The Croatian Stage of "Sails of the Spirit 2026": From the Tactile Museum in Malinska to the Shipbuilders of Rijeka and a Warm Welcome on the Adriatic

2026-09-25 22:56

The international inclusive expedition "Sails of the Spirit" continues its vibrant journey along the coast of Croatia. The packed program combines sea passages, unique inclusive tours, meetings with youth, and profound personal discoveries.

Nina Borisovna Serova, Head of the Department of Service and Wellness Technologies at the Institute of Physical Culture, Sports, and Youth Policy of Ural Federal University (UrFU) and permanent organizer of the conferences "Extrability as a Phenomenon of Inclusive Culture," shares her impressions straight from the scene:

"Today we visited the museum in Malinska, where we were told about shipbuilding and shown boats built in past epochs. It's an amazing place where everything can literally be touched with your hands! First, we conducted an Extrability tour here, and then we headed to the maritime school."

Having started the journey from the island of Cres, the expedition arrived on the island of Krk in the picturesque town of Malinska. In addition to the tactile museum of shipbuilding history, the team visited the Malinska Yacht Club, where coach Vit Kralić organized an introduction to the Optimist and Laser class training boats. A special moment was the meeting with young athletes, among whom was a young man from Kazakhstan—he enthusiastically and very clearly explained the basics of sailing to the participants in Russian.

Upon reaching Rijeka, the team underwent a scheduled crew change: some participants completed their leg of the route, and a new crew came on board. The next morning began with a major event: second-year students from the Rijeka Technical School (16-year-old future shipbuilders along with their teacher) came to visit "Sails of the Spirit." The class divided into two groups:

First group: Participated in interactive master classes and engaged in plasticineography.
Second group: Went out on the boats accompanied by visually impaired experts – Evgenia Cherepanova and Dragan from the city of Pula.

After deep reflection and an exchange of impressions, the team headed to the Rijeka city market, bought fresh fish, and arranged a cozy fish dinner right on the boats.

Course for Pula and an Unexpected Hospitable Stop

Currently, the expedition is heading toward Pula. On the way to the overnight stay on the island of Cres, the team made an unplanned but very warm stop in Martinšćica. There, the travelers were personally greeted by the town's mayor, and the local Italian community graciously treated the guests to delicious white Chardonnay and conducted a brief walk along the embankment.

Having regained their strength, the crew cast off their moorings once again. Ahead lies a night passage of about 40 miles to the overnight mooring site. "Sails of the Spirit" continues to move forward with confidence, erasing any barriers!