interviews by Nastassja Martin
The sailing event recorded 1,858 entries in its main regatta, while public transport carried record numbers of passengers and media coverage increased by about 50 percent.
Barcolana 58, the annual sailing event held in the Gulf of Trieste, attracted approximately 550,000 visits across the area from Oct. 1 to 12, according to preliminary figures released by organizers on Wednesday.
The event culminated on Oct. 11 with the 58th Autumn Cup, which drew 1,858 boat entries and an estimated 21,000 people to the water. The broader program included more than 500 events at more than 100 locations across Trieste and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
The figures, compiled by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, the sailing club that organizes the event, point to Barcolana’s growing role as a major gathering combining competitive sailing, cultural activities and tourism.
According to the organizers, 62 percent of the estimated visits took place on Oct. 10 and 11, the weekend of the main regatta. Trenitalia, Italy’s national railway operator, carried 70,000 passengers during the event, a record for Barcolana and 6,000 more than in 2025. Trieste Trasporti, the local public transport company, reported more than 400,000 passenger journeys on its regular services from Oct. 9 to 11.
The main race was won by Arca SGR, sailed by the Fast and Furio Sailing Team and skippered by Furio Benussi. The boat completed the course in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 9 seconds, ahead of Prosecco DOC Shockwave3 and Marta07.
Of the entries in the main regatta, 286 came from abroad, representing about 16 percent of the total. Slovenia accounted for 89 entries, followed by Austria with 60, Croatia with 42, Germany with 35 and Switzerland with 17. A further 644 entries were associated with Trieste.
Beyond the main race, 22 events on the water attracted 3,482 participants between Oct. 3 and 11. They included youth sailing competitions, swimming and stand-up paddleboarding events, and races for several boat classes. Three feeder regattas from Slovenia, Ravenna and Croatia brought 81 boats toward Trieste, with 51 reaching the city.
The shoreside program expanded into additional parts of the city. More than 110 proposals were submitted through an open call for community events, of which 91 were accepted. A total of 109 businesses and organizations participated in initiatives in the Borgo Cavana and Borgo Teresiano districts, hosting performances, workshops, tastings and other activities.
The program also included more than 40 musical events and 18 literary gatherings over six days as part of Barcolana Un Mare di Racconti, now in its eighth edition.
One of the year’s additions was the Barcolana AI Sea Summit, held on Oct. 8 at MIB Trieste School of Management. Approximately 200 people attended discussions on artificial intelligence and its potential applications in maritime safety, marine conservation and the blue economy.
The summit also marked the beginning of work on the Trieste Manifesto for Artificial Intelligence and Marine Sustainability. Organizers launched a related hackathon, with applications open through December 2026 and €9,000 in prize money available.
The Italian Navy’s training ship Amerigo Vespucci was another major attraction. The vessel visited Trieste from Oct. 8 to 12, marking the final stop of its 2026 North America campaign. According to organizers, more than 75,000 people visited the ship and the accompanying Villaggio IN Italia during its stay.
Environmental management was another focus of the event. Separate waste collection at the Barcolana Village reached 67 percent, compared with 62 percent in 2025 and 61 percent in 2024. The waste collection and street-cleaning operation involved 24 vehicles and as many as 45 workers on the busiest days, organizers said.
The scale of attendance also required additional public transport. Trieste Trasporti operated 247 additional services from Oct. 9 to 11, rising to 291 when dedicated Barcolana shuttles were included. Night buses carried 4,551 passengers over two evenings, according to the company.
Organizers reported that 1,387 people were involved in delivering the event, including staff, volunteers, service personnel and collaborators. Maritime operations included 562 moorings and approximately 1,200 boat movements, as well as 33 recovery operations.
Media attention also increased. Organizers counted 2,923 media reports between Oct. 1 and 13, about 50 percent more than the 1,948 recorded in 2025. Content published on social media generated more than 12 million views between Sept. 30 and Oct. 11, also an increase of approximately 50 percent over the previous edition.
Mitja Gialuz, president of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, said the event had broadened its reach while keeping sailing at its center. He also pointed to the need to improve event management, coordinate visitor flows and maintain a balance between the regatta and the city.
The figures released Wednesday are preliminary, and some environmental data remain subject to further consolidation.
