After the starting signal, the large maxi yachts took a good 20 minutes to break away from the field of over 1,770 yachts. Normally, the "big ones" rush away from the countless smaller boats immediately after the start.
But yesterday the wind was blowing from the east at just two knots - too little to get going. At 10.30 a.m., the traditional cannon shot echoed across the field of participants. However, they only set off in slow motion, if at all.
Only after a slight left turn did something like a breeze appear. The maxis were finally able to capitalise on their size advantage and pull away from the rest of the competitors. For a long time, however, the order changed chaotically every minute. In the end, the regatta organisers finally saw sense and shortened the course.
"Wild Thing - Arca SGR" wins the Barcolana
The first boat to cross the line after one hour and 49 minutes was Furio Benussi's 100-foot maxi yacht "Wild Thing - Arca SGR". Second was "Prosecco DOC Shockwave 3", third the "Way of Life". The majority of the field did not make it to the finish line until hours after the time limit had expired.
"It was an extraordinary Barcolana," said the President of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, Mitja Gialuz, at the end. "It was a tactical test for the crews and a great party on land!"
In 1969, 51 yachts met for the first time to round off the season off Trieste. Since then, the Barcolana has taken place every autumn, this year for the 55th time. The regatta is open to boats of all sizes and types as well as amateur and professional crews. Originally, the regatta was only intended to be a relaxed sail-off for crews from the region before the winter sailing break. However, teams from overseas have long been coming to the sailing and cultural festival, which now lasts several days.
In 2014, more than 2,000 yachts took to the starting line for the first time, and the 50th edition even set a record: 2,689 boats set off on the 15-mile course in the Gulf of Trieste. This makes the Barcolana the largest regatta in the world.
