Barcolana55 presented by Generali kicks off with flag-hoisting ceremony
by Barcolana 29 Sep 2023 19:04 BST
29 September - 8 October 2023
Barcolana55 presented by Generali © Barcolana
The 55th edition of the Barcolana in Trieste has kicked off today with the traditional flag-hoisting ceremony at 12 p.m.
Over the next ten days, the city will host 250 events on land and at sea plus the great Barcolana Sea Summit conference, in anticipation of the great regatta scheduled for Sunday, 8 October at 10:30 a.m. After reaching and exceeding the 1,000 milestone last Sunday, over 1,200 boats are now registered for the race. Big celebrations will start this evening in the city with the Coma Cose concert, preceded by Broccoletti Pop at 8 p.m.
"It is always very emotional to open the Barcolana," said Mitja Gialuz, on his tenth edition as president of Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano (SVBG, Sailing Club of Barcola and Grignano). "This ceremony, which directly involves SVBG members, is an event that shows an intimate and traditional dimension to the Barcolana in addition to the public and international one."
Francesca Clapcich, the face of Barcolana55 presented by Generali, and more specifically of the Women in Sailing project, also attended the opening ceremony. "Coming back home to Trieste is always very emotional to me. Even though I have sailed all the seas of the world, this is my sea, and Trieste is my city. All the people of Trieste should be proud of the Barcolana, which carries the name of the city all over the world; I myself do everything I can to spread the word about this great treasure. I am even happier to promote the Barcolana's Women in Sailing project, a theme - alongside that of sustainability - which I hold dear," she said.
Barcolana Crew - Its name is "Barcolana Crew", and it is a project which was conceived over a year ago to reach today's goal - having the world's largest crew promoting the world's largest regatta, thus giving a special welcome to all the people who will be arriving in Trieste over the next ten days.
On the occasion of the 54th edition of the Barcolana, Barcolana and photographer Carlo Borlenghi took over 1,200 portraits of people playing various roles in the event, including yachtsmen, racers, organisers, and the public ashore. Since last 25th September, 800 images have been displayed around the city through posters and advertisements on buses, and over 250 posters have been exhibited in the windows of shops and restaurants participating in the project. Barcolana Crew is supported by Trenitalia, which found in the project a resemblance to its own advertising campaigns. Shopkeepers and restaurant owners play a part too, thanks to Fipe and Confcommercio's involvement in the project.
Over the next days it will still be possible to join the Barcolana Crew, as Carlo Borlenghi will be taking portraits on Friday, 6 and Saturday, 7 October, aiming to reach the symbolic milestone of 2,000 pictures. The 2,000 Barcolana Crew portraits will then become part of an impressive "Gallery" on the Barcolana website at the end of the 55th edition.