Barcolana57 has reached its highest number of entries since 2019, with 1,865 boats confirmed for Sunday’s start in Trieste, Italy.
Registrations closed at 7 pm in Barcola. Organisers said the surge marks a post-pandemic record.
The standout late addition is New Zealand sailor Dean Barker. He will race aboard Marino Quaiat’s RC44 Tangaroa.
“The numbers at sea represent a post-pandemic record, clearly on the rise,” said Mitja Gialuz, president of SVBG. He estimated more than 15,000 sailors will be on the water.
Crowds filled the Barcolana Village and the city streets throughout Saturday. Tens of thousands of visitors walked the Rive, Piazza Unità and the San Giusto Basin.
This year, the event has extended beyond the waterfront. The Cavana district has been transformed into a second hub with music, exhibitions and workshops.
Shops, cafés and restaurants across Trieste reported heavy footfall. Gialuz said participation surpassed the 50th anniversary edition.
The regatta is scheduled to start on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., with forecasts of light winds: Bora at the start, then a clear shift westward that will mix things up and highlight the tacticians’ skill.
