A German man drove a rented jet ski into a SUP carrying two young women. One suffered minor injuries; the distance, speed and cause of the accident remain under investigation.
What has been officially confirmed
On Monday afternoon, a rented jet ski struck a stand-up paddleboard south of Rovinj. According to the preliminary official account, two young German women were on the SUP. One sustained minor injuries and was taken to Pula General Hospital.
MRCC Rijeka received the report at 15:15 through the port authorities in Pula. According to the notice, the adult German driver held a valid licence. The jet ski belongs to a Croatian legal entity and had been rented out.
What has not yet been established
The Rovinj branch of the harbourmaster's office and Pula Harbourmaster's Office are investigating the collision. Neither the precisely measured position nor the speed, distance, avoidance manoeuvre, alcohol test or weather details have yet been published.
A valid licence does not answer the question of responsibility. It initially confirms only a formal requirement. Who was driving, who owns the vehicle and who caused the accident are separate questions.
The 300-metre rule is context only
Special distance and speed rules apply to motorised craft near the Croatian coast. Within 300 metres of shore, the general maximum is eight knots; planing may begin only outside that zone. Swimming areas and local rules can impose further limits.
The official accident notice does not establish that this particular rule was broken. Without a confirmed position and speed, saying so would be a claim about the cause that prejudged the ongoing investigation.
Why visibility on the water matters
A SUP sits low in the water and can be noticed late amid glare, waves and other craft. Bright clothing or a buoyancy aid, a clearly visible board and defensive behaviour help, but do not place the duty to avoid a collision solely on paddlers.
Drivers of motorised craft must keep watching the water ahead, adapt their speed and course and maintain sufficient distance. Rental operators should explain the operating area, craft and rules clearly. A licence does not replace that specific handover.
After a collision
People come first: stop the engine, create distance from the propulsion area, secure injured people and call for help via 112 or marine radio. The position, craft involved and observed sequence should be documented without obstructing rescue measures.
For Rovinj, the next reliable step is the finding of the port authorities. Until then, this is a confirmed collision involving one holidaymaker with minor injuries—not evidence of a rule breach that has already been resolved.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
- Jedna ozlijeđena osoba u naletu jet-skija na SUP kod RovinjaCroatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure · 1 September 2026report time, people involved, rental, driver's licence, degree of injury and ongoing investigation
- Pravilnik o sigurnosti pomorske plovidbeNarodne novine · NN 52/2025general legal context for coastal distances, speed and planing; no breach established in this individual case
