#Protest - Greenpeace protestors got up close and personal with a yacht backed by Russia's state oil giant competing in last weekend's Barcolana Regatta in Trieste, Italy.

A photo posted on the Greenpeace International Facebook page shows a RIB carrying a number of protestors right up alongside the Esimit Europa, bearing a banner that reads 'Get Out Of The Arctic' and the hashtag #FreeTheArctic30.

The slogan and hashtag make reference to both the yacht's main sponsor, Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom, and the 30 Greenpeace members arrested last month by Russian authorities while attempting to board a Gazprom oil platform in the Arctic.

The Guardian reports that the so-called 'Arctic 30' have been charged with piracy - an outcome described as "irrational, absurd and an outrage" by the environmental action group - and that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her concerns to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In an official statement on Greenpeace's disruption of the regatta, Esimit Europa representatives said they were "very sorry that the 45th Barcolana Regatta was hurt by the events that took place on the second buoy and later on at the original finish line.

"We felt endangered. Our goal was only to provide our guests and staff a safe passage to the harbour.

"We would also like to thank the Italian police authorities and the Guardia di Finanza for their intervention at protecting the sailing field of the Esimit Europa 2 yacht and contribution to its safe passage towards the harbour."