Barcolana

The largest regatta in the world

Barcolana is much more than a regatta: it is the identity festival of Trieste and one of the most famous sailing events in the world. Organized by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, it takes place every second Sunday in October in the Gulf of Trieste and holds the record, recognized by Guinness World Records in 2018, for the regatta with the largest number of boats in the water: 2,689 boats at the start in that edition.

A unique start in the world

The spectacle of Barcolana is all in the start: thousands of hulls, from large professional maxi yachts to small boats of enthusiasts, lined up on the same line between Barcola and Miramare. The course draws a quadrilateral of about 13 nautical miles in the Gulf, with the finish line in front of the spectacular Piazza Unità d'Italia, one of the most beautiful squares overlooking the sea in Europe. Seeing over two thousand sails set off together remains an unforgettable image, witnessed by tens of thousands of spectators from the shores and docks.

A week of events on land and at sea

The Sunday of the Autumn Cup is the culmination of an intense week. In the preceding days, there are regattas and side events: the Barcolana by Night, a night regatta in the San Giusto basin; the Barcolana Classic for vintage boats; the Barcolana Maxi; the Barcolana Nuota (swimming); and many land-based activities involving culture, debates, sports (Barcolana Cammina - walking, Barcolana Ski) and food and wine that liven up the center and shores of Trieste.

History and identity

Born in 1969 on the initiative of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, Barcolana has grown to become an event of international scope, capable of attracting sailors, Olympic champions, and simple enthusiasts from all over the world. For Trieste, a city with a maritime vocation, it represents the moment of the year when the entire community comes together around its Gulf.