The regatta sailing in the big-boat collective has been around since 1969, and the Barcolana is always held on the second Sunday in October on the Gulf of Trieste. And over 1000 boats regularly take to the starting line. At the same time. Over one line. Those who don't get away well and want to start the 13 nautical mile long final race without a hassle bring out fenders.
The 1757 crews battled light winds below five knots at the start. The big ones opted for a start in the centre of the line on the Barcola side, where the local sailors from Trieste were looking for the last gusts of the morning easterly wind. Mitja Kosmina on the 90-footer "Prosecco Doc Shockwave 3" came off best. Top favourite "Arca SGR" first had to get rid of a few smaller boats before the 100-footer caught the free wind. Shortly behind her was the Swiss Psaros 33 "MSC", which finished 11th and was by far the smallest participant at the front of the line honours.
Favourite "Arca SGR" got off to a weak start
"Arca SGR" was the first to reach Trieste's landmark by the sea, the Piazza Unità d'Italia, and was first ship home after 1 hour, 28 minutes and 14 seconds. Furio Benussi's 100-footer sailed 20 minutes slower in last year's foul weather thriller. "Prosecco Doc Shockwave 3" followed two minutes later. The duel with the Swan 90 "Woodpecker Cube - Generali", with 49er Olympian Jana Germani from Trieste at the helm, was won by Paolo Cian on "Fiamme Gialle Nice". Mauro Pelaschier and Tommaso Chieffi got everything out of the almost 30-year-old 80-foot maxi "Anemos II". Their reward was seventh place.
Former winner came with an even bigger yacht
Wendy Schmidt, the Line Honours winner from 2022, did not come with the Botin 85 "Deep Blue" this time, but with her primary yacht "Elfje". The 52-metre aluminium ketch with a maximum draught of seven metres and a six-metre bowsprit was launched by Royal Huisman in 2014 and crossed the finish line off Trieste in 37th place. The US American and her husband, long-time Google CEO Eric Schmidt, run the 110-metre-long research vessel "Falkor Too" with their Schmidt Ocean Foundation.
The Barcolana as a two-week event
The Barcolana sailing spectacle begins at the start of October with various regattas and water sports activities. There was night sailing, races for foilers, inclusive wokrshops and a gathering of classic boats, 104 of which competed. In addition, the "Women in Sailing" event took place with a mixed regatta, and gourmet chefs, accompanied by professional skippers, competed against each other in the Gulf of Trieste and cooked for the dinner that took place that evening. As part of the Barcolana, Solaris Yachts also held the Solaris Adriatic Cup and yachts over 60 feet long competed for the Maxi Trofeo Portopiccolo. And there was even a Barcolana event in the snow: alpine skiing with a sea view.
Barcolana record: collective start with over 2500 boats
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 part 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.
