On the 22nd of July, the inhabitants of Perast commemorate the year 1452 when an icon of the Virgin was found on a small crag in the sea and the construction of the island of Our Lady of the Rock began. On this day every year, people bring stones in their boats and drop them into the sea around the island, The name of the custom - Fašinada, comes from Italian "fascia", what means "chain" formed by boats rounding the island slowly, covered by stones and laurel - a symbol of peace and glory. The custom has both symbolic and practical meaning. Adding rocks reinforces the island which is constantly washed and eroded by the sea. The simplicity of the occasion, stripped of all elements of folklore, evokes the memory of the centuries-long efforts that were needed to build this little island with its lovely church.
Fašinada Cup fits perfectly into this great tradition since the baroque Perast became famous for its skillful sailors, who built this unique town on the eastern Adriatic coast. The two-day regatta is very interesting and challenging for sailors, who start their competition from Perast. The first day the route is Perast-Tivat- Perast islands-Tivat. The second-day race starts from Tivat and leads through the only 300 meters wide strait of Verige, passing passenger ships of sometimes nearly 300 meters in length. After passing around the islands, crews need to round the buoy in front of the Sveta Neđelja and reach the finish line in Perast. What is always very interesting for both locals and guests is this regatta could be followed from the shore in almost its full length. Of course, it is always the most attractive for spectators enjoying the view from Verige strait.
Fašinada Cup 2018 is open to all cruisers classes, J/70, Hobbie Cat and traditional sailboats. This year’s edition is being organized by Yacht Club Lahor Kotor, Yacht Club Porto Motenegro and UNIBRAND- Branding for Local Community.
The Bay of Kotor is an inexhaustible treasury of delightful traditional celebrations and customs. Without any doubt, one of the most attractive is the Fašinada which is unique not only to the town of Perast but to the whole Mediterranean coast. So, Fašinada Cup, although it already attracted more than 50 sailing ships, is just a part of the great event the people of Perast and the whole Boka Bay are going to celebrate this weekend for the 566th time.
