Barcolana Sea Summit: second day of events

A completely still day on the Gulf of Trieste. The total absence of wind forced organisers to cancel today’s scheduled races: the Barcolana Maxi – Portopiccolo Trophy, the Barcolana Solaris Adriatic Cup, and the Este24 European Championship. Nevertheless, the day remained lively thanks to numerous onshore events, starting with the Barcolana Sea Summit, which continued to attract a large audience, particularly for the theatre performance “Fiumi Scomparsi” and other high-level content focusing on the sea, sustainability, and culture. Meanwhile, the Autumn Cup registration office has been working non-stop, and as of today, over 1,700 boats have registered for Sunday’s regatta.

BARCOLANA SEA SUMMIT: “FIUMI SCOMPARSI” AT THE GENERALI CONVENTION CENTRE - An intense second day unfolded at the Generali Convention Centre, where the Barcolana Sea Summit placed the protection of water resources, the marine environment, and active citizenship at the heart of the discussion.

The evening featured an extraordinary turnout for the theatrical performance “Fiumi Scomparsi”, starring Marco Paolini, Paolo Fresu, and Rajeev Badhan, produced in partnership with AcegasApsAmga. The show offered an emotional journey through memory, voice, music, and imagery, rediscovering the deep connection between Trieste and the waterways that once flowed through the city but have since disappeared beneath urban expansion.

On stage, Marco Paolini intertwined theatrical storytelling with evocative visuals, bringing the lost rivers back to life and offering a critical reflection on the relationship between humans and the environment. His narration was accompanied by the intense and evocative trumpet sounds of Paolo Fresu, which heightened the emotional atmosphere. The direction by Rajeev Badhan orchestrated the show’s visual and narrative structure, integrating interviews and video projections that interacted in real time with the live performance.

Tomorrow, the Barcolana Sea Summit continues at the Salone di Rappresentanza of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government in Piazza Unità d’Italia with two key institutional meetings.

The first, scheduled for 9:30 a.m., will focus on “The National Centre for the Underwater Dimension: The Future of the Underwater Economy Between Research and Innovation” – a discussion on technological and scientific development in the underwater sector, marking one year since Friuli Venezia Giulia joined the national network. Speakers include Regional Councillor Alessia Rosolen, Admiral Cristiano Nervi (Director of the Italian Navy CSSN and Head of the National Centre for the Underwater Dimension), Gabriele Maria Cafaro (Executive Vice President, Underwater Division, Fincantieri), Massimo Cavaliere (Director General, Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, Naples), Ketty Segatti (Director of the Specialist Operating Unit for Research, Innovation, and EU Funds, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region), and Giorgio Sulligoi (University of Trieste).

Following this, at 11:30 a.m., the session “Underwater: Economy, Defence and Environmental Protection” will explore the strategic importance of the underwater sector, which must evolve while maintaining environmental safeguards and balancing the needs of security, research, and sustainability. Journalist Donatella Bianchi will moderate a discussion featuring Senator Roberta Pinotti (President of the National Centre for the Underwater Dimension Foundation), Jessica Battle (WWF Senior Global Ocean Governance and Policy Expert), Paola Severino (President of LUISS School of Law and the National School of Administration), and Pierroberto Folgiero (CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri).

FREE CAR PARK - Today saw the inauguration of a free car park made possible through collaboration between Barcolana, Coop Alleanza 3.0, Trieste Terminal Passeggeri, and Trieste Porto Servizi.

The facility, open until midnight on Sunday 12 October, is located on the site that recently hosted the Cirque du Soleil and offers 399 free parking spaces, including eight reserved for persons with disabilities. Access is via Largo Santos, with the exit located along the Old Port slip road. Trieste Terminal Passeggeri also provides staff to assist with access and maintain order in the area.

SAFETY VILLAGE - The new Safety Village was inaugurated this morning in the presence of SVBG President Mitja Gialuz, Regional Councillor for Security Pierpaolo Roberti, Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza, and Prefect Giuseppe Petronzi.

“This is, in some ways, a historic moment,” stated Mitja Gialuz, President of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, “as it’s the first time the Barcolana Village includes an area entirely dedicated to safety and law enforcement. The idea was born at the end of August, through strong collaboration among all parties involved. I often say that during Barcolana, the commitment of our law enforcement agencies goes far beyond their duty, and I want to sincerely thank everyone for the work they’ll be doing over the coming days.”

The stands feature all major law enforcement and public safety institutions engaged in prevention and protection: the Army, State Police, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, Penitentiary Police, Coast Guard, Fire Brigade, Customs Agency, Italian Navy, Local Police, and ACI 4 Safety FVG.

For the first time, Barcolana dedicates an entire section of its village to safety culture, offering demonstrations, informational activities, and educational programmes for citizens and families. Road safety is also a major focus through the 4Safety FVG project, promoted by ACI and supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, featuring driving simulators, experiential routes, and meetings with experts.

VIDEOMAPPING SHOW “AN OCEAN SONG” - Debuting this evening at 8:00 p.m., the videomapping performance “An Ocean Song” – presented by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and Deep Blue Racing Team – will be projected every half-hour until 11:30 p.m. The immersive show celebrates the beauty and fragility of the oceans, featuring underwater footage from depths of up to 4,500 metres. Some showings will be narrated by actors Claudio Santamaria and Greta Scarano.

FONDAZIONE AQUILEIA STAND INAUGURATED - Also open from today is the “Aquileia, Gateway to the Mediterranean” stand, promoted by Fondazione Aquileia – a Gold Sponsor of Barcolana – in collaboration with the Municipality and leading cultural institutions of the region.

Tomorrow, Thursday 9 October at 6:30 p.m., the official inauguration will take place on the Rive, opposite Piazza Unità. The evening will continue at 7:30 p.m. in the square with an evocative videomapping projection on the hull of the Solaris 40, created in partnership with Solaris Yachts, blending Roman history with contemporary nautical design.