The event organised by Yacht Club Venezia to bring young people closer to the sport of sailing and Venice’s ancient traditions sees the Venice Boat Show and the North Adriatic Sea Port System Authority as partners.

Yacht Club Venezia’s 2021 season is ready to get underway. The organisational machine of the association chaired by Mirco Sguario has already been in motion for some time in view of the first event of the season, scheduled for Sunday 16th May with the parallel “Vela contro vela”.

This is a youth promotion activity carried out in cooperation with the Compagnia della Vela, the Diporto Velico Veneziano, the Associazione Velica Lido and the Circolo della Vela Mestre. “Sailing as seen from close up” is the claim of the event, which will involve twenty or so baby sailors representing all the sailing schools in the city, ready to compete on board their Optimists in a double parallel race course, with a slalom course, which will be set up inside the Marina Sant’Elena. Thanks to the special structure of the modern Marina, parents will have the opportunity to transform the quays into stands and watch their children enjoy themselves among the buoys.

“We thought of this innovative formula with a slalom course between the buoys,” explains YC Venezia president Mirco Sguario, “to promote sailing to the very young and to motivate them to practise a sport that is rich in values and healthy for the environment. “Let’s not forget,” continues Sguario, “that what made Venice great in past centuries was not tourism, but the ability of our ancestors to know how to go to sea. We want to celebrate and convey to children the values of naval art and of our port, which has made Venice the queen of the Mediterranean and which the Boat Show intends to enhance through the many excellences of our territory that still contribute to making the boating sector great”.

Venice Boat Show, the prestigious event strongly supported by the Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro, is one of the promoters of this important initiative aimed at children: “Since the very first edition, we have focused on the promotion of all water sports; sailing will be the protagonist of the next Boat Show, from 29 May to 6 June at the Arsenale, with more than 30 boats on display, with the presence of the Moro di Venezia – the Boat Show ambassador – and with many activities promoted by Venetian sailing clubs” declared Fabrizio D’Oria, the Show’s Organising Director.

The cooperation with the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority, already tested in previous events organised by YC Venezia, such as the Venice Hospitality Challenge, is also fundamental.  “Promoting this event – commented Dr. Cinzia Zincone, Extraordinary Commissioner of AdSPMAS – does not only mean promoting the ancient seafaring tradition at the basis of the commercial and economic fortunes of the Serenissima but also – and perhaps above all – investing in the future of the city and the Port. Because young people are our future and tomorrow’s ports must be innovative and sustainable; this is certainly an ambitious goal but, if we fulfil our task of involving young people from now on, it is certainly within our reach. This is why the Port Authority intends to continue, as it has always tried to do, in encouraging moments of training, meeting and comparison between young people”.

“Vela contro vela” is sponsored by the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority and the Port of Venice. The event is realised thanks to the contribution of APV Investimenti and the Venice Boat Show. Sponsors of the event are Energia Pura and Acqua Dolomia.