by InTrieste
Interview: Luca Dotto, Italian Olympic swimmer
Against the spectacular backdrop of the Gulf of Trieste, colorful dragon-headed boats sliced through the water on Tuesday afternoon as university teams from across Italy competed in the Barcolana Dragon Boat University Challenge. The event, organized by CUS Trieste in collaboration with the University of Trieste, CUS Venezia, the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, and with support from the Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia, marked the return of one of the most spirited pre-Barcolana competitions.
Part of the 57th edition of the Barcolana — the world’s largest sailing regatta — the challenge celebrated teamwork, endurance, and friendly rivalry. Each dragon boat, manned by 16 rowers, represented a different university sports center: Trieste, Venice, Udine, and Bari.
The day began early at Molo 0 in Porto Vecchio with the arrival of the vividly painted boats, followed by a training session in the San Giusto Basin, directly in front of Piazza Unità d’Italia. At 1:30 p.m., spectators gathered at the Barcolana InfoPoint for one of the most symbolic moments of the day — the traditional Chinese “Eye Dotting” ceremony. Conducted in Chinese with simultaneous Italian translation, the ritual involves painting the eyes on each dragon head to awaken the spirit of the boat, invoking good luck and safe passage for the crews.
Races began at 2:00 p.m. along a 150-meter course between the Rive of Trieste and the Old Port breakwater. Cheers from students and locals alike echoed across the waterfront as teams battled through the elimination rounds, culminating in the B and A finals held between 3:45 and 4:30 p.m.
The competition concluded around 5:00 p.m. with an awards ceremony at the InfoPoint in Piazza Unità, honoring the winning crews and celebrating the shared spirit of sportsmanship that has come to define the event.
What began as an unconventional addition to Trieste’s sailing season has now become a cherished tradition — a celebration of both athletic skill and cultural connection, where every stroke of the paddle reinforces the value of teamwork.
