Great sailing returns to the heart of Venice.
The eleventh edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge is ready to start: on Saturday 19th October at 1.30 pm, as per tradition, the spectacular jets of water from the Panfido tugboats will announce the start of the only regatta which runs from start to finish in the internal waters of a city. A sporting event unrepeatable anywhere else in the world but also a flagship in the calendar of the Venice Yacht Club which, captained by Mirko Sguario, has achieved decades of success by bringing the excellence of sailing to the heart of Venice. As every year, Excellence Magazine will participate in this prestigious event as a media partner.
The 11th edition of the regatta sees Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Hotel Danieli, Ca’ di Dio VRetreats, Hotel Excelsior, The Gritti Palace, Londra Palace, JW Marriott, Nolinski Venezia, Palazzina, St. Regis, SINA Centurion Palace, Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel and Alajmo Ristorante Quadri at its side. Each hotel is paired with a vessel, in addition to Il Moro di Venezia and New Zealand Endeavour competing respectively for the Municipality of Venice-Salone Nautico and the “Francesco Morosini” Naval Military School.
An important novelty this year is the first participation of the Coast Guard with the Gipsea boat, seized from organized crime. Led by internationally renowned skippers, there will be seventeen Teams competing on the regatta field for the coveted Doge’s hat, which this year was made in the furnaces of the New Murano Gallery glassworks in 18 numbered copies signed by Maestro Mario Furlan.
On Thursday, October 17th, the event will kick off with the arrival of the boats and their mooring at Zattere. The following day, Friday, October 18th, at 6.3 pm, “The city meets the skippers” will take place at Zattere. On Saturday, October 19th, at 11.00 am, the crew briefing will be held at Palazzo Zattere, while the regatta is scheduled to start at approximately 1.30 pm. The public will be able to admire the entire regatta up close and the boats at the mooring thanks to a floating dock over 70 meters long built by the Boscolo Bielo Group and positioned in the Giudecca Canal. The awards ceremony is scheduled for around 17.00 at the VYP dock where for the first time the Barcolana Venice Hospitality Trophy will also be awarded, a Challenge trophy for the best classified boat considering the best tests in the Barcolana Maxi Trofeo Portopiccolo and Venice Hospitality Challenge.
As for the social aspect, Venice Hospitality Challenge and the Yacht Club Venezia are once again alongside the Italian League for the fight against cancer: the maxi yacht Kiwi will also compete for LILT while the Vaporetto Rosa, a hybrid vessel with low environmental impact, will accompany the regatta to spread the importance of breast cancer prevention. The commitment to the environment is realized by providing crews with clothing obtained by recycling plastic bottles from Mureadritta: a choice in line with what the Municipal Administration is aiming for Venice, a unique place in the world where it is impossible to place a border between city and nature with certainty.
Barman Alberto Tenconi has crafted a cocktail dedicated to the Venice Hospitality Challenge, featuring elements that pay homage to the Serenissima with Venesian Gin and a nod to maritime history through the use of lemon peels, valued for combating scurvy. A selection of aromatic herbs used in the preparation evokes the unique landscape of the Venetian lagoon’s salt marshes.
Last week, at the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, a press conference was held featuring Mirko Sguario, President of the Venice Yacht Club. He began by thanking the attending authorities and then stated: “Last year, the regatta celebrating its tenth anniversary offered the unique opportunity to closely view the moored boats in a central location of the city for the first time. Initially, I regarded it as an experiment; however, due to the significant interest it generated, I decided to replicate it for this 11th edition. Additionally, I am excited to announce a new Trophy this year, specifically designed to reward the best results achieved by participants who compete in both the Barcolana and the Venice Hospitality Challenge, thus fostering a true partnership between the two most important regattas of the Upper Adriatic in October.”
During his speech, Venice’s Deputy Mayor Andrea Tomaello highlighted the excellence of the event, stating, “The Venice Hospitality Challenge unites the finest of Venetian hospitality with the best sailors, providing the city with a significant spectacle that supports the quality and sustainable tourism we all aspire to.”
“In just a few days, the Arsenale of Venice will take center stage to celebrate the excellence of Italian craftsmanship. Shortly after, Venice will host another premier event that shifts the focus from artisanal skills to the sea,” emphasizes Fabrizio D’Oria, Operational Director of Vela Spa. “Once again, Vela, on behalf of the municipality of Venice, is collaborating with the Venice Hospitality Challenge, now in its 11th edition. This event combines a passion for sailing with a love for hospitality, two elements that resonate deeply within our territory. This long-standing partnership brings the maxi yachts back to compete in the city’s waters, offering a truly unique spectacle. It has become one of the most eagerly anticipated events of autumn in the lagoon, maintaining a strong interest in the nautical sector as we look forward to the next edition of the Venice Boat Show.”
Fulvio Lino Di Blasio, President of the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority, added, “The Port Authority reaffirms its commitment to supporting Venice’s nautical sector and its outstanding contributions. We do this by continuing our role as both institutional and technical partner of the Venice Hospitality Challenge, a sailing event that is unique in the world, taking place entirely within an urban circuit. Thanks to the technical and administrative oversight provided by the Port Authority, as well as financial support for the organizers, the event will take place in the exclusive setting of the San Marco Basin. Through these efforts, we aim to further strengthen and enhance the relationship between the port and the city.”
Venice Hospitality Challenge is sponsored by the Municipality of Venice and the Northern Adriatic Sea Port System Authority. It benefits from the support of partners Vela Spa, Salone Nautico Venezia, Marina Militare, Capitaneria di Porto, Guardia Costiera and FIV. Gold sponsors Generali Italia and VISA and sponsors Boscolo Bielo, New Murano Gallery, MureaDritta, Panfido, VYP Venice Yacht Pier, Select, Acqua Dolomia, Alilaguna, Assonautica Venezia, Portodimare.
