by InTrieste
As tradition dictates, the prestigious Barcolana regatta will commence with a vibrant celebration of youth, setting the stage for ten days of maritime events in the Gulf of Trieste. This year, the annual Barcolana Young, a competition dedicated to the Optimist class of sailboats, will be held on October 5 and 6, heralding the beginning of the renowned sailing festival. The event, open to young sailors, will once again be part of the international “Adriatic Golden Series.”
Registrations are now open on the official website, www.barcolana.it, for one of Europe’s most cherished youth sailing events. Barcolana Young traditionally marks the beginning of the Barcolana, now in its 56th edition, and this year’s regatta promises to be a spectacular showcase of young talent, tenacity, and positive energy.
“This year’s theme is Positive Energy,” said Mitja Gialuz, president of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano (SVBG), the organizing body of Barcolana. “And what better represents this than the contagious energy of the young sailors? Their grit, their unstoppable enthusiasm, and their desire to conquer the sea embodies the essence of the Barcolana spirit.”
The two-day regatta will feature up to six races, three per day, with the first warning signal scheduled for noon on Saturday, October 5. The final race will take place no later than 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, followed by an awards ceremony where participants will be honored. Prizes include the coveted “Barcolana Young” Challenge Trophy, awarded to the club with the lowest-scoring top sailors across two divisions: Division A (athletes born between 2009 and 2013) and Division B (athletes born between 2014 and 2015).
Barcolana Young is part of the Adriatic Golden Series, a regional circuit of Optimist regattas organized by JK Pirat of Portorož, Club Nautico Triestino Sirena, and SVBG. The circuit aims to foster greater cooperation between sailing clubs in the region while encouraging the exchange of best practices in organizing sports events.
“In such a unique context as the Barcolana,” said SVBG’s youth sports director Alessandro Bonifacio, “our hearts are always with Barcolana Young. The Optimist regatta brings together a fleet of strong athletes and young sailing hopefuls, creating a mix of festivity and fierce competition in the true spirit of Barcolana.”
Barcolana Young draws support from a wide range of partners, including Fondazione CRTrieste, BIC, and Acqua Dolomia. The exclusive clothing partner for this year’s event, Murphy&Nye, has designed both the official event t-shirt and bag, which will be given to all participants. Inside, sailors will also find a special product from Eataly, the latest sponsor of Barcolana 56, presented by Generali.
This year, the event will be headquartered at Molo Zero in Porto Vecchio, an historic port area in Trieste, which will serve as the regatta’s logistical base. Registrations remain open until 11:59 p.m. on October 2, 2024, and all necessary documents are available for download at www.barcolana.it.
