Thank You for RokPoluotok 2025
by Ribafish, July 27, 2025
Of course, I’ll forget to mention someone important – but I’m old, silly, and still have sea noise in my left ear. Please forgive me. Thank you all!
It all starts with Kasandra – not the cheeriest crewmate, but the engine of everything: emails, phone calls, gifts, logistics, and the queen of sauces, risottos, and heavenly stuffed peppers. Hats off.
Huge thanks to Mimi, Elli, and Saša from the Association – always there for notary errands and grant hopes (even when we don’t win them). Thanks to Boycha for checking every detail, Daniela for editing and wise advice, the Cleaning Bears crew, and Offset.hr for storing gift packages. And to those who helped pack gifts—twice!
We had just two skippers this year: Lovre the Legend and Mr. Perfect Davor, with his Dalmatian charm and sea in his veins. Everything was smooth (despite a dead fridge and broken AC). Ogi stayed in Žaborić, but we remember all he’s done. Boris swam less this year but rose to deck first officer and emotional support. With Dudi on parental leave, Marina stepped in perfectly. Nikola the Czech lifeguard doubled as masseuse when I’d collapse post-swim. Led by our captain Riđovka, we were quite the charming crew.
The doctors were a chapter of their own. After year one with Marija, Ena, and Ana, Boris (via Irena’s Dorija) brought Iva and her uni crew. That sparked a wave of incredible young souls—Kru, Sanda, Mirisa, Iva the Queen, Damir, Trpi, Ana, Magdalena—who spent their vacations watching over a limping sea lion (me). Our onboard psychiatrist deserves a statue alone.
Special mention: Nikola, Davor, and Damir, who rushed off the boat and saved an injured Italian woman—heroes, truly. Proud to know them, proud they helped keep RokOtok and RokPoluotok alive.
Big shout-out to all swimmers, amateur and pro: Sara, Vjeran, Tomo, Matija, Miha, Saša, Slovenian fish from ŠD Riba, Iron Woman Đurđica, and of course Boris. Damir and his kayak raised our safety level, just appearing out of nowhere.
Funding? Eight sponsors (Sport Vision Croatia, RBA, FINA…)—thank you for sticking with us! And thanks to all who donated gifts (White Shark towels!), bags, and especially transport—Franco from Dora trgovina made everything easier. Tourist boards carried us like a drop of water on their palms. And thanks to those who… helped us get stronger.
Thanks to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, all Port Authorities, Police (especially the officer who kindly reminded me that fishing in the marina is banned), all marinas for the moorings and showers, hotels and groups for occasional lodging, and Adriatic Osiguranje for, well, insuring us! Shout-out to the helpful (and handsome) firefighters of Poreč and Umag for storing and moving gifts!
Thanks to Kaufland, Lareto Food, Podravka, and Rio Mare for feeding us. And to the taverns and hosts who served or connected us with food—Kasandra is now editing food videos, so check our Instagram for tasty Istrian tips. Thanks to Barun, Florijanović, Ivica Matošević, the Kardum family, the Puklavec family, Beri, Mihaela, and all who brought or sent drinks. Okay—some for me too (rarely 😊).
We even had a guest star: Croatian triple bartending champion Marko Ristić! Thanks to everyone who gave us a mooring, bed, hug, food, or just talked or sailed with us. And thanks to Igor, now finishing the RokOtok documentary!
And finally—to the moms, dads, grannies, and aunties who brought the kids to meet us: there are no words for how grateful we are. You shared your day to hear a story about people and nature and brought joy to a bunch of honest folks. It may be quickly forgotten, but we hope it left at least a spark of warmth in your hearts.
Thank you to all the “ordinary” people for being People with a capital P. That’s it from me—for now.
With love,
Barba Ribafish, Kasandra & Dživo
Source: https://ribafish.com/zahvala-za-rokpoluotok-2025/