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Vogalonga

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Events in Venice: the Vogalonga

The Vogalonga competition takes part in Venice history since its birth it is one on the main events, especially spring.

Vogalonga's birth is due to a few Venetians and has always been supported only by the participants. This events never needed money from the state or from sponsor thanks to its organizer: for example "par on Toni" Rosa Salva, who is also one of the founders.

On November 11, 1974, a group of Venetians, with a passionate interest in rowing in the lago on and in the traditions of the “Serenissima”, got together on the island of Burano for the first race in a unique “regatta”.

For years, one Venetian family, the Rosa Salvas, together with a group of friend sand numerous rowing champions, organized a race during the festivities of San Martino in a “caorline” with six oars.

The crew was mixed, male and female, half of whom were rowing champions who had won the “Regata Storica” many times and half of whom were amateur row ingenthusiasts.

It was during the lunch following the race that the idea of a non-competitive race to be held the following year was launched.

A race in which any type of rowing boat could participate.

This race would be an invitation to the city authorities and citizens to act against the decline of the city, against the destructive waves caused by motor boat sand to renew the traditional Venetian festivities.

The idea was accepted with enthusiasm by the local press, by the rowing clubs of Venice, by the Province and by the Venetians residents who took the interests of their city to heart.

The race course that was laid out has remained virtually unchanged over the years. It covers about 30 kilometers by way of canals and through the most beloved and picturesque parts of the Lagoon of Venice.

The boats gather in St. Mark's Basin in front of the Ducal Palace on the day of the “Sensa” (Ascensione).

500 boats with nearly 1500 participants meet on the fated day and after singinghymns to San Marco and to Venice, the "start" is given.

At the finish line each participant receives a commemorative medal and a certificate of participation, a souvenir of the day. Prizes were also awarded (which in later years were drawn by lots).

Among the prizes are five “mascarete”, numerous pairs of oars and "forcole"(oar locks) trophy cups and plaques, offered by the Councilor of Tourism, by the local newspapers, by various associations and by the organizing committee.

The first edition of the "Vogalonga" was such a success that it came to be placed first among the number of principle events of the city.

It's success continued to grow with an ever larger number of participants, reaching the considerable number of 1500 boats and nearly 5000 participants in 1980.

Following the races' success and on the wave of re-discovered love for the traditions and the call to save the city, more than 50 rowing clubs sprang up in Venice and in the surrounding centers which gradually acquired splendid procession boats rowed with ten, twelve and eighteen oars.

The entire city contributed to the re-establishment of the handicraft regarding both the restoration as well as the construction of boats, oars and “forcole” which had nearly disappeared.

Boats were re-built that had long disappeared form the Lagoon since time immemorial,which could only be seen and admired in works of art by the great Venetian landscape painters of the '700 such as Pietro Longhi and Francesco Guardi.

Among the traditional boats which have regained interest are the “mussin” and the “vipera”, as well as the "pupparini", "gondolini" and"gondole da fresco".

It not easy to recall all the picturesque rowing crews that have participated over the last 20 years in the "Vogalonga", also considering the fact that in the last few years the number of participants have reached nearly 1000 boat swith about 2500/3000 participants from all over the world.

However, we do recall with with a certain fondness the group of German Grand-fathers ina canoe with ten oars, the Chinese and their characteristic “Dragon Boat”, the English rowing crew from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge with their typical "straw boater" hats, the university students from California who learned to row “alla veneta” in just a few days, and the Venetian contestant who, in the last two editions of the race, has swum the entire length of the race course.

May be now a days not all of the numerous crew that come to row in the Venetian basin are conscious to pursue the aims that made Vogalonga be real, but theirpresence, first of all the foreigner, make Venetian understand that love and admiration for the city are alive not only here but also beyond italian frontiers.

This is why this year like the last 26 times, when people hear the fatidiccannon-shot that indicate the competition begins, everyone is proud to shout the serenissima's ancient words: "Viva San Marco".

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