Trieste once again became the world capital of sailing. Under warm autumn sunshine and shifting winds that moved from the east to the west throughout the day, more than 400,000 people gathered on land and at sea to witness the 57th edition of the Barcolana, the largest sailing race in the world. With 1,865 boats on the start line – the highest number since the pandemic – and around 15,000 sailors taking part, the event reaffirmed its identity as a true celebration of the sea, where competition, participation and local pride merge into one.
Created in 1969 by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, the Barcolana takes place every second Sunday of October, marking the close of the Adriatic sailing season. Its 13–mile quadrilateral course in the Gulf of Trieste is one of the most recognisable sights in world sailing, with thousands of sails stretching out beneath the Castello di Miramare and the Faro della Vittoria, while spectators follow the race from the Rive and Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia. Few events can match its visual and cultural impact.
The start of Barcolana 57 presented by Generali took place in an easterly breeze of around 80 degrees, strong enough to produce a spectacular opening and immediately push Arca SGR, the 100–foot Maxi helmed by Furio Benussi, to the front of the fleet. Close behind was Marta 07, steered by his 18–year–old daughter Marta Benussi, followed by the other Maxis in pursuit.
The leg between the first and second mark proved decisive. With precise tactical awareness, Benussi senior caught the wind shift as it veered to 210 degrees, maintaining consistent pressure while much of the fleet stalled in the transition zone. From that moment, the regatta evolved into a remarkable family contest between father and daughter, both applauded by the many crews sailing for pure enjoyment rather than results. As they crossed paths with the back of the fleet, cheers and applause rose from every direction, creating a vivid picture of what makes the Barcolana so distinctive.
At the approach to Miramare, Arca SGR began its final run towards Trieste, sailing at 12 knots past the Faro della Vittoria and finishing after 1 hour, 43 minutes and 42 seconds, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd along the waterfront. The result marked a third consecutive victory for Benussi’s Fast and Furio Sailing Team and confirmed their dominance of the event. In a symbolic gesture, Furio handed the helm to his wife Elisa for the final stretch, completing a true family treble.
The second place of Marta 07 – formerly the renowned “Morning Glory”, refitted and relaunched by the team earlier this year – carried special meaning. Led by a young skipper and an all–Triestine crew including students from the local Nautical Institute, the boat also won the Generali Women in Sailing Trophy, received by Giulia Ascione in recognition of her leadership and contribution to promoting women’s and mixed–gender participation in the sport. The crew also included Luca Da Prato, Italian Paralympic swimming champion, taking part in his first sailing experience.
Prosecco DOC Shockwave³, owned by Claudio Demartis and Pompeo Tria with Mitja Kosmina at the helm, completed the podium, followed by Fiamme Gialle Nice, Blue, Shining Marina Portorož and the historic TuttaTrieste 2 and Adriatic Europa. Among the notable participants were Dean Barker, America’s Cup veteran, finishing seventeenth with his RC44 Tangaroa, and Wendy Schmidt, who chose to sail a 24–foot Melges 24, taking first in her class.
“Such a Barcolana had never been seen before,” said Mitja Gialuz, president of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano. “We have returned to pre–pandemic levels of participation and Trieste has once again shown its collective passion for the sea.” His words captured the tone of a weekend that brought together professionals, enthusiasts and families alike.
The 57th Barcolana reaffirmed what has defined it for over half a century: a regatta that transcends sport, where competition meets community and where the Adriatic remains, unmistakably, at the heart of Trieste.
