At the swimming marathon RokOtok, known in Croatia since 2019, an educational event of Domagoj Jakopović Ribafish, who visits 50 Croatian islands swimming by his own muscle power, SeaHelp is also present: one of the yellow response boats secures the ambitious event as an escort boat on the last swimming stage from Korčula to Vrnik..
Tomorrow is the day: Domagoj Jakopović Ribafish, whom everyone just calls Ribafish, will set out from Korčula to the small island of Vrnik – by water, swimming. The route is the final leg of the RokOtok project, which is well-known and extremely popular in Croatia. The event, a “joyful summer swimming educational marathon,” was launched back in 2019 by Domagoj Jakopović Ribafish in memory of his son Rok, who passed away at an early age.
At that time, Ribafish had promised his son Rok that he would visit all 50 Croatian islands that are inhabited together with him. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Therefore, in memory of his beloved son, he made a plan to swim these islands alone in just five years.
RokOtok is dedicated to Ribafish’s deceased son – and to all Croatian children
If that wasn’t enough, he had also set the goal of dedicating his campaign to all Croatian children, spending time with as many of them as possible and introducing them to the sport of swimming.
After swimming off Dubrovnik, Split, Šibenik and Zadar in 2021, Ribafish targeted 17 islands in last year and now, another year later, he will complete his ambitious goal of swimming all 50 inhabited islands in Croatia with the final swimming leg from Korčula to Vrnik.
The educational swimming marathon was even awarded by the Croatian Ministry
“When I swim, he is with me and it is so much easier. RokOtok is dedicated to my son Rok, and when the body can’t anymore, and when the brain can’t anymore, there are many emotions – I swim for him then,” turistickeprice.hr quotes the swimmer and father who lost his beloved son.
According to turistickeprice.hr, RokOtok was declared the “most beautiful story of summer 2019” and even received the award of the Croatian Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure for his contribution to the promotion of maritime culture. Now RokOtok, which Ribafish invites experienced swimmers to join, is entering its final stage. This will take him from Korcula to Vrnik. Then Ribafish will have accomplished his self-imposed mission.
SeaHelp accompanies Ribafish on his last swim stage with a rescue boat
The Island of Vrnik belongs to an archipelago of islands in the Dalmatia region and, with the village of the same name, Vrnik is probably the most famous – and oldest – quarry of Korcula. The island is located southeast of the town of Korcula, offshore in the sea, between the Peljesac peninsula and the island of Korcula, and can be reached only by boat. The locals themselves refer to the island as “Treasure Island” because of the famous limestone that is considered a valuable “treasure” there.
SeaHelp supports the RokOtok action and secures the last swimming leg of the Domagoj Jakopović Ribafish from Korcula to Vrnik with one of its fast and maneuverable response boats. “No father wants to lose his son”, said SeaHelp Managing Director Wolfgang Dauser, “it is a great honor and a matter of the heart for us to support Ribafish in his ambitious goal”.
