Solidarity sailing, sport, culture and events across the city marked Tuesday at Barcolana58 presented by Generali, as Trieste prepares to welcome the Amerigo Vespucci for the conclusion of the Amerigo Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026. On the water, Barcolana per il Sociale featured the Trofeo Fuorivento and Le Vele di Calicanto, while the first day of racing in the 53rd Italian Meteor Championship took place off Grignano. On shore, Barcolana events brought the city centre to life, while entries for the major regatta on Sunday 11 October have now reached 1,490 boats.

VESPUCCI TOUR – The 58th Barcolana will welcome the conclusion of the Amerigo Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026. Having departed from Genoa last May, the Amerigo Vespucci has sailed more than 15,000 nautical miles, calling at Baltimore, New York and Boston in the United States, Québec City and Montréal in Canada, and Cagliari, Castellammare di Stabia, Naples and Venice in Italy. From 8 to 12 October, the Italian Navy training ship will be moored at Molo Bersaglieri alongside the Villaggio IN Italia, for a major celebration of sailing bringing together Barcolana, the world’s largest sailing race, and the arrival of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Veloce, the longest sailing race in the Mediterranean. The Trieste programme will begin on Thursday 8 October at 4.30 pm with the closing event of the Tour and the opening of Villaggio IN Italia, accompanied by the Fanfare of the Northern Interregional Maritime Command. The Tour is an initiative of the Italian Ministry of Defence and the Italian Navy, produced by Difesa Servizi and developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture, the Minister for Sport and Youth and the Minister for Disabilities. 

BARCOLANA PER IL SOCIALE – As is tradition, Tuesday at Barcolana was dedicated to solidarity sailing with Barcolana per il Sociale, the long-standing event organised by Società Triestina della Vela and SVBG, bringing associations and organisations working for the social inclusion of people with disabilities out onto the water. The day featured the 13th Trofeo Fuorivento and Le Vele di Calicanto, two regattas sharing the values of participation, inclusion and sport for all.

The 13th Trofeo Fuorivento, organised by Overwind Sailing Team in collaboration with Società Triestina della Vela and SVBG, with the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and, from this year, in collaboration with ZKB Trieste, saw 90 participants from cooperatives, day centres, communities and associations from Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto race aboard Zero one-design boats. Cooperativa ACLI di Pordenone took first place, followed by Cooperativa Itaca di San Daniele del Friuli and Oltre Quella Sedia; all the other participating organisations finished joint fourth.

In the Le Vele di Calicanto regatta, Serbidiola, owned by Francesco Irredento, took first place, ahead of Novella, owned by Gianpaolo Centuori (Pietas Julia with Al Centro di sé), and Capita, owned by Daniele Passoni (Sea for All). Mana, owned by Luca Steffè (SIOT), finished fourth, with Giglio Rosso, owned by Claudio Coslovich, in fifth.

The afternoon concluded at Società Triestina della Vela with the prize-giving ceremony and a concert by the Calicanto Band, the traditional celebration open to everyone that brings the day to a close in the spirit of solidarity, inclusion and sport for all.

53rd ITALIAN METEOR CHAMPIONSHIP – The first day of racing took place in the waters off Grignano for the Italian Meteor Championship. Following the 10.00 am skipper briefing, 56 crews took to the water to await suitable conditions for racing to begin. Due to light winds, the first race started at 2.24 pm. Conditions subsequently made it necessary to shorten the course at the windward mark, allowing just one race to be completed during the day.

Provisional standings after one race: 1st Mauna Loa, Marco Pecorella, CRV Italia; 2nd Bee Wave, Tommaso Salvi, SVBG; 3rd Django, Stefano Magrini, Club Velico Trasimeno.

A total of 62 crews are taking part in the championship, organised by the Italian Sailing Federation together with Società Nautica Grignano and SVBG. On returning ashore, all crews gathered for a Crew Party at the Porticciolo di Grignano.

GROTTA GIGANTE IN MUSICA BY SIOT-TAL – Violinist Giulia Rimonda performed in the world’s largest single-chamber show cave at a concert sponsored by SIOT-TAL for Barcolana. The event brought music and nature together in the heart of the Trieste Karst.

BARCOLANA UN MARE DI RACCONTI – The series of literary encounters continues at Casa della Musica (Via dei Capitelli 3). This afternoon, Fabio Pozzo and Francesca Clapcich, the only Italian sailor to have won The Ocean Race 2023, took to the stage with Un’onda alla volta (Tea), from Trieste to seas around the world. They were followed by Alex Bellini with Pensa se non ci avessi provato (Sonzogno), recounting his solo Atlantic crossing by rowing boat and the risk of shipwreck, and Fumettibrutti with Cigni selvaggi (Feltrinelli), the story of a trans girl who leaves Sicily for northern Italy, navigating dreams, family and identity.

ENTRIES – A total of 1,490 boats are now entered in Barcolana58 presented by Generali, taking place on Sunday 11 October.

HERA GROUP – The partnership between Hera Group and Barcolana58 presented by Generali was presented today at the Hera Group space in Piazza Unità. The partnership has been renewed through AcegasApsAmga and EstEnergy, the Group’s two local companies, which are supporting the event with initiatives dedicated to the city, the environment, circularity and the responsible use of resources. At the heart of the programme is “Onda Viva – Be the Wave”, an immersive performance of music, lights and images scheduled for Friday 9 October at 9 pm in Piazza Unità, using an engaging format to tell the story of two fundamental resources: water and energy. During Barcolana, AcegasApsAmga is also strengthening street cleaning and waste collection services and promoting awareness of the water service and the use of tap water, while EstEnergy is offering activities and experiences dedicated to energy, circularity and public participation at its own space. 

RAI MAIN MEDIA PARTNER – Rai renews its commitment alongside Barcolana58 presented by Generali as Main Media Partner, covering the event across television, radio, digital and social media and involving its national news outlets as well as the Italian- and Slovenian-language TGR editorial teams. Rai News.it also joins the 2026 edition as Content Partner. Following the Linea Blu special dedicated to Barcolana, Rai will cover the entire week with live broadcasts, reports, links and in-depth features, from Rai Friuli Venezia Giulia programming to the national radio networks and through to the final day on Sunday 11 October: Rai Sport will broadcast the regatta live from 10 am to 12 noon, while Rai Italia will bring Barcolana58 to international audiences and RaiPlay will feature content dedicated to the event. 

VEOLIA PRESENTS SOSTENIBILANDIA – “Sostenibilandia”, Veolia’s circular economy project in partnership with Barcolana58 presented by Generali, gets under way today in Piazza Verdi, Trieste, and runs until 11 October. The participatory project places primary school pupils at the heart of the ecological transition and marks the renewal of the partnership between Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, and Barcolana.

For the 58th edition of Barcolana, Veolia presents “Sostenibilandia: La città green ideale”, an initiative combining education, creativity and environmental commitment. The project aims to raise community awareness of the importance of the circular economy by transforming recovered materials such as bottle tops, cardboard and cork into three-dimensional urban elements to build a model of a sustainable city. Through educational workshops launched in September, local primary school pupils, together with Veolia teams from Mestre and Trieste, have brought a tangible vision of sustainability to life.

Until 11 October, visitors can experience the project at the Veolia stand in Piazza Verdi, in the heart of Trieste. As well as watching the different sections of the urban map being completed, visitors of all ages can take part in cultural workshops, performances and activities developed in collaboration with local artists. At the weekend, the completed collective model will be unveiled to the public, presenting an ideal vision of a green city.

MASAF – The presence of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) at the 58th edition of Barcolana places sustainability, knowledge and the protection of marine resources at the heart of the event.

Through the Directorate-General for Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture, Managing Authority of the National EMFAF Programme – European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund – the Ministry supports the sustainable and inclusive growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, promoting the responsible use of aquatic and marine resources and contributing to their protection in the Mediterranean.

This commitment is also reflected in MASAF’s presence at the Barcolana Village, with a programme dedicated to outreach and education for children and younger generations, helping them learn more about the sea, fisheries and aquaculture and develop greater awareness of the value and protection of marine resources.

“ANTI-GLASS” ORDER – For Barcolana58 presented by Generali, the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza, has signed an urgent order introducing restrictions on the possession and consumption of drinks in the city centre from 10 pm on Wednesday 7 October until midnight on Sunday 11 October. Between 10 pm and 5 am each night, within the area covered by the order, it will be prohibited to possess or consume drinks of any kind in glass bottles or containers, as well as alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content above 12% in any type of container, in public areas or privately owned areas open to the public. The order covers a large part of the city centre, from the waterfront to the areas surrounding the Barcolana Village, within the perimeter identified in the order and accompanying map. Home delivery remains permitted during transport, as does the serving of drinks by bars and restaurants to customers using their designated outdoor seating areas, in accordance with the regulations in force.

TOMORROW’S PROGRAMME – WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER

Barcolana 58 Autumn Cup Registration Office – Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, Viale Miramare 32. Open from 9 am to 7 pm. Call centre: +39 040 9777587 (9 am-1 pm / 2 pm-6 pm).

The Carabinieri protecting the sea and biodiversity – Magazzino 26, Sala Luttazzi, 9.30-11.30 am. Event reserved for schools, with Captain Ginex of the Carabinieri Diving Unit and Lieutenant Colonel Andriani of the Verona Biodiversity Unit.
Barcolana TriEste24 GHC Sanatorio Triestino – Este 24 European Championship – Registration and check-in from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm. Practice Race at 2 pm. Opening ceremony at 6 pm. Sponsor: GHC Sanatorio Triestino; partner: Associazione Italiana Classe Este 24.
Barcolana Village opening – The remaining section of the Village opens along the waterfront. Piazza Unità: 11 am-9 pm; waterfront: 3-9 pm.
53rd Italian Meteor Championship – Day 2 – Porticciolo di Grignano. Leader bibs will be presented and the day’s top finishers awarded, followed by racing. Crew dinner in the evening. Partners: SVBG + SNG + Assometeor.
Barcolana Solaris Adriatic Cup – Registration at YC Portopiccolo from 10 am; owners’ cocktail reception at 8 pm. Sponsor: Solaris Yachts; partner: Yacht Club Portopiccolo.
Barcolana DragonBoat Units – Molo Audace, Trieste. Partner: CUS Units.
Opening of the installation “La prima volta che ho visto il mare” – created to mark the 50th anniversary of the Friuli Venezia Giulia earthquake, at 4.30 pm in Piazza Cavana, Trieste.
Barcolana Un Mare di Racconti – Casa della Musica (Via dei Capitelli 3), from 5.45 pm: Mirt Komel and Tadej Golob (Slovenian fiction), Elena Stancanelli with La gioia di ieri (Einaudi), and Clara Sánchez with La stanza delle verità (Garzanti).