bora.
Šime and Mihovil Fantela left their mark by setting a record in the 49er class with a speed of 24 knots. This accomplishment took place in extremely windy conditions, near Zadar, their hometown. The Bora, known for closing roads that connect the inland with the coast during winter, was their ally in this feat.
With gusts of up to 100 km/h While preparing for the start of the season, the Fantela brothers decided to face this challenge again: to tame the strong Bora wind, capable of triggering extreme conditions and gusts of up to 100 km/h, becoming hurricane-like in winter, where measurements have reached 300 km/h.
Despite its dry, variable, and cold nature, with a speed higher than other winds, Šime and Mihovil decided to venture into the Adriatic, offshore, during a powerful Bora.
Although their boat faced some setbacks, the Fantela brothers achieved their goal, reaching a record speed of 24 knots in the 49er class. This milestone marks the first time that someone in this sailing class has successfully tamed the Bora. “It took us 15 attempts, but in the end, we achieved our record speed of 24 knots. In international competitions, it is not allowed to compete in these conditions due to the danger. We are proud to have sailed successfully in this powerful wind,” said Šime Fantela after achieving the record.
