Rowing the streets of Venice

What could be more apt than for Venice, Italy’s city on the water, to have a rowing event that exceeds all others in uniqueness – the Vogalonga.

What could be more fitting than the city that coined the word “regatta” and has rowing events that stretch back 700 years, to come up with the “long row”.

Ever since ancient civilisations dipped oars into water, rowing has been used for everything from transportation to recreation. The Vogalonga unites the recreational elements fused with traditional transportation methods and in the process attracts over 5,000 people in 1,400 boats to row the canals of Venice.

Expanding from an idea 32 years ago for a non-competitive race, the Vogalonga has grown to showcase rowing’s many forms and fascinations and is a highlight on the Venetian calendar.

The assortment of boats is spectacular. United only by their lack of mechanical power, dragon boats set a monotonous beat, small kayaks look up at traditional gondolas and 14 oared quatordesona’s that display the best of Venetian rowing talent, while yoles of one, four and eight people make up the bulk of the numbers.

Last weekend these boats gathered in Venice’s St Mark’s basin leaving for the 30 km “race” to the sound of cannon fire. They navigated out to the island of Burano and back through Venice’s Cannaregio canal – a relief for the rowers to have cheers from supporters and tourists welcome them through the “streets” to the finish line at the Punta della Dogana.

About half of the rowers come from Venice and Italy with the remainder coming from Germany, France and Switzerland as well as smatterings from Great Britain and as far away as South Africa. For some the trip is an annual event with Venetian cafes and restaurants filled with lycra-clad customers dining next to the tourists throughout the weekend.

This year the weather charmed. Little more than light breezes and a ban on motorised boats, the main cause of wake, meant that conditions were ideal.

A certificate and medallion is handed out at the finish and the non-competitive nature of the event means there is no list of placings. However, there is always an element of competitive rivalry especially amongst the local rowing clubs; clubs which have blossomed to more than 50 since the event began.

Despite the size of the event the Vogalonga is run solely by volunteers with the Rosa Salva family the backbone since the beginning. Committee member Antonio Rosa Salva is a little bemused when asked about results. No results are recorded but the first boat to cross the line this year, an eight person yole, came from Passau Germany. “But maybe they started early,” says Rosa Salva who observed that many boats leave before the cannon sounds.

Number two home was also an eight person yole from local Venetian club, Buccintero.

The tightly run event needs just 100 volunteers, mainly required for safety measures. Still, Rosa Salva noted that three boats went off track, ending up in too shallow waters and destroying the boats.

For further information go to: www.vogalonga.com

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