As usual, the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano-SVBG is the leading force behind Barcolana, with the Municipality of Trieste as a co-organiser and many associations and businesses of Friuli Venezia Giulia also taking part. «We decided to sum up this year's edition with the word “Enjoy” – said SVBG president Mitja Gialuz – which invites people to participate and have fun: after two extremely challenging years, the Barcolana is back with its celebrations, with the possibility to experience our shared love for the sea. Barcolana54 is about inclusion, passion, it will bring music back to the foreground, and it will bring together sea lovers».
«The Barcolana is a celebration of the sea which combines the passion for sports with environmental commitment and cooperation – said Chairman of Generali, Andrea Sironi – Generali has contributed to the event with its expertise and ambitions, one of which is the “Women in Sailing – Generali Cup”, whose aim is to show that collaboration, inclusion and acknowledging merit are the best way to achieve a more resilient and sustainable society that can face new challenges and change».
The crews of the “Go to Barcolana from Slovenia – I Feel Slovenia” and of the “Go to Barcolana from Ravenna Hera Cup” will arrive in Trieste on the days right before the Barcolana. And along with Generali, the Barcolana will once again organise the “Generali Cup – Women in Sailing”, the event bringing female sailors to the fore. «We have always had many female participants in the Barcolana – said president Gialuz – but, after last year, they now play a leading role and we know their stories and their enthusiasm. This is a key issue that extends well beyond the Barcolana». Plus, the renowned Amerigo Vespucci Ship, the 1930's Italian Navy training ship for Sea Cadets, will join the Barcolana on the morning of Saturday 8th October, with the aim of inspiring all sea and sailing lovers with its timeless charm.
More than 170 events on land already started (since October 1st) on the Waterfront, near Ponterosso, at the Salone degli Incanti and at the Generali Auditorium of the Trieste Convention Center, as well as in exhibition halls and museums of the city. Among them, it's the 4th edition of “Barcolana – A sea of tales”, the literary festival dedicated to the sea, ending on Saturday 8th October. As usual, the Villaggio Barcolana is animating the very central Piazza dell’Unità, hosting institutional and Gold Sponsors' stands, plus temporary stores and stands for crews. Furthermore, a dedicated area will be set up on the Waterfront for staff from RAI-Italian national broadcasting network, and its sea-focused TV program “Linea Blu” (famed).
For the project “C'ero Anch’Io” (“I was there too”), sea photographer Carlo Borlenghi has been taking pictures of Barcolana participants while registering, and the portraits will be on display in the Salone degli Incanti, in the Waterfront, on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9.
One of the special projects of this year’s Barcolana is the large fundraising campaign set up with the Donation Network. Around 30 associations have already signed up, and any crew can participate by listing the name of their boat and of their crew. Much interest and engagement are being shown towards the exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary since the victory of the Louis Vuitton Cup by “Il Moro di Venezia” boat. The exhibition will be held at the Salone degli Incanti from 5 to 9 October (free admission) and will feature beautiful vintage pictures by Carlo Borlenghi, flags and objects that were once on “Il Moro di Venezia”. Right beside it on the Waterfront, five boats that belonged to the Gardini family will be moored with full honours.
Up to now, many events already unfolded and prizes were handed to winners of the many races leading up to the mani regatta. The young athletes of the Barcolana Young opened Barcolana54 last Sunday, starting from Molo IV. The winners for the Juniores Category are: 1st Alberto Avanzini (Centro Nautico Bardolino), 2nd Leandro Scialpi (Centro Nautico Bardolino), 3rd Mattia di Martino (SVBG). Cadets Category winners: 1st Nicolò Santoro (Società Triestina della Vela), 2nd Ahnieshka Madonich, 3rd Pietro Vecchioni (SVBG).
“Step Impianti - Clean Sport One” (Jadro Koper) won the Barcolana Maxi – Portopiccolo Cup, dedicated to maxi yachts: it defeated the other 9 participants, followed by Deep Blue (New York Yacht Club) and Ekita (Società Velica Barcola e Grignano).
240 participants braved the cold waters of the Gulf of Trieste for the traditional swimming race in the open sea “Barcolana Nuota”: for the second year in a row, Marco Urbani (Circolo Tommasi Trieste) won the race (he also ranked second in 2018 and 2019), followed by 2nd Pietro Martin (Gymnasium Pordenone) and 3rd Nicolas Romanello (Pallanuoto Trieste).
The Barcolana per il Sociale (Barcolana for the Community) also took place few days ago as well as the Barcolana Sea Summit “Towards the States General of Sustainability of the Northern Adriatic Sea and Central Europe”: the event hosted more than 70 speakers over tthree days and focused on the “sustainable mindset” of our young people of Generation Z. Barcolana54 will actually be a ZeroImpact event thanks to AcegasApsAmga’s support.
Credits: all photos courtesy of Barcolana's press office and provided by Studio Borlenghi