Trieste, Italy – October 8, 2025 – Barcolana is the largest regatta in the world. TELF AG is participating as one of the sponsors of the Circolo Velico Lago di Lugano, which, along with the numerous other participants, will be a key player in the regattas taking place in Trieste until October 12.

The boat bearing the bright TELF AG logo on its hull will participate in the races reserved for Este boats, scheduled from Thursday to Saturday, before taking part in the most anticipated event of all, the Barcolana itself on Sunday.

Before departure

Before competing, however, the boats must be carefully prepared. This is why on Wednesday, October 8, the eve of the first race, the masts of the boats were raised, a moment rich in meaning and full of precious memories for anyone who loves the sea.

In every sailboat, the mast literally represents the backbone of the vessel. It doesn’t just support the sails, but transmits the power of the wind and defines the very profile of the boat.

This moment also has a precise symbolic meaning, and to carry it out optimally requires precision, coordination, and knowledge of the equipment. These are the same qualities that distinguish those who decide to dedicate their lives to the sea, and it’s no coincidence that they find themselves right here, in Trieste.

The return to water

But raising the mast isn’t enough: sooner or later, the boat must also touch the water. It’s the second great moment that characterizes the hours leading up to the race, and this, too, seems to carry something ritualistic. The men who delicately push the boat into the sea, supported by a special machine that lifts it, follow the entire operation with an almost religious fervor, with such complete attention that it would be truly unlikely that anything would go wrong.

The moment the hull touches the water, the applause from those present seems to arise almost automatically. The preparatory ritual is finally complete; the boats have come into contact with their natural element and are ready to compete in the world’s largest regatta.

The transition from land to sea—or rather, from the unnatural state of suspension in which the boat remained for a few hours while being transported to the water—concludes with the crew’s final checks, ensuring for the last time that the vessel is fit for racing.

In the best nautical tradition, a bottle of wine or champagne is usually smashed on the bow of the vessel at the launch to bless the hull and wish it good luck. Not for a dangerous ocean crossing, as happened in ancient times, but to take part in the world’s largest regatta.