Alfa Romeo beats all. Barcolana number 48 is his

Like every year, the whole city of Trieste is celebrating to toast the winner of the 2016 Barcolana. This year, the Reichel&Pugh 72 Alfa Romeo with the Benussi brothers aboard (who, due to a quarrel, hadn’t been boating together for 10 years and were patched up just on the occasion of the Barcolana) who, propelled by 15-20 knots of Bora with gusts up to 25 knots, managed to put everyone behind by completing the course in 59 minutes and 59 seconds, distancing Kosmina Mitja’s Maxi Jena Tempus Fugit (a K80 Open) by several minutes who came in second after an exciting race that lasted until the third lap of the buoy.

Throughout the regatta the other boats were a clear distance from the top two, including Pendragon, given among the favorites but never entered the race. An unusual Barcolana, lacking a big favorite, and for that reason keeping everyone in suspense until the very last. Third place in the standings for Pendragon Girogio Pitter’s One Off with the Bodini brothers aboard, which left behind Alberto Bolzan’s Southern Wind 100 Seven in command and Adriatic Europa, Puh Dusan’s Vallicelli 60. On the starting line at 11:30 a.m. (postponed one hour due to too much wind on the race course) were 1758 boats (over 25 thousand sailors estimated, 300 thousand people crowded on the shores).

Great regatta also for our crews: the brand new More 55 Lady Nor with skipper Maurizio Vettorato and a crew trained to our readers, after an exciting start finished the regatta in 119th position. Also doing well was Enrico Malingri’s legendary Swan 47, again with a close-knit group of enthusiasts from our paper, which crossed the finish line in 250th position.

But the news of the day was also the presence in Trieste of Ben Ainslie: the most titled sailor in history, now head of the British America’s Cup team, participated in the regatta aboard Ancilla Domini, the Farr 80 (which finished the regatta in 14th place) at the controls of Mauro Pelaschier, who with the British baronet talked at length about the Olympics and their common past in the Finn class.

Among the great results of the day were definitely the results of the two Ice 33 Mataran and Black Arrow, first and second in their categories and 30th and 35th overall, respectively.

Then, on Saturday evening, the Jotun Cup, the fascinating nighttime regatta aboard UFOs illuminated by powerful floodlights and taking place right in front of the Molo Audace dock, took place as has become tradition. Here is the ranking: first place Bandit, second place Cattivik, and third place Uofology.