Tag: Regata Storica

The main event of the Regata Storica is no doubt the men’s race in gondolini, which are very slender gondolas designed especially for racing. The race has for years been a two team match, between the cousins Rudy and Igor Vignotto (this year in the brown boat) and Ivo Tezzat and Giampaolo d’Este (orange). The course must be at least 10 km, it took them some 36 minutes and they arrived within one second of each other. For once there were no arguments about foul play, waves from the judge’s boat or other such issues.

A caorlina is a traditional Venetian cargo boat. Originally they were rowed by two persons, but now they’re almost exclusively used for racing, with six oarsmen. Even if they’re big and heavy, with six rowers they’re still fast.

The main race for women during the Regata Storica is fought in mascarete, which is medium sized sandolo traditionally associated with female rowers. In the last years the race in mascarete had been dominate by the couple Luisella Schiavon and Giorgia Ragazzi. With this year’s victory they have won five Regata Storica in a row, this earning the title of regine del remo, or queens of the oar. They should have been presented with a wreath of laurel for this achievement, but nobody had thought of bringing one. As far as I could hear, their victory wasn’t even announced by the commentator, which just goes to show in how little regard this only race for women is held by the organisators.

The first race of the Regata Storica appears to me more about participating than winning, even if the rowers might think otherwise. Our maybe there were just several races with a lot of participants passing in close succession. There should be a race for young rowers in pupparini , which are beautiful long slender sandoli. There was also a race for children in sandoli or mascarete, and one for mixed crews.