Barcolana 37 has been the fastest in racing history; the winner set the record time of 58’20’’: Trieste, Provincia di… (internationally known as Skandia, the yacht that won the Sydney-Hobart race in 2003, Australia, and came in second a few months ago at the Rolex Fastnet Race, charterized for the occasion by a group of Triestine sailors) the maxi yacht with Lorenzo Bressani at the helm and Furio Benussi as tactician has cut down the record set by Cometa in 2001 of about 16min and 40 seconds on the 17-mile triangular course – the most crowded fleet race in the world – beating Slovenia’s Maxi Jena, with Mitja Kosmina at the helm, and Shining with helmsman Lorenzo Bodini. The race was characterized by a strong Bora wind with gusts between 30 and 35 knots at the start (it later calmed down a little to 20 knots) and by the usual huge participation of 1725 boats at the start of this sea festival which takes place every second Sunday of October and attracts many sailing enthusiasts to Trieste.

It has definitely been one of the best and most technical regattas over the last ten years with a strong wind which forced the Organizing Committee of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano to exclude the “Passere” category from the competition. They are small boats entirely built in wood which would not have been able to cope with strong gusts of wind.

The race started after the traditional three gun shots at the start line offshore Barcola at 10.00 o’clock sharp. The favourite Trieste, Provincia di… took the lead straight away hoisting the gennaker with a brave and technically perfect manoeuvre and thus leaving the opponents behind, in particular Maxi Jena. The crew consisting of mostly Triestine sailors gained half a mile in the first three minutes of race. An advantage which was already clear after half of the first leg sailed close hauled.

Behind came the Slovenians of Maxi Jena who tried to catch up hoisting different fore sails, and other large yachts such as Shining, Esimit (helmsman Branko Brcin), historic Veliki Viharnik with Dusan Puh at the helm and Cometa.

The rest of the fleet scattered across the Gulf in about 20 minutes on the first lap providing almost 200 thousand spectators, located on the many strategic viewpoints along the coast, with a wonderful sight, one of the best over the last years.

While small boats where reaching the first buoy, Trieste Provincia di …had already crossed the finish line in record time, after leaving the Slovenian rival more than 1 kilometre behind on the second leg. After Maxi Jena another Triestine helmsman Lorenzo Bodini on Shining crossed the finish line third.

“We did a perfect race”, said Lorenzo Bressani, helmsman of Trieste, Provincia di… a few minutes after crossing the line, clinching the 4th personal victory at the Barcolana. “We did our best – he continued – with fighting spirit from the very beginning when we hoisted the gennaker at once. It enabled us to gain a good advantage on the rivals which grew throughout the race.

BRESSANI: “A PERFECT RACE”
Trieste – The local helmsman Lorenzo Bressani is enthusiastic about the race, he is the winner of the 37th Barcolana with Trieste, Provincia di… “We brought the trophy back to Trieste” said President of the Province Fabio Scoccimarro

“First of all I want to thank the crew for this wonderful victory. This Barcolana was just perfect. At the start we were rather agitated but the quickness and the perfection with which we hoisted the gennaker, allowed us to leave Kosmina behind still with jib and mainsail”. This is what Lorenzo Bressani said upon arrival, winner of the 37th Barcolana aboard of the super maxi Trieste, Provincia di… This is Lorenzo Bressani’s fourth victory at the Barcolana. While the crew celebrated with friends at their headquarters on the Molo Pescheria, where the maxi yacht is berthed. President of Trieste Province, Fabio Scoccimarro has stressed upon the importance of this victory. “It was great to come in first at this spectacular edition of the Barcolana, but it was even more important being able to bring the Trophy back to Trieste with a crew made up of almost all locals. The Province’s project goes beyond this race and during the week before the event, it gave the possibility to many disabled people to sail on Trieste’s boat”.

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