The sailing for all of the great rallies, the sailing of the great parties at sea and then ashore, the sailing that fills city docks with onlookers and enthusiasts. We present the best in sailing for all.
SEAFARING FESTIVAL
. At the center of this festival, which manages to involve up to 300,000 visitors, is the sea. It takes place every two years in La Spezia and is a set of proposals that start precisely from the culture of the sea. The Maritime Festival is a container that encompasses the many points of view that, from different positions, peer at the same object. The sea as navigation with stories, tales and an extensive display on the Italy Pier dock of boats of all sizes and types. Next appointment: late summer/fall 2017. www.festadellamarineria.com
BARCOLANA
. The most beautiful regatta in the world. Each year, the city of Trieste prepares to host up to 2,000 boats for a huge weeklong celebration that culminates with the regatta on Sunday (the record edition was in 2001 with 1968 entries). The Barcolana is the symbol of Trieste. Thousands of people flock to the Molo Audace dock, strolling to admire the world’s most beautiful boats arriving from all over Italy and Europe.The 2010 Barcolana was the fastest in history, won in a record time of 56 minutes 13 seconds by Esimit Europa 2. Next event: October 8, 2017. www.barcolana.it
SWAN CUP
. The spectacle of the Rolex Swan Cup is always something unforgettable. All the more so this year when as many as 125 boats competed in the waters in front of Porto Cervo to celebrate 50 years of the Finnish Nautor shipyard. Everyone was there, from Maxis, to Mini Maxis, from the great classics by Sparkman & Stephens (special guest Tarantella, the first Swan 36 launched in July 1967) to the brand new ClubSwan50. A grand celebration that every two years pays tribute to the shipyard that taught everyone what elegance at sea means. Next appointment: September 2018.
TAG HEUER VELA CUP
. Our Newspaper’s Sailing Festival is the largest sailing event in the Tyrrhenian Sea, which in 2016 boasts its record edition with 206 boats on the starting line. The key to the success of the VELA Cup lies in the simplicity of its formula: all boats of any size and type can participate, even those without a tonnage certificate. As of this year, the VELA Cup has become a circuit with a summer event on August 20 in Porto Rafael, Sardinia, and a fall event in Le Grazie (La Spezia). Next meeting: May 6, 2017 in Santa Margherita Ligure (GE). http://velacup.it/
BREST MARITIME FESTIVAL
. It is the world’s largest maritime festival that manages to involve more than 1,500 boats and more than 700,000 visitors for a veritable invasion of the bay in front of Brest. A must-attend event for all fans of traditional seamanship and hulls, held every four years in this town in Brittany, it will take you back in time to 300 years ago. Next appointment: July 2020. www.brest2016.fr
PANERAI CLASSIC YACHT CHALLENGE
. The leading international circuit reserved for vintage and classic sailboats, which touches two continents, Europe and America, each year to bring together the world’s finest historic boats. The circuit kicks off each year in April with the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and concludes in Cannes in September with the Regattes Royales after eight events (Antibes, Porto Santo Stefano, Cowes, Marblehead, Nantucket, Newport, Mahon, Imperia). Next appointment: from April 2017. www.paneraiclassicyachtschallenge.com
LES VOILES DE SAINT BARTH
. The most fascinating Caribbean festival and regatta. A not-to-be-missed event, created in 2010 and capable of attracting nearly a hundred boats each year. Credit to the good organization but especially to the unique location: the tiny French island of Saint Barthélemy, French Antilles. An event that fits perfectly into the calendar and spirit of the many regattas held in the Caribbean in the spring. Next meeting: April 10-15, 2017. lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com.
SAIL AMSTERDAM
. It is hard to believe that it is all true when you look at the photos of SAIL Amsterdam. More like an alien invasion of the Dutch city’s canals than a gathering of boats, where more than two million visitors flock to this unique spectacle every five years. Next appointment: August 2020. www.sail.nl.
LES VOILES DE SAINT TROPEZ
. In Saint Tropez each year the party is divided between water and dock, fireworks and buoy crossings, masquerade parades and heart-pounding turns. Le Voiles de Saint Tropez is one of the most beautiful sailing festivals in the Mediterranean where you can admire spectacular and unique boats that are hard to see all at once. Next appointment: September 2017. www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
ROUND THE ISLAND RACE
. One of the busiest sailing festivals (about 1,600 participants and 16,000 sailors) in the Atlantic. Fifty miles around the Isle of Wight, starting and finishing in Cowes: an easy and festive way to sail one of the temples of sailing: the Solent. Next date: July 1, 2017. www.roundtheisland. org.uk
