Barcolana58: 1,858 boats ready to take to the water in the Gulf of Trieste for tomorrow’s great race

Everything is ready for Barcolana58 presented by Generali. Trieste is enjoying the eve of the Autumn Cup, with the final crews arriving in the city and large crowds filling the Barcolana Village, the waterfront and the city centre. Registration closed at 19:00 at Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, with 1,858 boats entered for tomorrow’s great race, Sunday 11 October, in the Gulf of Trieste.

From the waterfront and Piazza Unità d’Italia to Borgo Cavana and Borgo Teresiano, the Village and the yachts moored in the San Giusto Basin, spectators have been following the final preparations ahead of tomorrow’s race.

Among the highlights of the day was Barcolana Women in Sailing by Generali, which brought mixed crews onto the water aboard Seascape 18 one-design yachts. Originally scheduled for Friday and postponed until today because of adverse weather conditions, the race took place in very light winds of between 2.3 and 3.2 knots, allowing just one race to be completed. Michela Stefani took victory ahead of Jamila Cerdeira and Ivica Kostelić. The event once again highlighted the project developed by Barcolana and Generali to promote mixed-gender sailing and encourage women to take on leadership roles.

“We are closing registration for Barcolana58 presented by Generali this evening with 1,858 boats, an extraordinary number and very close to last year’s figure,” commented Mitja Gialuz, President of Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano. “At a time when participation in sailing regattas is generally declining, Barcolana continues to be a benchmark and the largest sailing regatta in the world. We are extremely pleased with this result, which has been made possible by the support of all our partners, volunteers and the 1,250 people involved in organising and delivering the event. Being at the helm of this extraordinary organisation is an honour, a responsibility and a great pleasure, particularly because Barcolana is not simply growing, but continuing to mature. Tomorrow, we are looking forward to a day when everyone can enjoy sailing, with safety always coming first. It will be an opportunity to experience the true spirit of Barcolana: the friendly competition between neighbouring boats, participation and the pleasure of coming together on the water.”

VESPUCCI TOUR – Tomorrow, Sunday 11 October, Villaggio IN Italia, set up at Molo dei Bersaglieri for the final stop of the Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026, will host two events promoted by the Minister for Disabilities.

At 10:00, the Village Conference Hall will host the conference “Talents and Skills in Sport and Projects Promoted by the Minister for Disabilities”, dedicated to the VELANDO project. This will be the second meeting focusing on the project, following the event held on Friday 9 October. At 11:30, the event “Sport and Disability” will take place with the Minister for Disabilities, Alessandra Locatelli.

Throughout the ship’s stay in Trieste, the Minister has also organised visits aboard the Amerigo Vespucci specifically for people with disabilities, enabling everyone to experience the excitement of visiting the “most beautiful ship in the world”.

WENDY SCHMIDT – Wendy Schmidt has arrived in Trieste and visited the Barcolana Village, from the immersive installation The Ocean in Me to the Deep Blue Exploration Zone, where she also met a small group of UWC students. The students had the opportunity to present and discuss projects developed as part of the Ocean Research Challenge, an initiative that engages young people in developing practical solutions to challenges facing the ocean and marine ecosystems. During her visit, Schmidt expressed her enthusiasm for the event, highlighting the importance of the connection between the sea, scientific research and younger generations.

“Barcolana is one of the most beautiful events in the world and offers an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate sailing and the deep connection we share with the ocean. Through the work of Schmidt Ocean Institute and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, we want to bring people closer to the ocean and help them understand just how much our lives depend on it, as well as how important it is to feel responsible for its health.

“Investing in younger generations means investing in the future. That is why we are committed to engaging young people, offering them opportunities to learn, participate and share their love for our planet and the sea with their peers. We hope that immersive experiences such as The Ocean in Me and the Deep Blue Exploration Zone can help change the way people see the world and understand their relationship with the ocean.

“Barcolana is also an opportunity to experience the sea first-hand. Tomorrow, I will be taking part in the race aboard a Melges 24, as I did last year. It is a smaller boat, and I am delighted to be sailing among the fleet again. As for Deep Blue, we will see whether we return with the same boat or a different one, but I intend to continue taking part in Barcolana.”

The appointment for everyone is tomorrow at 10:30, when the traditional starting cannon will signal the beginning of Barcolana58 presented by Generali.

Meanwhile, today was marked by very light winds, which prevented the Barcolana Classic – Trofeo SIAD race from taking place following the traditional parade in the San Giusto Basin, and also prevented the Este24 European title from being awarded. The inaugural Go To Barcolana From Croatia concluded with victory for SPGROUP – Extreme Sailing Team, while the programme of feeder races leading up to the Autumn Cup continued. This evening, the Barcolana Regionale By Night Cup will take place in the San Giusto Basin.

BARCOLANA WOMEN IN SAILING BY GENERALI: MICHELA STEFANI WINS AS MIXED-GENDER SAILING TAKES CENTRE STAGE – Michela Stefani, sailing with Martina Cavaletto and Francesco Tesser aboard SLO 600, has won Barcolana Women in Sailing by Generali, held this morning in the Gulf of Trieste. Traditionally scheduled for the Friday before the Autumn Cup, the race had been postponed until today because of adverse weather conditions. Very light winds of between 2.3 and 3.2 knots allowed only one race to be completed, with Stefani finishing ahead of Jamila Cerdeira, second with Rebecca Picariello and Eugenia Maggiore, and Croatian skiing champion Ivica Kostelić, third with Tommaso Salvi and Cristina Pirola. Francesca Russo Cirillo finished fourth, followed by Silvia Versolatto and Giulia Lantier.

The race is part of the Women in Sailing project, developed by Barcolana and Generali to promote mixed-gender sailing, encourage women’s participation and create opportunities for women and men to share roles, responsibilities and achievements on board. This year, the initiative also involved Generali Group employees and women from the Italian Army Military Academy, who had the opportunity to experience sailing alongside female sailors from Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano.

“Together with Generali, we are pursuing a project dedicated to inclusion, working to turn principles into practical experiences,” commented Dean Bassi, Vice-President of Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano. “We started with crews skippered by women, moved on to all-female crews and have now reached what we believe should be the norm: mixed crews in which women and men work together to achieve a shared result. This year, we wanted to broaden the experience further, involving not only great champions but also Generali employees and women from the Italian Army Military Academy, placing them in the capable hands of our female sailors. SVBG has always believed in female talent: many of our most prestigious medals have been won by our women sailors, and I am also thinking of Alice Linussi and Maria Vittoria Marchesini, who started out in Barcola and have reached the highest levels of international sailing. Our aim is to continue creating real opportunities. This year, we chose Be Open as Barcolana’s message; for Women in Sailing, I like to think of Be People: people first, without distinctions.”

“Together with Barcolana, we have helped promote an approach to sailing that values mixed-gender crews and is increasingly finding its place in Olympic classes too,” commented Emma Ursich, Head of Corporate Identity at Generali Group. “We are delighted to have played our part in this journey and thank Barcolana for sharing it with us. We would certainly have liked a little more wind today, but all the crews gave their very best, and we are pleased to have shared this day of sport and participation.”

Established in 2019 through the partnership between Barcolana and Generali, Women in Sailing has grown over the years into a project promoting mixed-gender sailing and training beyond the event itself. It has involved more than 250 athletes, 70 coaches and five sailing clubs in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and in 2026 became part of the Italian Sailing Federation’s national training programme for Level 2 and Level 3 coaches. The initiative will continue tomorrow with the presentation of the Generali – Women in Sailing Trophy, awarded to the first mixed crew to cross the Autumn Cup finishing line with a woman in a leadership role.

BARCOLANA TRIESTE24 GHC SANATORIO TRIESTINO – ESTE24 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP CONCLUDES WITHOUT A TITLE BEING AWARDED – The Este24 European Championship, held as part of Barcolana58 presented by Generali, concluded today without a European title being awarded. Following three races on Thursday and a second day affected by adverse weather, today’s conditions once again prevented the fleet from completing the minimum number of races required for the championship to be valid.

The Race Committee attempted to start a fourth race in very light winds, setting the course in the hope of making the most of the remaining opportunities. However, the race was abandoned when the fleet had completed approximately three-quarters of the first windward leg because of insufficient wind. With the time limit set at 14:30, no further attempts were possible.

The championship therefore concluded with the three valid races completed on the opening day, falling short of the five races required to award the European title. The standings from those races remain on record, with Kaster 24, skippered by Antonio Sodo Migliori (Yacht Club Costa Smeralda), in first place following three consecutive victories and a total of 3 points. Estrella C.C.A., skippered by Paolo Brinati (Circolo Canottieri Aniene/C.N.G.M.), and La Poderosa 2.0, skippered by Roberto Ugolini (Circolo Nautico Guglielmo Marconi), followed on 10 points each.

“We have experienced three extraordinarily intense days, both on and off the water,” commented Alessandro Maria Rinaldi, President of the Este24 Class. “Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side, and the wind conditions prevented us from completing the minimum five races required to award the European title. This does nothing, however, to diminish the sporting, organisational and human value of the event. We have enjoyed unforgettable moments, such as the spectacular night-time Stadium Race for the GHC – Garofalo Health Care Trophy, which has become one of the symbols of the Trieste24 Trophy, and the moving parade past the Amerigo Vespucci, paying tribute to a symbol of our Italian Navy. These moments reflected the passion of our class, our owners and our crews, who put on a wonderful spectacle in Trieste. Special thanks go to Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano and the Race Committee for all their hard work. Tomorrow, we will all be on the starting line for Barcolana58!”

This evening, the concluding reception will include the prize-giving ceremony for the Stadium Race – Trofeo GHC Sanatorio Triestino, bringing to a close three days which, despite the European title not being awarded, have reaffirmed the strong bond between the Este24 class and Barcolana.

BARCOLANA CLASSIC – TROFEO SIAD: PARADE DELIGHTS SPECTATORS BUT LACK OF WIND PREVENTS RACING – Vintage, classic and Spirit of Tradition yachts took centre stage this morning in the traditional Barcolana Classic – Trofeo SIAD parade in the San Giusto Basin. The event gave spectators along the waterfront an opportunity to admire some of the most representative yachts in sailing history, from historic vessels and boats designed by Carlo Sciarrelli to examples of the Adriatic’s maritime heritage. However, the lack of wind prevented the race from taking place, and it was cancelled.

The 2026 edition marks the tenth anniversary of the partnership between the SIAD Group and Barcolana, a collaboration which has helped promote maritime culture and traditions over the years. In 2018, to mark the event’s 50th anniversary, SIAD and Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano designed and built Barcolana50, a modern passera sailing boat constructed according to Adriatic tradition, with the aim of preserving and celebrating the region’s boatbuilding heritage.

RED BULL AT BARCOLANA58 WITH JIMMY SPITHILL AND SAILGP ATHLETES – An exceptional crew will take part in tomorrow’s Barcolana58 presented by Generali aboard Red Bull’s yacht. Leading the team will be Jimmy Spithill, an international sailing legend and CEO and co-founder of the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, who has been invited by Red Bull to compete in Trieste’s historic regatta.

“It has been twenty years since my last Barcolana, and it is wonderful to be back,” commented Jimmy Spithill. “We spend a lot of time at Marina Monfalcone with the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, where our Red Bull Sailing Academy is based, but Barcolana remains one of the most special and unique races in the world. There is nowhere else where you can have one or two thousand boats on the same starting line, from professionals aboard the big Maxis to small boats with families out sailing. It is a truly unique experience, and I am excited to take part for the second time. Sailing has changed enormously over the past twenty years, particularly thanks to foiling, advances in carbon-fibre materials, design and wing sails. But I think the biggest change has been in young sailors: today, boys and girls have far more advanced skills and abilities than I had at their age. Technology has played a fundamental role, allowing them to watch the best sailors, study manoeuvres and learn from content available online. It is extraordinary to see how quickly the younger generations are progressing.”

Joining the Australian champion will be several athletes from the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team: Jana Germani, Andrea Tesei, Phil Robertson and Mattia Camboni. The crew will also include Red Bull Player Sara Stefanizzi, known as Kurolily, and content creators Daniel Tarantello, “Sinnaggagghiri”, and Dani Gallo.

GO TO BARCOLANA FROM RAVENNA – GRUPPO HERA TROPHY – The prize-giving ceremony for the sixth edition of Go To Barcolana from Ravenna – Gruppo Hera Trophy took place this afternoon at the Ridotto of Teatro Verdi. The feeder race is organised by Circolo Velico Ravennate and Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano. Mr Hyde, owned by Marco Rusticali of Circolo Nautico del Savio, claimed victory, while Corsara set a new record for the crossing, completing the course in 7 hours and 37 minutes.

During the ceremony, Matteo Plazzi, President of Circolo Velico Ravennate, and Mitja Gialuz, President of Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, exchanged their respective clubs’ burgees, marking a new twinning agreement founded on a longstanding friendship and shared values.

GO TO BARCOLANA FROM CROATIA: SPGROUP – EXTREME SAILING TEAM WINS THE INAUGURAL EDITION – SPGROUP – Extreme Sailing Team, the Farr 40 entered by Maxi Nautika, has won the inaugural Go To Barcolana From Croatia, the new feeder race bringing crews from Pula to Trieste along the Istrian coast ahead of the Autumn Cup.

The yacht completed the course in 9 hours, 3 minutes and 55 seconds, ahead of OneMore, the More 55 owned by Miklos Ujhelyi-Gaspar, second in 9 hours, 29 minutes and 57 seconds, and Bravissima, Elvis Kaić’s Felci One-off, third in 9 hours, 38 minutes and 17 seconds. Fourth place went to Canarino furioso II, owned by Boris Radolović, followed by Aqua Maris, entered by Jgl d.d. The standings are provisional.

Organised by Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano in collaboration with Croatian sailing clubs JK Vega and SK Mandrač-Tivoli of Pula, and with the support of Circolo Italiano – Comunità degli Italiani di Pola, the race started yesterday, Friday 9 October, from the Istrian city. The course covered approximately 63 nautical miles, with compulsory passages at Rovinj and Poreč before the finish in the Gulf of Trieste.

The new event expands the Go To Barcolana programme, joining the races departing from Slovenia and Ravenna and creating three routes converging on Trieste on the eve of the great race. The initiative strengthens ties between the sailing communities on both sides of the Adriatic, turning the journey to the Autumn Cup into a shared sporting experience.

GO TO BARCOLANA FROM SLOVENIA – I FEEL SLOVENIA – The Go To Barcolana From Slovenia – I Feel Slovenia fleet set sail today at 11:00 from Portorož, heading towards Trieste to reach the Gulf on the eve of the Autumn Cup.

Organised in collaboration with Slovenian sailing clubs, the race symbolically connects the two sides of the Adriatic and is one of the traditional feeder events leading up to Barcolana.

A total of 24 boats feature in the final standings, with Generali, helmed by Samo Žvan of JD Mariborčanka, claiming overall victory and repeating its success from 2025. Second place went to Shining, owned by Maurizio Bencic (YC Marina Portorož), which also won the Maxi category. Third overall was Big Sky, owned by Marjan Kocila (PD Morska Vidra), winner of the Super Maxi category.

Completing the top five were Taia 2 & White Goose, owned by Goran Djordjevic (JK Loka Timing), and Fly, owned by Francesco Puecher (YC Padova). Generali also receives the Go To Barcolana From Slovenia Challenge Trophy, awarded to the overall winner.

The prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for today at 18:30 at the Ridotto of Teatro Verdi. In 2025, victory also went to Samo Žvan’s Generali, which completed the course in 2 hours and 7 minutes.

BARCOLANA REGIONALE BY NIGHT CUP – As tradition dictates, the eve of Barcolana concludes with evening racing in the San Giusto Basin. The Barcolana By Night – Regionale Cup brings the Melges 24, Meteor and UFO 28 classes onto the water, allowing spectators along the waterfront and on Molo Audace to watch the races from just a short distance away.

The programme features the first warning signal at 17:25 for the Melges 24, followed by the Meteor at 18:25 and the UFO 28 at 19:25. The Meteor fleet also includes crews that competed in the Italian Championship, which concluded yesterday in Grignano.

RESULTS BEING UPDATED

BARCOLANA SKI – COPPA D’AUTUNNO: TEAM GHEDINA TAKES VICTORY – The team led by Kristian Ghedina has won Barcolana Ski – Coppa d’Autunno, the competition devised by PromoTurismoFVG to bring together the worlds of sailing and skiing.

On the artificial “Neve Sole” ski slope in Aurisina, in the municipality of Duino-Aurisina, the former Italian downhill skier’s team defeated the one captained by Tina Maze, recording a combined time of 54.84 seconds against 56.35 seconds, a winning margin of 1.51 seconds.

The fastest individual time, however, was recorded by Tommaso Dagri, a young athlete from Team Maze, who stopped the clock at 10.03 seconds, ahead of Leonardo Pessot (10.53 seconds) and Kristian Ghedina himself (10.54 seconds).

Eight young skiers from Friuli Venezia Giulia – four girls and four boys selected by the FISI FVG Committee – also took part in the two-run giant slalom competition, enjoying the opportunity to race alongside two international skiing champions.

The day continued in Piazza Unità d’Italia, at PromoTurismoFVG’s “Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia” hospitality area, with the prize-giving ceremony and an autograph session with the athletes.

The project will continue on 9 January 2027 in Tarvisio, on the Di Prampero slope, with Barcolana Ski – Coppa d’Inverno. This time, Barcolana participants will swap their boats for skis and take part in a promotional night-time giant slalom, open to representatives of Autumn Cup crews and participants from Barcolana Fun, SUP and Nuota, with Ghedina and Maze acting as forerunners.

BARCOLANA UN MARE DI RACCONTI – The literary events at Magazzino delle Idee concluded with a day dedicated to crime fiction and visionary storytelling. Guests included Tullio Avoledo and Giuliano Pasini, presenting their thrillers set in north-eastern Italy; Emanuele Trevi, winner of the 2021 Premio Strega, who explored the world of Philip K. Dick for Mondadori’s Meridiani series; and Bruno Arpaia with Il mondo senza inverno (Guanda), a novel about climate migration combining science and adventure.