4639) "Betina gajeta" (A traditional wooden boat that has been an indispensable part of the life of the inhabitants of Betina and the island of Murter for centuries) and "Llaüt mallorquín Balear" (a traditional boat of the Balearic Islands): Croatia - Spain Joint
Issue: Stamps issued by Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post): Date/Year of Stamps issue: 11.08.2026:
Betina gajeta:
The Betina gajeta is a
traditional wooden boat that has been an indispensable part of the life of the
inhabitants of Betina and the island of Murter for centuries.
Built as a
multipurpose vessel, it was used to transport people, livestock, building materials,
wood, farming tools, crops and other products between the neighboring islands,
the Kornati archipelago and the mainland.
Thanks to its wide and stable hull,
it was able to safely transport large cargo.
Today, it is recognised as one of
the most valuable examples of Croatian traditional maritime heritage.
Organised
shipbuilding in Betina has been developing since the mid-18th century.
Local
shipbuilders have perfected the shape of the gajeta to suit the shallow sea,
numerous coves and the needs of island life.
Years of maritime tradition
combined with shipbuilding knowledge had allowed for the development of a
vessel that was durable, reliable and adapted to everyday work at sea.
The boats were built without
plans, based on the experience passed down from generation to generation.
The
shape of the boat was determined by the builder, using the šest, a special
wooden template of the main rib in natural scale, based on which all the other
ribs were derived using a measuring batten, while the rest of the hull line
depended solely on the skill and "eye" of the builder himself.
Different types of quality local wood were used for construction, selected
according to the purpose of individual parts of the boat.
The Betina gajeta is
between 5.00 and 8.00 metres long, open inside in order to maximise the use of cargo
space, while the bow and stern are closed for better protection when sailing.
Traditionally, it was equipped with a lateen sail and oars.
When there was no
wind, the crew propelled the ship by rowing, often for several hours of travel.
Sail management required extensive experience and good knowledge of wind and
sea.
With respect to its development stages, there is the older, more robust
type of gajeta intended for the transport of heavy cargo and the newer, more
elegant type suited for faster and easier sailing thanks to simplified
maneuvering and adaptation to more modern navigation conditions.
All boats of the Betina
gajeta type have recently been built according to a specific procedure and
rules characteristic of the Betina wooden shipbuilding.
The construction
process traditionally takes place through eleven strictly defined phases, from
the client's requirements and careful selection of timber to final outfitting.
The Betina gajeta has several specific features, and a typical one is soha, a
thole with a characteristic "U"-shape.
Each soha is movable and has
its own slot or box. On the gajeta, there were four to five alternately
distributed.
Two wooden cleats, notched on the outside, are located on each
side of the stern to tension and wrap the sail sheet.
A typical element is also
the skala on the bow of the ship, a special wooden step designed to facilitate
the embarcation and disembarcation of people, tools and livestock on low and
rocky shores.
In the late 1950s, internal ship engines were installed in the
gajeta boats en masse, which required minor hull modifications. At the same
time, the development of road infrastructure and changes in lifestyle are
gradually taking away the role of an work-only, labourer's boat.
A special place in
preserving this heritage is held by the regatta of traditional wooden ships
"Za dušu i tilo" ["For the body and soul"], which annually
brings together owners, shipbuilders and lovers of maritime heritage.
Traditionally outfitted gajeta boats participate in the regatta, reviving the
appearance and manner of sailing from past times under the sails.
The event has
become one of the most important festivals of traditional boats on the Croatian
Adriatic and an important contribution to the preservation of the identity of
Betina, the island of Murter and Croatian maritime heritage.
Llaüt mallorquín Balear a
traditional boat of the Balearic Islands:
Llaut (llaüt) is one of the
most iconic traditional vessels of the Western Mediterranean and one of the
most important symbols of the maritime heritage of the Balearic Islands.
For
centuries, it has been indispensable in the everyday life of the island's
population, serving to fish, transport people and goods and connect remote
coastal settlements and islands.
Today, although its original economic role has
almost disappeared, llaut remains a valuable part of the cultural identity of
the Balearic Islands and an example of the successful preservation of
traditional shipbuilding.
Over the centuries, its shape and construction have
adapted to local needs but retained the basic features that make it easily
recognisable.
The traditional llaut was
made by master shipbuilders, known as "mestres d'aixa", using native wood species
such as pine, olive, almond and carob.
Each boat was hand-built, which made it
a blend of functionality, craftsmanship and aesthetic value.
The most important
structural features of the llaut include a wide and rounded wooden hull, a flat
or slightly raised bow, a rounded stern and a deep draft that ensures
exceptional stability during navigation.
It was traditionally equipped with a
lateen sail that allowed efficient navigation in different wind directions,
while oars were also used for maneuvering.
The shape of the hull, often
compared to a tear, allowed easy sailing over waves and effective draining of
water from the deck. This construction made the llaut a reliable vessel for the
daily work of fishermen, but also for longer journeys between islands.
With the development of
technology, llaut has undergone certain adjustments.
Today's designs are most
often equipped with diesel or electric engines, and many models offer a modern
level of comfort with cabins, sun loungers and modern navigation equipment.
Nevertheless, the characteristic appearance of the wooden hull and the
traditional silhouette has been retained, successfully combining maritime
tradition and modern requirements of nautical tourism.
Its stability,
reliability and the ability to access shallow coves have made it an ideal
vessel for recreational boating, sport fishing and exploring the coastal
heritage.
In recent decades, the
number of traditional llaut builders has decreased significantly, so preserving
this craft is an important challenge.
There are associations in the Balearic
Islands dedicated to the renovation of old boats and the transfer of shipbuilding
knowledge to new generations.
Particularly noteworthy are projects for the
restoration of historical llaut boats and initiatives for the establishment of
schools of traditional shipbuilding and maritime museums. Its preservation
contributes to the protection of traditional shipbuilding skills, maritime
identity and the way of life that has shaped Mediterranean coastal communities
for centuries.
The two Stamps issued by Croatia Post
A First Day Cover (FDC)
A Sheetlet of six stamps each of the two variants.
Technical details
Issue Date: 10.08.2026
Designer: Alenka
Lalić, designer from Zagreb, Photographer: Igor Turčinov (Betina gajeta)
Printer: AKD d.o.o., Zagreb
Process: Offset Printing
Colours: Multicolour (CMYK)
Size: 35.50 mm x 42.60 mm
Values: letter code B
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41) "Bettina gajeta" (A traditional wooden boat that has been an indispensable part of the life of the inhabitants of Betina and the island of Murter for centuries) and "Llaut mallorquin Balear" (a traditional boat of the Balearic Islands): Croatia-Spain Joint issue: Stamps issued by Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) Date/Year of Stamps issue: 11.08.2026
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