by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Serena Tonel, Marina Simoni – Presidente della Società Triestina della Vela
The Gulf of Trieste will host the inaugural Italian Offshore Sailing Championship Orc Double Handed on August 27 and 28, marking a new chapter in the city’s long tradition with the sport.
The competition will unfold in two stages: a one-day race entirely within the Gulf of Trieste, and a second, longer challenge beginning at sunset from Piazza Unità d’Italia. From there, crews will sail across the Adriatic to round the Croatian lighthouse of San Giovanni in Pelago before returning to the Bay of Muggia.
“This format already exists at the European and world level, but Italy was missing a national championship,” said Marina Simoni, president of the Società Triestina della Vela, which is organizing the event. “The Italian Sailing Federation decided to establish it in 2025 and entrusted Trieste with the first edition.”
The decision, noted Trieste’s deputy mayor, Serena Tonel, reflects the city’s deep connection to sailing. The competition will feature 29 crews, each consisting of two sailors navigating offshore courses of medium and long distance. Boats of varying sizes and performances will be represented, including international entries from Germany and Slovenia.
One of the teams will bring together two of Trieste’s most established clubs: Simoni herself will compete alongside Nicolò de Manzini, president of the Yacht Club Adriaco. Their joint participation, organizers said, is a symbolic gesture underscoring the century-old friendship between the two institutions.
The results will also determine which crews qualify for the upcoming World Championship of the discipline, scheduled to take place in Monfalcone.
