Barcolana 57 rankings: winners, stars, stories category by category

The Barcolana has 1,865 winners. That is, everyone who participated: because the famous maxim “the important thing is to participate” does apply here. But then, there are the winners, the best in each category.

The 57th edition of the Barcolana, Europe’s most crowded regatta, which this year gathered 1,865 boats (of which 1,294 arrived) in the Gulf of Trieste, has also come to an end. Of the third consecutive real time victory of the Maxi 100 Arca SGR we have already told you (and earlier, on the eve of the regatta we had beaten the docks hunting for your predictions: here you can see who got it right and who didn’t): but the Barcolana is, first and foremost, the celebration of all sailors and the people of sailing.

Barcolana 57 rankings

So, rankings in hand it is time to reveal to you, category by category, all the winners and protagonists of the great classic thatturns Trieste into the sailing capital of the world every year. We would like to remind you that there are no compensated time systems at the Barcolana, boats being divided into categories based on their overall length.

Mega Yacht Category (over 24.01 m – 8 boats arrived)

1. model: Arca SGR (Don Jones turbo Maxi 100), length FT: m. 30.48, owner: Furio Benussi, real-time position: 1
2. Marta 07 (RP 86), m. 26.22, Marta Benussi/Benussi family, actual time: 2
3. Prosecco doc Shockwave 3 (RP 90), m. 27.43, Claudio De Martis/Pompeo Tria, actual time: 3

What a Barcolana for Furio Benussi (57), his daughter Marta (18) and his brother Gabriele (55). Benussi senior was the first to cross the finish line with Arca SGR (formerly Wild Thing), Marta and Gabriele soon after with the Marta 07, Reichel Pugh 86 formerly Morning Glory. Fast & Furio Sailing Team, the Benussi’s team, specializes in salvaging old boats and reviving them. Here our own Rebecca Geiger, who was aboard Prosecco doc Shockwave3, interviewed Marta Benussi and skipper Giulia Ascione.

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Transat Café l’Or: another twist for Class 40s, could still change everything

Super Maxi Category (19.01 to 24.00 m – 16 boats arrived)

1. Anemos II / Allianz (Farr 80), m. 23.99, Marco Bono/Mauro Pelaschier/Tommaso Chieffi, actual time: 7
2. Ancilla Domini (Farr 80), m. 23.99, Andrea Illy, actual time: 8
3. Anywave Safilens (Frers 63), m. 19.21, Alberto Leghissa, actual time: 11

Perfect regatta for Anemos II / Allianz, Marco Bono’s Farr 80 that could count on the help, on board, of two champions such as Mauro Pelaschier and Tommaso Chieffi, who won after a battle “to the last blood” with the other Farr 80 in the race, Ancilla Domini of Andrea Illy, 61, a native of Trieste, president of Illy Caffè and a great sailing enthusiast.

In third place was the “oldie” Anywave Safilens, Frers’ 2000 carbon-fiber design. At the helm is experienced skipper Alberto Leghissa, 60, director of the Portopiccolo Yacht Club. A curiosity: Fincantieri, manufacturer of ships, ferries and megayachts enters sailing by becoming owner of a VOR 60, Doers on Board, Fincantieri, which placed 12th in real time, and fourth in category, just off the podium.

Also worth mentioning is a great fan of Italy, German Michael Schmidt, founder of the YYachts shipyard at his very first Barcolana, who participated at the helm of his “Calabash,” Y8, finishing in 11th place (53rd in real time).

Maxi Category (16.01 to 19.00 m – 28 boats arrived)

1. Shining Marina Portorož (Open 60), 18.95 m, David Bartol, actual time: 6
2. All of Trieste 2 (Ceccarelli 53), 18.20 m, Mario Hrvoj , real time: 9
3. Adriatic Europa (Vallicelli 60), 18.98 m, Dušan Puh, real time: 10

In this category the “neighbors” played it out, a match between Slovenia and Croatia. Slovenia’s David Bartol won with the 60-foot (18-meter) Shining terraces, beating Tutta Trieste 2 of Croatia’s Hrvoj, a Ceccarelli 53 series design from the early 2000s. In third place after a “match-race” with Tutta Trieste was one of the protagonists of the last 30 years of Adriatic racing: Adriatic Europa, a Vallicelli design, born as Riviera di Rimini in 1998 and formerly Esimit Europa 1.

Category 0 (13.51 to 16.00 m – 118 boats arrived)

1. Blue (TP 52), m. 15.84, Bonfiglio Mariotti/Federico Bressan, actual time: 5
2. Forever K (Cookson 50), m. 15.22, Claudio Bernoni, actual time: 18
3. Generals (TP 52), m. 15.84, Samo Žvan, real time: 20

If there were an overall handicap winner of Barcolana number 57 Bonfiglio Mariotti’s TP52 Blue – which formed a winning team with BlueNext Sailing Team – would probably be among the candidates. Fifth place in actual behind the “giants” after a perfect regatta. Success at the regatta crowns an excellent season that culminated with European ORC silver in Palma.

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How well Zorzi and Gamenara did at the Mini Transat! And meanwhile, the Class 40s at the Transat Café l’Or…

Category 1 (12, 01 to 13.50 m – 132 boats arrived)

1. Riedl Aerospace (Vallicelli super Stag 40), 12.99 m, Uros Zvan, actual time: 16
2. Tangaroa (RC 44), 13.35 m, Massimiliano Paglione/Dean Barker, actual time: 17
3. Irina (Farr 40), 12.41, William Mauritius, real time: 34

In this category, Slovenian Uros Zvan’s Vallicelli super Stag 40 accomplished the feat, beating America’s Cup monster Dean Barker (aboard RC 44 Tangaroa) after a fight to the last edge.

Category 2 (11.11 to 12.00 m – 177 boats arrived)

1. Barraonda Go 2025 (Frers Open 40), 11.99 m, Lucio Provvidenti/ Manzan Roberto, actual time: 15
2. Fly Fly Endeavour (Millenium 40), 12 noon, Guido Perezzatta/Enrico Biaggini, real time: 36
3. Aramis (Millenium 40), 12.00 m, Stefano Macor, real time: 64

Great test for the Open 40 Barraonda Go 2025 (Frers’ project, already a category winner in 2024): Gorizia’s Lucio Provvidenti and Roberto Manzan finished in 15th overall, ahead of much larger and more competitive boats. In real, there are a good 21 positions between Barraonda and the Millenium 40 Vola Vola Endeavour.

Category 3 (10.26 to 11.10 m – 144 boats arrived)

1. Lo Re (Solaris 36 OD), 11 m, Matteo Forni/Ugo Pernoi, real time: 29
2. Oxygen (X 35), 10.60 m, Andrea Gozo, actual time: 55
3. Enigma (Archambault M 34), Marko Gržetić/ Petar Simunovic, real time: 63

Also in this category the victory is more than clear. Matteo Forni and Ugo Pernoi’s Solaris 36 One Design, Lo Re, “smashed” the competition and, more importantly, the Solaris 36 OD fleet (a 2002 design by Marco Lostuzzi, the only monotype made by the Aquileia shipyard), which has its stronghold in the northern Adriatic.

Category 4 (9.41 to 10.25 m – 204 boats arrived)

1. MSC (Psaros 33), 10 m, Nicolas Groux, real time: 33
2. Agapea (Melges 32), 9.68 m, Hinko Golias, real time: 41
3. Cativa (Fiumanka 33), 9.99 m, Marco Spangaro / Ludovico Pittani, actual time: 43

The Psaros 33 MSC (helmsman Nicolas Groux) accomplished yet another feat (after last year’s historic 11th place in actual): once again a winner in category 3, where as many as 204 boats crossed the finish line. The largest category: first out of 204 is far more impressive than 33rd out of 1865!!!

Category 5 (8.46 to 9.40 m – 143 boats arrived)

1. Code X – Croz (Code X), 9.20 m, Davorin Mudrovčić/Vjekoslav Jadrešić, actual time: 32
2. Cattivik (Ufo 28), 8.60 m, Gianni de Visintini/Luisa Penso, actual time: 38
3. Bandit (Ufo 28), 8.60, Federica Tuniz/Gianfranco Noah, actual time: 45

A real missile, named Croz (a Code X from the Croatian yard Code 7 Marine that weighs only 1,200 kg of which more than 600 in the bulb and with side foils) won in Category 5. But she had a hard time holding off some very fast 30-year-olds. Namely UFO 28 (Umberto Felci’s design) Cattivik (Luisa Penso at the helm) and Bandito (experienced Triestine sailor Gianfranco Noè on board).

Category 6 (7.71 to 8.45 m – 73 boats arrived)

1. Esco Matto (Thompson T 830), 8.30 m, Christian Babich, real time: 40
2. Hyde (Hyde 27), 8.10 m, Marco Rusticali, real time: 42
3. Delt’In (Delta 84), 8.40 m, Giovanna Bertocchi/Giulia Barbariol, actual time: 74

It was a challenge between “kiwis” and homegrown sailors in Category 6: the Thompson T830 (designed by New Zealand’s TMarine, owner Italian Christian Babich) managed to beat Hyde, the 27-footer that Marco Rusticali built himself. And what a great job, judging by the performance!

Category 7 (7.11 to 7.70 m – 119 boats arrived)

1. Lucifer (Murphy 25), 7.7 m, Gorazd Fras, real time: 79
2. Vizio 2 (Thompson T 750), 7.65 m, Sandro Ravenna, real time: 115
3. Pink Team Ghc Sanatorio Triestino (Este 24), 7.5 m, Elisa Degrassi, real time: 126

Finishing in the top 100 with a tiny 7-meter? He will remember this feat well, the slvoeno Gorazd Fras, who dominated the 7 category with his Lucifer. Behind him were 118 boats. Excellent performance by Elisa Degrassi’s Este 24, Pink Team, with an all-female crew.

Speaking of women: on the Melges 24 Deep Blue (length 7.5 m), 130th on the finish line and 5th in her category was American billionaire philanthropist (at the forefront of ocean preservation) Wendy Schmidt, winner of the 2022 Edition of the Barcolana and the only woman – so far – to have succeeded with her Botin 85 Deep Blue.

Category 8 (6.46 to 7.10 m – 20 boats arrived)

1. Fifty 2 (J/70), 7.00 m, Dietmar Kert, actual time: 137
2. KM Zero (Zero One Design), 6.60 m, Mauritius Planine, real time: 175
3. Nightmare (Proto), 6.5 m, Fabio Schaffer, real time: 177

Favored by light wind conditions, Austrian Kert’s J/70 Fifty 2 got the better of the one-design designed by Maurizio Cossutti KM Zero and Fabio Schaffer’s Incubo prototype. It is certain that when the boats are so small it is already a feat to finish the race, with the wind covered at the start and in the first side by the maxis and larger boats.

Category 9 (up to 6.45 m – 44 boats arrived)

1. The Hasty Lover (Mayo 637), 6.37 m, Francesco Girardi, real time: 114
2. Viktor (Share 640), 6.40 m, Franco Sedmak, real time: 163
3. Greyhound (Comet 21 OD), 6.19 m, Luca Bandini, real time: 214

Can you win Europe’s most famous regatta with a self-built wooden 6-meter kit? Yes. Just ask Francesco Girardi, owner of the Mayo 637 (designed by Paolo Bua) The Hasty Lover, which achieved a fantastic 114th place in real time. Chapeau.

Flounder category (traditional North Adriatic boats – 9 entries)

1. Kite (Sparrow) 6.06 m, Peter Barcia, actual time: 401
2. Barcolana 50 (Passera Lenardon), 6.00 m, Nataša Valentic, actual time: 454
3. Ariel (Sciarrelli flounder), 7.00 m, Mario Mallardi, actual time: 743

The legendary “Nibbio,” a Barcolana veteran who has participated in all editions of the regatta since 1969, had a great race, finishing 401st in real time. Not bad, for a hull that was born as a work boat in 1921 and became over time, also thanks to Sciarrelli’s intervention who modified its drift plan in 1946, a thoroughbred for racing.

Meteor Category (35 boats arrived)

1. Without inToppi, 6.00 m, Marco Pisetta, real time: 332
2. Pekoranera Ensto, 6.00 m, Davide Sampiero, actual time: 383
3. 007, 6.00 m, Serena Minardi, real time: 387

An excellent race by Senza inToppi, the Meteor of Marco Pisetta of the Società Velica Trentina, helmed by Andrea Piazza, a former winner of the last Barcolana in his category.

• Want to know in detail all the rankings of Barcolana 57? Click here