THE LARGEST SAILING RACE IN THE WORLD
Trieste, 1 - 12 October 2025
Trieste, 1 - 12 October 2025
Barcolana - News03.10.25
Where passion meets the sea: the “pop” stories of the regatta
With entries approaching 1,300, Barcolana is not only about numbers but also about people and their stories. Every crew brings with it a unique tale of friendships, passions and dreams that converge in Trieste to give life to the magic of this regatta.
From Croatia comes the story of Roberto Gaetano, skipper of Sea Dream, a Sun Odyssey 45 entered by Jedrenje Charter Servis. His yacht, a charter boat racing for the very first time, brings together a crew of eight sailors of six different nationalities – a mosaic of old friends and new acquaintances. Many of them are members of the Vienna International Sailing Club, the United Nations sailing club in Vienna, where languages and cultures merge into a single passion for the sea. Roberto has already taken part in two Barcolanas, but remembers the 50th edition as the most unforgettable: “We aimed to finish in the top thousand, but ended up just outside at 1060th place. It didn’t matter – what counted was the energy of being there, together.”
From the northern Adriatic we move to Spain, with the tale of Marcelo Miniati, owner and helmsman of Mon-Toi, a Dufour 500 entered by Marina Vela. Since 2023, Marcelo and his wife have chosen to live aboard their yacht, turning their dream of sailing around the world into reality and transforming the boat into a small floating hotel. For them, Barcolana is a first: “We want to take part in this epic regatta, sharing our love of the sea with friends from all over Europe. It’s our way of truly honouring the phrase gente di mare – people of the sea.”
And finally, an Italian story that speaks of memory and continuity: that of Veleno III, a Jazz 27 rebuilt by Andrea Patacca together with his father Gilberto for the Circolo Nautico Sambenedettese. After Andrea’s passing in 2021, his former students chose to carry on his legacy by continuing to race with the same boat at every Barcolana. “For us, Barcolana is a way to remember Andrea,” they explain, “and to live again that spirit of friendship and togetherness that made us fall in love with this regatta and with Trieste.”
These stories remind us that Barcolana is much more than a regatta: it is a celebration of people, their journeys, and the passion that unites them all through the sea.
From Croatia comes the story of Roberto Gaetano, skipper of Sea Dream, a Sun Odyssey 45 entered by Jedrenje Charter Servis. His yacht, a charter boat racing for the very first time, brings together a crew of eight sailors of six different nationalities – a mosaic of old friends and new acquaintances. Many of them are members of the Vienna International Sailing Club, the United Nations sailing club in Vienna, where languages and cultures merge into a single passion for the sea. Roberto has already taken part in two Barcolanas, but remembers the 50th edition as the most unforgettable: “We aimed to finish in the top thousand, but ended up just outside at 1060th place. It didn’t matter – what counted was the energy of being there, together.”
From the northern Adriatic we move to Spain, with the tale of Marcelo Miniati, owner and helmsman of Mon-Toi, a Dufour 500 entered by Marina Vela. Since 2023, Marcelo and his wife have chosen to live aboard their yacht, turning their dream of sailing around the world into reality and transforming the boat into a small floating hotel. For them, Barcolana is a first: “We want to take part in this epic regatta, sharing our love of the sea with friends from all over Europe. It’s our way of truly honouring the phrase gente di mare – people of the sea.”
And finally, an Italian story that speaks of memory and continuity: that of Veleno III, a Jazz 27 rebuilt by Andrea Patacca together with his father Gilberto for the Circolo Nautico Sambenedettese. After Andrea’s passing in 2021, his former students chose to carry on his legacy by continuing to race with the same boat at every Barcolana. “For us, Barcolana is a way to remember Andrea,” they explain, “and to live again that spirit of friendship and togetherness that made us fall in love with this regatta and with Trieste.”
These stories remind us that Barcolana is much more than a regatta: it is a celebration of people, their journeys, and the passion that unites them all through the sea.
