At the opening ceremony at the start in Metkovic, President Ivo Josipovic, under whose auspices the race was held, said that "this is a great day for all of us as we are keeping a nice tradition alive, and this is a part of our heritage."
"We all are winners of this contest," he added.
In his brief speech, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic sent his greetings to Croats living in the Neretva River basin on both sides of the border.
"My dear Neretva basin residents from both sides, it will not divide us as we keep together," Bebic said also sending his greetings to guests from the Italian province of Molise, the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina and from the mainland Croatia.
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor expressed satisfaction about attending this year's Neretva boat marathon.
Before the start of the race Bebic and Dubrovnik County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavic were presented awards for their contribution to the activities of the local association promoting this contest.
The Neretva-Ploce route is 22,500 metres long and the crews in 35 traditional vessels, that are competing this year, are expected to reach the finish in Ploce, the southern Croatian seaport, at about 1930 hrs Saturday.
Every crew can have no more than 18 and no less than 12 members.
The winning crew will receive a shield with the coat of arms of Domagoj of Croatia, a duke (knez) of Dalmatian Croatia in 864–876.