Barcolana Young, a successful debut: three splendid races with an unexpected breeze. A grand sea celebration for the youngest sailors

On the first day of the Barcolana Young, the weather conditions were near perfect for 212 young sailors hailing from Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Ukraine. Divided into two divisions, the largest being Division A with 149 boats at the starting line, racing took place in two batteries. Division B, consisting of the youngest participants, saw 63 registered sailors.

The morning began with preparations as anticipated, taking place at the logistical base at Molo IV and various sailing clubs. The fleet gathered in the middle of the Gulf shortly after 11:00 am, where a light 6-knot wind from 305 degrees allowed for the setup of a race course and the commencement of the first battery of races. However, this initial breeze was merely an appetizer, as the wind subsequently dropped and shifted. The race course had to be adjusted to welcome the Bora, which made its appearance at just the right moment, providing optimal conditions for the young sailors.

The Barcolana Young event, organized by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano in collaboration with Fondazione CRTrieste, Murphy&Nye, Dolomia, Fondazione Aquileia, and Coop Italia, marks the official start of the Barcolana regattas in Trieste. It provides a platform for the youngest sailors, ranging from newcomers fresh out of their first sailing courses to the most experienced, some of whom received accolades from AICO (the Italian Optimist Class Association) in the evening for their outstanding achievements in prestigious international regattas.

Thanks to the Bora wind, as many as three races were held for all categories, and the updated rankings will be published on the Barcolana website.

Reflecting on the day, SVBG sports director Alessandro Bonifacio, upon his return to shore, commented, "It was a simply perfect day, with wonderful light and perfect wind for everyone. The Bora provided us with an exceptional gift, ensuring that everyone, without exception, had fun in ideal and challenging conditions, even the novices. It was a beautiful day at sea, and the final standings are yet to be determined for tomorrow."

Indeed, the action continues tomorrow with three more scheduled races, likely still under the influence of the Bora wind.

In Division A, provisional first place belongs to Jesper Karlsen (Fraglia Vela Riva) with two first-place finishes and a fifth, closely followed by Francesco Pilato (Circolo della Vela di Muggia) with a third, a second, and a tenth place. Tommaso Geiger (Circolo della Vela di Muggia) secured the fifth, fourth, and eighth positions today. In the female category, Guia Legisa (SVBG) leads with a second, fifth, and twentieth place.

Among the young sailors in Division B, Luca Girani (Circolo Vela di Muggia) claimed the top spot with finishes of fourth, second, and fifth. Carolina Longo (Laguna) secured the second position with finishes of fifth, sixth, and first, followed by Francesco Frisan (SNPJ) with finishes of ninth, fourth, and second.