THE LARGEST SAILING RACE IN THE WORLD
Trieste, 2 - 11 October 2026
Trieste, 2 - 11 October 2026
Barcolana - News14.09.26
Barcolana Nuota Powered By Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy: Gregorio Paltrinieri returns to Trieste and will swim alongside participants
The Olympic and world champion will take to the water on Sunday 4 October alongside registered swimmers. Honda renews its partnership with Barcolana as Official Car and confirms its support for the event.
Swimming a nautical mile in the waters of Trieste, in front of Piazza Unità d’Italia, alongside Gregorio Paltrinieri, swimming champion and Honda ambassador. This is the experience awaiting participants in this year’s Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy: on Sunday 4 October, the Olympic and world champion will take part in the open-water race alongside all the other swimmers.
The return of the Italian champion to Trieste has been made possible by Honda, which renews its partnership with Barcolana as Official Car of Barcolana58 presented by Generali and confirms its role as naming sponsor of the much-loved open-water swimming race, traditionally one of the opening events of Barcolana’s ten-day programme. The partnership, launched in 2025, continues this year with a particularly eagerly awaited occasion: the opportunity to see Paltrinieri in the water alongside the enthusiasts who choose to experience Barcolana through swimming each year.
Honda will therefore once again be alongside Barcolana for its 58th edition as Automotive Partner and naming sponsor of Barcolana Nuota, with a presence in the Barcolana Village and a fleet of vehicles supporting the organisation. In Piazza Unità d’Italia, next to the Honda stand, visitors will be able to take a close look at the new Prelude, one of the most iconic coupés in the history of the Japanese manufacturer, returning in an electrified version that combines innovation, driving pleasure and the distinctive character that has made it a cult model. Alongside it will be the new HR-V Sport, combining efficiency and performance with even more dynamic and distinctive lines designed to enhance its personality and style.
Completing the display will be the Italian premiere of a special limited edition of the CR-V Full Hybrid, inspired by the qualities that have made it a benchmark among SUVs worldwide: comfort, versatility and the ability to be the perfect companion for every adventure, whether everyday or extraordinary. In this special edition, elegance, design and functionality come together in a model dedicated to those who see every journey as an experience and an opportunity for discovery, without compromising on style or practicality.
The Honda experience will continue with a programme of dedicated test drives, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the manufacturer’s innovative Full Hybrid technology first-hand by getting behind the wheel of some of the most representative models in the range. Visitors will be able to test the ZR-V, the SUV with a sporty and refined character; the HR-V, the compact crossover combining efficiency and versatility; and the Jazz, the city car renowned for its intelligent practicality and surprisingly enjoyable driving experience.
Honda’s presence at Barcolana will also include its Motorcycle and Marine divisions, showcasing the different facets of the Honda world to the public.
Last year, Gregorio Paltrinieri travelled to Trieste to take part in Barcolana Nuota, but weather conditions forced the organisers to cancel the competition. The rainy Sunday nevertheless turned into one of the most memorable moments of the edition: at the Convention Center in Porto Vecchio, Paltrinieri met the more than 450 registered swimmers and spent over an hour talking with participants alongside Luca Dotto, Piero Codia and Stefania Pirozzi, sharing experiences, anecdotes and stories from his career. This year, that story will finally have its natural continuation: Paltrinieri will take to the water and swim the nautical mile alongside the participants, giving swimmers and enthusiasts the opportunity to share the race with one of the greatest figures in world swimming. The press release issued in August had already reported more than 450 participants for the 2025 edition.
“Last year Gregorio gave us something unexpected: we were unable to swim, but we experienced a meeting that participants still remember today. This year, we can finally complete that story. Those who sign up for Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy will not simply take part in a race in one of the most beautiful settings in the northern Adriatic; they will also have the thrill of sharing the water with one of the greatest champions in world swimming. It is an extraordinary opportunity for swimming enthusiasts, and we are delighted that the renewal of our partnership with Honda has made all this possible,” said Mitja Gialuz, President of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano.
“I am really happy to be returning to Trieste for Barcolana Nuota. Last year, bad weather prevented us from experiencing the race, but meeting the participants showed me just how much enthusiasm and passion there is around this event. So when Honda and Barcolana invited me to return, I decided to get into the water and share the race with the participants by swimming alongside them. It will be a special experience to do this in such a unique setting as Trieste,” said Gregorio Paltrinieri.
“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Barcolana and to continue a journey that began last year with great enthusiasm. Barcolana is an event that creates a special connection between people, sport and the sea, and it represents a setting with which we strongly identify. Once again this year, we will be present with a particularly rich programme, giving the public the opportunity to discover some of the most important new additions to the Honda range, experience our hybrid technology through test drives and see, in an Italian premiere, a special limited edition of the CR-V Full Hybrid. Supporting Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda also allows us to promote an experience that is open to everyone, where a passion for swimming meets the beauty of a unique location. The return of Gregorio Paltrinieri, Honda ambassador, makes this edition even more significant, and we are delighted that he will finally be able to experience the race alongside the participants,” said Simone Mattogno, Head of Automobile Division Italy & Switzerland at Honda Motor Europe.
“There is great excitement surrounding this new edition of Barcolana Nuota, particularly after last year’s cancellation, when weather conditions prevented us from enjoying this much-awaited event together,” said Sigrid De Riz, Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Triestina Nuoto S.S.D. a r.l. – Samer&Co. Shipping. “We are therefore returning with even more energy and with the desire to give Trieste a great day of sport and swimming. We are also particularly delighted to welcome a friend from the swimming world such as Gregorio Paltrinieri, an extraordinary champion and an athlete who represents the values of Italian swimming at the very highest level. We cannot wait to see him race here, in our waters, and we are certain that his presence will provide great inspiration for the entire swimming community: for the many amateurs who pursue the sport with passion, but also for young competitive swimmers, who can look to champions such as Gregorio as an example and a source of inspiration.”
Registration for Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy is open on the Barcolana website. Organised by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano in collaboration with US Triestina Nuoto Samer & Co. Shipping, the event will take place on Sunday 4 October over the traditional nautical-mile course (1,850 metres) in the Bacino San Giusto, in front of Piazza Unità d’Italia, with the race starting directly from the water at 11.00 am.
The entry fee is €40 and online registration will close at midnight on Wednesday 30 September. The first 300 participants to register will receive the traditional Murphy&Nye bag, together with the 2026 commemorative T-shirt, official swimming cap and Honda water bottle. Aqua Dolomia is confirmed as a partner of the event.
The return of the Italian champion to Trieste has been made possible by Honda, which renews its partnership with Barcolana as Official Car of Barcolana58 presented by Generali and confirms its role as naming sponsor of the much-loved open-water swimming race, traditionally one of the opening events of Barcolana’s ten-day programme. The partnership, launched in 2025, continues this year with a particularly eagerly awaited occasion: the opportunity to see Paltrinieri in the water alongside the enthusiasts who choose to experience Barcolana through swimming each year.
Honda will therefore once again be alongside Barcolana for its 58th edition as Automotive Partner and naming sponsor of Barcolana Nuota, with a presence in the Barcolana Village and a fleet of vehicles supporting the organisation. In Piazza Unità d’Italia, next to the Honda stand, visitors will be able to take a close look at the new Prelude, one of the most iconic coupés in the history of the Japanese manufacturer, returning in an electrified version that combines innovation, driving pleasure and the distinctive character that has made it a cult model. Alongside it will be the new HR-V Sport, combining efficiency and performance with even more dynamic and distinctive lines designed to enhance its personality and style.
Completing the display will be the Italian premiere of a special limited edition of the CR-V Full Hybrid, inspired by the qualities that have made it a benchmark among SUVs worldwide: comfort, versatility and the ability to be the perfect companion for every adventure, whether everyday or extraordinary. In this special edition, elegance, design and functionality come together in a model dedicated to those who see every journey as an experience and an opportunity for discovery, without compromising on style or practicality.
The Honda experience will continue with a programme of dedicated test drives, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the manufacturer’s innovative Full Hybrid technology first-hand by getting behind the wheel of some of the most representative models in the range. Visitors will be able to test the ZR-V, the SUV with a sporty and refined character; the HR-V, the compact crossover combining efficiency and versatility; and the Jazz, the city car renowned for its intelligent practicality and surprisingly enjoyable driving experience.
Honda’s presence at Barcolana will also include its Motorcycle and Marine divisions, showcasing the different facets of the Honda world to the public.
Last year, Gregorio Paltrinieri travelled to Trieste to take part in Barcolana Nuota, but weather conditions forced the organisers to cancel the competition. The rainy Sunday nevertheless turned into one of the most memorable moments of the edition: at the Convention Center in Porto Vecchio, Paltrinieri met the more than 450 registered swimmers and spent over an hour talking with participants alongside Luca Dotto, Piero Codia and Stefania Pirozzi, sharing experiences, anecdotes and stories from his career. This year, that story will finally have its natural continuation: Paltrinieri will take to the water and swim the nautical mile alongside the participants, giving swimmers and enthusiasts the opportunity to share the race with one of the greatest figures in world swimming. The press release issued in August had already reported more than 450 participants for the 2025 edition.
“Last year Gregorio gave us something unexpected: we were unable to swim, but we experienced a meeting that participants still remember today. This year, we can finally complete that story. Those who sign up for Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy will not simply take part in a race in one of the most beautiful settings in the northern Adriatic; they will also have the thrill of sharing the water with one of the greatest champions in world swimming. It is an extraordinary opportunity for swimming enthusiasts, and we are delighted that the renewal of our partnership with Honda has made all this possible,” said Mitja Gialuz, President of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano.
“I am really happy to be returning to Trieste for Barcolana Nuota. Last year, bad weather prevented us from experiencing the race, but meeting the participants showed me just how much enthusiasm and passion there is around this event. So when Honda and Barcolana invited me to return, I decided to get into the water and share the race with the participants by swimming alongside them. It will be a special experience to do this in such a unique setting as Trieste,” said Gregorio Paltrinieri.
“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Barcolana and to continue a journey that began last year with great enthusiasm. Barcolana is an event that creates a special connection between people, sport and the sea, and it represents a setting with which we strongly identify. Once again this year, we will be present with a particularly rich programme, giving the public the opportunity to discover some of the most important new additions to the Honda range, experience our hybrid technology through test drives and see, in an Italian premiere, a special limited edition of the CR-V Full Hybrid. Supporting Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda also allows us to promote an experience that is open to everyone, where a passion for swimming meets the beauty of a unique location. The return of Gregorio Paltrinieri, Honda ambassador, makes this edition even more significant, and we are delighted that he will finally be able to experience the race alongside the participants,” said Simone Mattogno, Head of Automobile Division Italy & Switzerland at Honda Motor Europe.
“There is great excitement surrounding this new edition of Barcolana Nuota, particularly after last year’s cancellation, when weather conditions prevented us from enjoying this much-awaited event together,” said Sigrid De Riz, Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Triestina Nuoto S.S.D. a r.l. – Samer&Co. Shipping. “We are therefore returning with even more energy and with the desire to give Trieste a great day of sport and swimming. We are also particularly delighted to welcome a friend from the swimming world such as Gregorio Paltrinieri, an extraordinary champion and an athlete who represents the values of Italian swimming at the very highest level. We cannot wait to see him race here, in our waters, and we are certain that his presence will provide great inspiration for the entire swimming community: for the many amateurs who pursue the sport with passion, but also for young competitive swimmers, who can look to champions such as Gregorio as an example and a source of inspiration.”
Registration for Barcolana Nuota powered by Honda – Luca Giustolisi Trophy is open on the Barcolana website. Organised by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano in collaboration with US Triestina Nuoto Samer & Co. Shipping, the event will take place on Sunday 4 October over the traditional nautical-mile course (1,850 metres) in the Bacino San Giusto, in front of Piazza Unità d’Italia, with the race starting directly from the water at 11.00 am.
The entry fee is €40 and online registration will close at midnight on Wednesday 30 September. The first 300 participants to register will receive the traditional Murphy&Nye bag, together with the 2026 commemorative T-shirt, official swimming cap and Honda water bottle. Aqua Dolomia is confirmed as a partner of the event.
