Furio Benussi’s Arca has won the Barcolana in Trieste for the fourth consecutive year, with 1,858 sailing boats on the starting line.
After several days of uncertain weather forecasts, a splendid easterly wind blowing from 110 degrees welcomed the more than 15,000 sailors who had chosen to take part in the world’s largest and most beautiful sailing rac.
It took the three leading contenders just a few minutes to line up along the first leg, sailing on a progressively broader point of sail that allowed Arca to take the lead and round the first mark 18 minutes after the start.
The subsequent mark roundings began to establish the standings, with Arca SGR followed by Prosecco DOC Schockwave3, Marta 07 and Manticore-Edilimpianti Trieste. Given the wind conditions and the course, opportunities to recover positions would be limited.
The wind would later ease and shift perfectly to a light north-westerly breeze, allowing much of the fleet to finish before dying away at around 4 pm.
On the final leg, Arca left nothing to chance, on the final windward leg to cross the finish line at 11:35:09, completing the race in one hour, five minutes and nine seconds.
Mitja Kosmina, on Prosecco DOC Schockwave3 finished approximately three and a half minutes later, securing second place.
Marta Benussi, on Marta 07 finished a further minute and a half later, and won the Generali Women in Sailing Trophy for the second time, awarded to the first female skipper to bring her boat across the finish line.
In Trieste, the celebrations continued into the evening as the rest of the fleet arrived, bringing an exceptional Barcolana to a close after ten days of events.