VIDEO | Here is the 'Romagnola' (and green) Barcolana:from Ravenna en route to Trieste

In view of the 56th edition of the famous Barcolana, the largest sailing regatta in the world, here is also its 'Romagnola' version directed towards the Friulian capital

RAVENNA – From Ravenna heading towards Trieste in the name of passion for sailing, but also of environmental sustainability and the circular economy.In view of the 56th edition of the famous Barcolana, the largest sailing regatta in the world, here is also its 'Romagnola' version directed towards the Friulian capital. Registration opens tomorrow for the Hera Group Trophy 'Go to Barcolana from Ravenna' on 10 October, the crossing organized by the Circolo Velico Ravennate in collaboration with the Società Velica di Barcola and Grignano, collateral to the famous Trieste regatta, and presented today at a press conference in Marina di Ravenna, from where it will start again this year.A now consolidated event for sailing enthusiasts, now in its fourth edition (one of which was canceled due to bad weather) who will be able to try their hand at an exciting competition along the Adriatic coast, with the possibility of winning a one-of-a-kind trophy.Not only that, because the event also brings forward the many environmental issues mentioned Hera acts as spokesperson, a result translated into the partnership with the multi-utility for the third consecutive year, starting from final trophy, made with plastic waste recovered from the sea.

Returning to the regatta, the crews will leave on the afternoon of Thursday 10 October, with the aim of reaching the Gulf of Trieste, covering a distance of 95 nautical miles (approximately 176 kilometres), and the participation of approximately 30 boats from the central and southern Adriatic coast, up compared to last year.The competition is open to all boats over 8.46 meters in length, which will be classified according to Orc fees. Registration opens tomorrow, Saturday 7 September, and owners will receive a single mask number valid both for this preliminary regatta and for the main event on Sunday 13 October in Trieste.As usual, the Hera Group Trophy is up for grabs, which will pass from hand to hand to the winners of each edition with the 'Perpetual Challenge' formula.Created by the student Yuyu Zhao, winner of the internal competition organized by the Academy of Fine Arts of Ravenna, with which Hera has activated important collaborations as part of its Scart project, in its pyramid shape it recalls the triangular shape of the classic boat sails and is embellished with the micromosaic technique, typical of the Ravenna tradition.This year too, the president of the Barcola and Grignano Sailing Society Mitja Gialuz will hand it over to the crew that wins the podium.

“The 'Go to Barcolana from Ravenna-Hera Group Trophy' - underlines Gialuz - is an event that is increasingly appreciated by sailors.It is the classic autumn cruise in company that becomes a regatta, thus preserving the authentic spirit of the Barcolana:a beautiful moment of sharing that only our sport can offer.I warmly thank the Hera Group for their great support for the project, the friends of the Circolo Velico Ravennate and all the sailors for the great passion they show us every year".The regatta, adds the executive president of Hera Cristian Fabbri, “involves crews from the Adriatic coast heading to Trieste, virtually uniting the territories in which many of our 4.8 million customers are located, and recalls the importance of the decarbonisation of consumption energy sources, just a few weeks after the publication of our commitment to eliminate CO2 emissions from energy supplies to our customers by 2050".

The 'Go to Barcolana from Ravenna' is also becoming a reference for offshore enthusiasts in the Adriatic.This was assured by the president of the Circolo Velico Ravennate Matteo Plazzi, currently involved in the America's Cup in Barcelona, ​​who underlines how it is also "a moment of union between two cities that share many cultural aspects.Marina di Ravenna, thanks to its central position in the Adriatic Sea and the possibility of hosting boats in transit, has become a point of reference for all crews heading to the Barcolana who want to include a regatta in their program and not a simple transfer.To guarantee safety during navigation we have adopted rather stringent rules, while remaining careful to preserve the joyful spirit of a great celebration of the sea".Emilia-Romagna, then recalls Giovanni Ceccarelli, head of offshore racing at the CVR, "has always had many shipowners who have dedicated themselves to offshore racing.Many enthusiastically participate in the Barcolana which they include in their annual calendar, sometimes sacrificing days of summer holidays.We want to stimulate the passion for sailing with regattas where the ingredients do not only include technique between the buoys. The high altitude, medium distance is very popular and involves sailors who have a passion not for boats but also for sailing”.