The traditional competition (click here for its story), now in its 52th year running and established by Società Velica of Barcola and Grignano – SVBG, has modified a few of its classical features to comply with all social distancing and safety rules. «The title of this year's Barcolana, “Together”, represents everything we are – said SVBG president Mitja Gialuz – We are people of the sea who want to come together to race, respecting the environment and following all the safety guidelines, maintaining a positive outlook, with the ability to adapt and the will to win over the fear and uncertainties that have characterized the last months in Italy and around the world».
Changes for the better
That's why, for instance, the organization ruled that mooring is mandatory for every boat in order to prevent clustering along the Rive (the Banks) and made more than 400 free moorings available. The Rive themselves will show up very different: the Banks along the city and facing the Gulf used to accomodate the Barcolana Village with touristic, wine&food stalls. But to avoid gatherings of crowds, this year they'll be cleared out of cars and with no booths whatsoever. «We decided to give up the village on the Rive because we would have had to create a large perimeter with entrances and exits, and this would not represent the spirit of the event – commented Gialuz – The first decision we made back in March was to help all shop-owners during this difficult year. Our immediate goal was to involve as many shops as possible, so that the entire city would feel part of the event and benefit from the Barcolana».
So wine&food tastings and events will be provided by restaurants, bars, winebars, osterie all around Trieste. And thanks to the trade associations Confcommercio and Fipe, shopkeepers will take part to a large Barcolana-themed window display competition. Piazza Unità d’Italia will host the Gold Sponsors and promotional initiatives, the events will be set in Piazza Verdi and the Scala Reale will house the Infopoint and the TV broadcast area.
Racing events
The main race, the Barcolana everyone is waiting for, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday 11th October in the Gulf of Trieste and it will be 13 nautical miles long. The starting line is positioned between Barcola and Miramare, and the final leg of the race course is located off the coast of the lighthouse Faro della Vittoria, with the finish line in the Dam of Porto Vecchio, just off Piazza Unità d’Italia.
But many other racing events are scheduled in the days running up to the big competition. Like Barcolana Young, on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October, from Molo IV, for the Optimist Class' helmsmen aged between 8 and 15 years old. And the picturesque Barcolana By Night on Saturday 10th, starting at 4 p.m. up to 9 p.m. from Molo Audace and offering a spectacular view of sails at sunset.