BARCOLANA 57
The Official Opening of the 57th Edition of the World’s Largest Regatta with the Flag-Raising Ceremony
With the traditional flag-raising ceremony, the 57th edition of the Barcolana officially opened today at noon: a widespread calendar of events to be enjoyed not only in Trieste, but across the whole region. After Aquileia, which took centre stage this afternoon, Barcolana will also bring initiatives to Grado, Lignano and Lake of the Three Municipalities (involving Cavazzo, Bordano and Trasaghis).
While Friuli Venezia Giulia is alive with activities, Trieste is celebrating the record number of entries for the Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy: with ambassador Gregorio Paltrinieri expected on Sunday morning, as many as 452 swimmers have registered for the open-water race, setting a historic record for the event.
At Aquileia, the Foundation recorded a sell-out – with 100 reservations in just two hours – for the event “Aquileia, Gateway to the Mediterranean”.
Participants took a true journey back in time: from the ancient River Port to the “Fondo Pasqualis” market, and finally to the Natissa River, where the Barcolana’s special crew boarded the Santa Maria. Sailing took them to the river mouth and into the lagoon, before continuing on foot to the Roman Forum. The deep connection between Aquileia and the sea – from pre-Roman times to the twentieth century – was narrated by archaeologists Cristiano Tiussi (Director of the Aquileia Foundation) and Angelica Gabrielli (PhD candidate, University of Verona), together with a technician from the Friuli Plain Land Reclamation Consortium, Santa Maria skipper Nico Pavan, Solaris Yachts President Federico Gambini, and tour guide Anna Sairu.
Further initiatives linked to the Foundation’s presence at Barcolana include a stand in the Barcolana Village, opening on Thursday 9 October at 18:30, and a video-mapping installation on a Solaris yacht to be displayed in Piazza Unità starting tomorrow morning.
BARCOLANA PARA SAILING – EUROSAF INCLUSIVITY EVENT – Once again, the Bora wind played a starring role in the fiercely contested races of the European Para Sailing Championship for the Hansa 303 class. After three heats on the opening day, the “super sailors” of the 23 crews competing for the title today completed another two races.
Carmelo Forastieri of the Lega Navale di Palermo climbed to the top of the Eurosaf Inclusive European Championship leaderboard: with a third and a fifth place today – the first race held in strong Bora winds, the second in lighter, unstable conditions – he now leads the standings, tied on points with Britain’s Rory McKinna, winner of the day’s opening race but unclassified in the second. Thanks to the discard system, McKinna remains in contention. Third place in the single-crew division goes to Poland’s Michal Dzugan, just four points behind the leaders and consistently placing between third and fifth.
In the double-crew division, Lucia Garay and Maria Cristina Atoni continue to lead, dropping a second place, followed by Paola Colle and Jacopo Damiani. Tomorrow, three more races are scheduled.
BARCOLANA SKATE UP – Barcolana also reached neighbourhoods far from the sea thanks to a partnership with the Municipality of Trieste. This afternoon in Altura, a skateboarding contest took place, with experienced athletes performing tricks for children and teenagers.
From 14:30 to 16:00, young participants joined a workshop with instructors, followed by open ramp sessions until 17:30. The event concluded with the “Cash for Tricks” challenge, rewarding the most creative performances. Alongside skateboarding, BMX also took centre stage: from 15:00 to 16:00, athletes gave demonstrations, followed by a play with bike session for children aged three and up.
BESANA “ON FIRE” – Great activity in Barcolana for cartoonist Davide Besana, who yesterday inaugurated the exhibition “Sailing in Comics” in Trieste’s Sala Veruda. The exhibition showcases some of his most famous strips and illustrated stories of the Barcolana regattas he has taken part in.
On the occasion of the 57th edition, Besana is also holding workshops for secondary school students: after those dedicated to comics, today’s focus was on photography, with guest sailing photographer Martina Orsini, as part of the Sailing for Kids project.
SEAYOU@BARCOLANA – This afternoon also saw the start of a new edition of SEAYOU@BARCOLANA, bringing cultural activities, performances and tastings of local products to the Bay of Sistiana.
READY FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEKEND – This coming weekend promises to be an unforgettable celebration of sport and the sea, with more than 1,500 athletes and enthusiasts taking part in Barcolana events across Friuli Venezia Giulia.
On Saturday, attention will turn to Grado, where over 180 paddlers will close the summer season with the Barcolana Grado SUP Experience. The “city of the sun” will come alive as competitors of all levels take to the water, some following a 4 km course for amateurs, others challenging themselves on the longer 7 km route, which also circles the island of Schiusa.
On Sunday, the spotlight shifts to Lignano Pineta for a spectacular showcase of Beach Sprint, the discipline that is set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. More than 200 athletes will compete along the shoreline, bringing energy and spectacle to the beach.
The Lake of the Three Municipalities will also become a hub of activity with the Barcolana Lake UP, where a hundred participants will test themselves in four different disciplines: cycling, kayaking, model sailing and speed running.
Back in Trieste, young sailors will be in action with the Barcolana Young, organised with the support of Fondazione CRTrieste and involving more than 170 athletes. And the water will once again be the stage for another record-breaking event: the Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy, with no fewer than 451 swimmers taking to the sea, joined by Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, ambassador of the event.
It will be a weekend in which every corner of the region, from the lakes to the beaches, from the villages to the heart of Trieste, comes together under the spirit of Barcolana – a festival of sport, inclusion and passion for the sea.
WHERE PASSION MEETS THE SEA: THE “POP” STORIES OF THE REGATTA – With entries approaching 1,300, Barcolana is not only about numbers but also about people and their stories. Every crew brings with it a unique tale of friendships, passions and dreams that converge in Trieste to give life to the magic of this regatta.
And finally, an Italian story that speaks of memory and continuity: that of Veleno III, a Jazz 27 rebuilt by Andrea Patacca together with his father Gilberto for the Circolo Nautico Sambenedettese. After Andrea’s passing in 2021, his former students chose to carry on his legacy by continuing to race with the same boat at every Barcolana. “For us, Barcolana is a way to remember Andrea,” they explain, “and to live again that spirit of friendship and togetherness that made us fall in love with this regatta and with Trieste.”
These stories remind us that Barcolana is much more than a regatta: it is a celebration of people, their journeys, and the passion that unites them all through the sea.
TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE – SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER
Sailors for Kids – storytelling in comics – 10:00, Magazzino 26, Sala Sbisà
Barcolana Fun Focus: -2
Opening of the Barcolana Village – Piazza Unità
Barcolana Lake Up – Lake of the Three Municipalities (kayak and bike)
Barcolana Grado SUP Experience – Amateur and competitive courses with awards and pasta party
Barcolana Young – Day 1
Barcolana Para Sailing – EUROSAF Inclusivity Event – Day 3 of racing
Opening Concert of Barcolana57 presented by Generali – Diodato – 21:00, Piazza Ponterosso
Muggia Colours the Barcolana – 10:00, Piazza Marconi and Muggia Marina
Canal Clean-Up – Ponterosso
