About a month ago, we were together in Zagreb marking 25 years since the day our magazine was established. We were happy remembering our encounters at sea and hoping to meet again this summer.
We were also very proud to show our anniversary issue, maybe the best one in past twenty-five years and to present our guides for foreign seafarers who sail the eastern part of the Adriatic. But life sometimes interferes with our wishes and faces us with unexpected and unpleasant surprises.
This time maybe with the hardest ones, first with the coronavirus pandemic and then with a strong earthquake that hit Zagreb where our offices are. Let me tell you right away that all of us who live in Zagreb and our editors who live on the coast are well, in good health and spirit. So are our families. The earthquake did not cause any damage to our homes nor our offices and we have continued to work in new circumstances – combining working from home and the office.
We have been through a lot in our lives. Some of us remember even more powerful earthquakes in Makarska in 1962 and Dubrovnik 1979, we lived through the war, the first line of defence, lived through bombing attacks, had to be evacuated from our homes…But if taught us that in this battle with the invisible and thus most dangerous enemy we have to stay calm and use common sense, be responsible and have faith in the victory and bright future. Not giving in is very important now. That is why we finished printing last of our booklets for seafarers from other countries last week and we are now preparing the new issue of More magazine in which we will analyze thoroughly the consequences of coronavirus pandemic on nautical sector in Croatia and the Adriatic. All our publications, More included, will see its online editions which will be updated regularly and will be available especially to those who cannot go to the newsstand, are not our subscribers and to boaters from abroad.
We know that the time will come, hopefully this summer already, when we will sail again, spend time together, enjoy the Adriatic – the most beautiful sea in the world.
Until then, let us dream about it and More will help as much as possible.
Take care of yourselves, be responsible and disciplined, stay home and try not to make any unnecessary physical contacts.
We will fight this, we will win this and sail again, stronger and better than ever before.
Braslav Karlic
editor-in-chief