Easy and fun to participate in the VELA Cup, all you need is a boat

In 1969 at the first Barcolana, the largest regatta in the Mediterranean, there were 51 registered boats. It took a few years to get 200 and to get to more than 1,500 in issue number 45.
The VELA Cup fared a little better: 114 boats at the first edition in 2014, 148 boats last year. This year there will be close to 200 boats at the start. With one month to go before the cannon shot, 120 boats are already registered.
Why did we tell you about the Barcolana? Because it is the same spirit that unites the two events, the Barcolana and the VELA Cup: just have a boat, no tonnage or fees, with classes divided by length, and whoever finishes first in real time wins.
The beauty is spending a day of sailing together with many other boats. A celebration of sailing for all. And it is not a cliché.
How easy it is to participate, all you need is a boat 3 meters and up. The rest is taken care of by the organization; there are no complicated and expensive tonnage certificates to show.
Simply declare the boat’s overall length to be placed in one of seven categories, defined by length. Then you simply choose whether you want to sail white sails (cruising class) and that is with mainsail and genoa, or you also want to use spi/gennaker (racing class). And then the first one to cross the finish line in each class wins.
To all participating boats as a gift a beautiful
Musto bag
with a stylish gray T Shirt and many gifts and coupons to consume between the stands of the VELAFestival and the magical VELAFestival Card.
On May 7, from 11 a.m., the good stuff, the party at sea, begins. The route is coastal in one of the most beautiful settings in the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Tigullio. It starts from Santa Margherita Ligure and then, depending on the wind direction, goes through Portofino and toward Sestri Levante. At most, if the wind holds, you will travel about fifteen miles and not exceed three to four hours of sailing. During the VELA Cup, you can have fun sailing among dozens of boats without making too much effort. Instead, those who will give everything to pass first at each buoy will be satisfied. Everyone, however, will have a good time. The spirit is that of healthy seafaring solidarity.
But it doesn’t end there. On the ground, from 7 p.m. is the party. More than 50 prizes are provided, and there are also other products offered by VELAFestivalexhibitors up for grabs. After the awards ceremony, refreshments with hot dish and wine at will. And then the party goes on, to learn more click here .