Barcolana 2021, the biggest sailing race in the world

Every second Sunday in October the Gulf of Trieste celebrates the most attended nautical event in the world, with over two thousand boats and 30 thousand people at sea. A sailing regatta that in the 50th-anniversary edition (in 2018) entered the Guinness Book of Records as “Largest Sailing Race” with 2,689 boats registered. Its special feature is that it welcomes both expert sailors and amateur sailors, even if beginners, on boats of various sizes, which are then divided into categories.

The regatta, born in 1969 as the “Autumn Cup” which put a small group of enthusiasts in competition, today takes place on a 15-mile course and the starting line is two miles long (from Miramare Castle to the Sailing Company of Barcola and Grignano) to allow the positioning of all boats. The finish line is in the stretch of sea in front of the majestic Piazza Unità d’Italia, from where you can enjoy the spectacle of the competing sails. The particular conformation of the area around the Gulf of Trieste offers countless observation points of the spectacular competition, as far as the heights of the Karst, creating a sort of natural “sailing stadium”. The event also has a natural impact on the city of Trieste, which dresses up for the whole weekend with side events, shows and music.

The 52nd edition in 2020 was cancelled at the last minute, on the very morning of the start, due to prohibitive weather conditions: so the appointment is on 10 October 2021!