«Via le Mani» National Charity Regatta

A regatta against violence towards women

The «Via le Mani» National Charity Regatta is one of the most socially significant sporting events in the capital. Launched in 2013 by the Italian Rowing Federation and the Hands Off Women association, it takes place annually on the Tiber River, in front of the Circolo Canottieri Roma, putting rowing at the service of a fundamental cause: saying no to violence against women. All proceeds from the day are donated to the Associazione Nazionale Telefono Rosa Onlus, which has been at the forefront of protecting and supporting women victims of abuse for years.

The gesture that gives the event its name

The title «Via le Mani» (Hands Off) originates from a technical rowing movement: the act of moving the oars away from the body during the stroke. A routine motion for every rower that, in this context, becomes a powerful symbolic message against all forms of oppression. Thus, the water sport becomes a spokesperson for a universal value, combining athletic effort with social awareness.

How the day on the Tiber unfolds

The regatta brings together numerous rowing clubs from the local and national area, with women's, men's, and mixed crews competing along a course set up on the Tiber near the Circolo Canottieri Roma. The boats used are typically Jole eights, which offer the public spectacular group challenges over short distances. Alongside the competitive aspect, the event features awareness-raising moments, testimonials, and the participation of representatives from institutions and the non-profit sector.

A network of clubs and institutions

The event involves the main rowing clubs of the Tiber and the Lazio region, including the Circolo Canottieri Roma itself, alongside the Lazio Regional Committee of the Italian Rowing Federation. Over the years, the format has expanded to include simultaneous events in other Italian cities, demonstrating how the message of «Via le Mani» has grown and spread far beyond the borders of the capital.

Rome and Lazio united in solidarity

Hosted on the picturesque urban stretch of the Tiber, between the embankments of the Flaminio district, the regatta offers Romans and visitors an autumn Sunday dedicated to outdoor sports and shared values. For the Municipality of Rome and the entire Lazio region, it has become a fixed date on the rowing and civic calendar, capable of attracting athletes, families, and curious onlookers to the banks of Italy's most famous river.

The 2026 edition

The fourteenth edition is scheduled for October 18, 2026, once again on the waters of the Tiber at the Circolo Canottieri Roma. As is tradition, the day will combine crew challenges with fundraising for Telefono Rosa, confirming «Via le Mani» as one of the most heartfelt solidarity events of the Roman sporting season.