A record Barcolana Nuota
by Barcolana 7 Oct 11:39 NZDT
6 October 2024
Barcolana Nuota Trofeo Giustolisi © Luca Tedeschi
It was a beautiful sunny day: snowy mountains, the bora dying down, and such a visibility that the entire Gulf could be taken in with a glance.
On the first Sunday of the Barcolana we were given summery conditions, as well as lots of people along the Rive, witnessing an amazing Barcolana Nuota Trofeo Luca Giustolisi (Barcolana Swims - Luca Giustolisi Cup) and Barcolana Pinnata (Barcolana Finswimming), followed by the Barcolana Waterpolo for water polo amateurs. Meanwhile, from early morning until late afternoon, the Barcolana Beach Sprint was being held in Lignano, a specific race dedicated to coastal rowing which brings the event to the very last stretch of the coast of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The Bora dying down allowed the Barcolana Young and the young sailors of the Optimist class to recover from yesterday's stalemate; they put on a number of excellent races that allowed for a great sea battle among the approximately 190 male and female sailors of the Optimist class.
BARCOLANA NUOTA TROFEO GIUSTOLISI - It was a record edition, organised by the Barcolana in partnership with Triestina Nuoto Samer &Co. Shipping, which counted 374 participants coming from all over Italy, Slovenia and Austria, who took up the challenge of swimming a nautical mile in front of Piazza Unità, with notable guests such as Olympian swimmer Luca Dotto, excellent event manager Stefania Pirozzi, and the Barcolana's President Mitja Gialuz cheering for them on the waterfront.
The spectacular start of the race saw an almost synchronised dive from the Scala Reale and the swimmers' first strokes along the Molo Audace, while many inhabitants of Trieste and swimming fans along the Rive were enthusiastically cheering. The new course featured a long swim up to the dam of the Porto Vecchio, a turn, another swim back to the Bacino San Giusto, and the finish line back in front of the Scala Reale. Italian swimmer Pasquale Sanzullo finished first overall, while Italian Giulia Salin was the first woman and the second swimmer overall to cross the finish line. The ranking brought satisfaction to all categories, showing the full spirit of the Barcolana, which brings together both professionals and enthusiasts (link: https://www.barcolana.it/hyve/document/05ebce4d-37a1-4950-84c7-2bfeabbb75e7).
"This has perhaps been the most beautiful Barcolana Nuota ever," said President Mitja Gialuz, "a great collective work carried out with Triestina Nuoto, which brought many of their athletes. The new course is beautiful and it gives value to the hard work of the swimmers, who can hear the cheering and feel the great festive atmosphere. From the youngest swimmers to the masters, from professionals to enthusiasts - the Barcolana Nuota truly unites everyone."
"We are very happy with how the 10th edition went," commented the Barcolana Nuota's event manager Stefania Pirozzi. "It has been one of the most attended ever and the response given by the athletes and the city was positive. The collaboration between the Sailing Club of Barcola and Grignano and Triestina Nuoto is an increasingly solid and exciting partnership. We would like to thank all the participants, the fans, the authorities, and say a big thank you to all the ground staff who make all of this possible. See you at the 11th edition - we are already working on it."
The Barcolana Nuota was followed by the second edition of the Barcolana Pinnata, which will count as the first Italian championship of the discipline, and which was dedicated to athletes with disabilities, who swam along a 500-metre open-water 'stick' course. 33 people from all over Italy went into the water, ready to compete in the Paralympic cross-country swimming competition. The race covered both monofins and bi-fins, as the event included all types of disabilities, including physical and intellectual and relational disabilities. The Italian champions are Martina Screti, Pierluigi Bonafin, Federica Cecchi, Giulia Lo Schiavo, Stefania Galasso, Rossella Panigutti, Nicolò D'Atri, Alvise Costantini, Samuele Galdini.
BARCOLANA BEACH SPRINT - A light bora and lots of fun on day 3 of the Barcolana, which has formally started in Lignano with the first edition of the Barcolana Lignano Beach Sprint. The competition is dedicated to yet another water discipline - coastal rowing on C1x, C2x, C4x+ boats - that has joined the many others that during this edition have turned the Barcolana into a true festival of the sea.
In order to canoe, it is necessary to wake up early: about a hundred athletes from all over Europe took part in the races held in Lignano in front of the 'Pagoda', which started at 8:30 a.m. "It is great to host a new sport in the Barcolana and make it known," commented president Gialuz, "and it is really nice to bring our organisation to Lignano, where the coast of Friuli-Venezia Giulia originates. After the great success of the Barcolana SUP Experience yesterday in Grado, we are bringing the spirit of our event here to experience the sea together."
The event was organised with the Italian Rowing Federation's Regional Committee and Circolo Canottieri Lignano (Lignano Rowing Club), with the support of Promoturismo FVG, the Municipality of Lignano Sabbiadoro and Lignano Pineta Spa. It was welcomed enthusiastically, which allowed to promote this sub-discipline of rowing that is little known but entertaining, spectacular and easy to follow from the shore, and make it known to the general public. The 100 athletes competed in a coastal rowing race: a short run on the beach (a sprint of about 30 metres, which allows to reach one's boat quickly), a quick movement to get into the coastal rowing canoe, a 250-metre slalom course in the water up to the farthest turn buoy, a turn, and then another 250-metre course to return to the water edge and finish the last part of the race with a run of another 30 metres to the finish line. The races (timed trials for all athletes, followed by elimination races according to match racing, i.e. between two boats) were held from 8:30 a.m., after a briefing held on the beach. Find all the results here: https://www.barcolana.it/it/in-mare/barcolana-beach-sprint.
BARCOLANA YOUNG - Too strong a wind at first, and then a gentle breeze. On the first weekend of the Barcolana, around 190 athletes were at the starting line for the Barcolana Young. On Saturday the strong wind kept the young Cadets ashore, while it allowed the Juniors to compete in three races. Sunday saw better weather conditions, which allowed the entire group to take to the water - the Juniors competed in one more race, the Cadets in two. Find the results at www.barcolana.it as soon as they are available.
BARCOLANA WATERPOLO - Water polo has also officially entered the sea sports featured in the Barcolana: this afternoon a group of amateurs, led by the Barcolana's sports director Dean Bassi, played a demonstration match in front of the Scala Reale under the watchful eyes of the men's Serie A team of Pallanuoto Trieste.
ON LAND - Starting today, Piazza Unità and all its reception areas are open to the public. The large Barcolana Infopoint, this year more beautiful than ever, welcomes contestants and whomever wants to find out more about the Barcolana; furnished by Calligaris, it is the place to find out about all the events and how to enjoy them. The Prosecco Doc and PromoTurismoFVG lounges host events, welcome the Barcolana's guests and, above all, promote the local area. The Deep Blue Exploration Zone is the innovative exhibition stand created through a collaboration between Wendy Schmidt and the Protected Marine Area of Miramare. It offers a unique immersive experience, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the wonders of the marine world through evocative videos of ocean expeditions by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and footage of the Gulf of Trieste. Dedicated to discovering the deep sea and protecting ecosystems, the Deep Blue Exploration Zone takes visitors on a journey through underwater canyons, hydrothermal springs, and mysterious creatures of the deep, such as bioluminescent organisms and giant worms. The installation also celebrates the biodiversity of the Gulf of Trieste by showcasing the protected species of the Miramare sea area, including colourful nudibranchs and schools of barracuda. In addition to providing a breathtaking visual experience, the stand invites visitors to reflect on the importance of marine conservation. Open to the public until 13 October, it hosts guided tours for schools from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and marine-themed fun activities for families and children organised by the Marine Protected Area's education staff, available every day from 3 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. until evening.
