Barcolana Grada SUP Experience: The 135 contestants kick off the first weekend of the Barcolana
by Barcolana 5 Oct 2024 18:53 BST
5 October 2024
Barcolana Grado SUP Experience © Barcolana
This morning Trieste woke up with a new 'monument' in Piazza Unità, which symbolises and summarises all local shipbuilding expertise.
A Solaris 50 boat produced in Aquileia was 'moored' in the middle of Europe's largest square facing the sea as a symbol of the 50-year anniversary of the made-in-Friuli-Venezia Giulia shipyard, which receives appreciation and exports its ships all over the world. The boat was transported during the night from the Aquileia shipyard and installed in the square before dawn. It will remain on display until the end of the Barcolana, on 13 October.
In the meantime, the Barcolana has started its journey along the coasts of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. On the opening day of the events at sea, it will land in Grado for the second edition of the Barcolana SUP Experience and will also make a stop in Sistiana for SeaYou@Barcolana56, a food and wine event featuring local products which puts the focus on Sistiana's events at land before its events at sea, starting on Wednesday with the Maxi regatta and the Solaris CUP regatta.
BARCOLANA GRADO SUP EXPERIENCE - The number of participants has more than doubled over a year, going from 50 to 135 athletes and showing all the potential of the world of SUP. The second edition of the Barcolana Grado SUP Experience, which was held today in Grado, has provided entertainment to the many fans of this discipline, in the full spirit of the Barcolana.
The race took place in perfect yet challenging weather conditions, with light wind and adverse current at the Mandracchio's entrance in Grado, which called for more energy during the final stretch. More than 100 participants followed the course, which was 2.2 miles long, starting from Spiaggia Imperiale, skirting the dam, and following the dolphins to enter the port; after that, a small stretch in the lagoon and the most challenging part at the entrance to the Mandracchio, where many were overtaken.
The winner was Mauro Feltrin, who is retaining the title after winning last edition's race. A naval engineer from Latisana, he took the lead immediately and held it until the end on his self-built SUP boards, tailored to his weight and performance. The first woman to cross the finish line was Natasha Cesar, in her first Barcolana Grado SUP Experience.
"The Barcolana Grado SUP Experience is confirmed as a beautiful event which I believe is going to grow a lot," said the President of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano (Barcola and Grignano Sailing Club) Mitja Gialuz. "This year, together with the Municipality of Grado and G.I.T., we made a bet: in five years we will make it the most attended event of its kind in the world, following in the footsteps of the Barcolana regatta. Today we can say that we are on the right path, thanks to them and to the precious support of the Lega Navale Italiana (Italian Naval League) - section of Grado, the Società Canottieri Ausonia (Ausonia Rowing Club), Kitelife FVG and partners Acqua Dolomia and Starboard. Congratulations to all participants, congratulations to the winners, congratulations to those who worked hard and rowed against the current; most importantly, bravo to the youngest boys and girls: thank you for being here."
Mauro Feltrin completed the course in 31 minutes, followed by Ukrainian athlete Eugen Kondratiev and Stefano Presti; the first woman (and fourth athlete overall) to cross the finish line was Natasha Cesar, followed by Elena Poppo and Nicoletta Rossi. As for the results according to category, Umberto Rossi won the Kids category, Matteo Savella the Under 18 category, and Eugen Kondratiev the Open category, followed by Natasha Cesar, who gave a really great performance proving to be truly invulnerable. The 'mega SUP' put on a great show - there were three of them, having at least four paddlers on board each, plus children and supporters. The winner was the team captained by Andrea Cella. Overall the moral winner of the competition was Border Collie Lana, who stood on the bow of her two-legged companion's SUP for the entire race, ready to jump into the water to celebrate their great result and proud of her number 10 racing bib.
BARCOLANA YOUNG - In line with tradition, in Trieste it was the very young Optimist class that opened the Barcolana, with some news - a new logistical base was established in Porto Vecchio between Magazzino 26 for activities on land in Bacino Zero, which is intended to host the young athletes competing in the Young race this weekend, and then the boats arriving for the Barcolana from the beginning of next week.
Supported by Fondazione CRTrieste, today the Barcolana Young (with almost 200 boats registered for the event) only saw the Junior category competing at sea. The day started with strong bora blowing at around 20 knots and then steadying at around 15 knots during the afternoon. So far both groups have completed two races. News to be updated.
Meanwhile, the final preparations took place in the morning and the portion of the Barcolana Village located in Piazza Unità and Scala Reale were opened in the afternoon.
"Starting today, the heart of the Barcolana Village brings the sea to Piazza Unità," commented Mitja Gialuz, "thanks to Deep Blue Exploration Zone, this year's great addition resulting from the collaboration between Wendy Schmidt and the Protected Marine Area of Miramare. It is an experience to see, to dive into, in order to understand the complexity, the allure but also the fragility of oceans and their connections to all life on our planet. It is a project which was named after Deep Blue, Wendy Schmidt's Botin 85, winner of the Barcolana 54, and which offers everyone a unique and fascinating opportunity in the Village of the Barcolana 56.
"The Village, like every year, will be waiting to be discovered; our staff at the Infopoint is ready to welcome visitors and give them all the information they need to experience in the best way possible the celebrations that will wind their way from Piazza Unità along the stands on the Rive. The Village is an essential and qualifying element of the Barcolana, and it is made possible thanks to the support and commitment of all the Institutions that have chosen to be here with us in Piazza Unità, the University of Trieste, Promoturismo, which promotes Trieste and our entire region at the Barcolana, and of course our partners, starting from Generali, as well as the exhibitors who, year after year, reconfirm their trust and commitment to the Barcolana Village. I would like to thank them all, also on behalf of the whole Barcolana."