The traditional event, founded 38 years ago with the aim of sensitizing the Venetians to the problem of wave motion is scheduled for Sunday, May 27. The participating boats depart from the Bacino San Marco, and after a course of about 30 km, raggiungiungono Punta della Dogana, in front of San Marco.

It all started with a group of friends doing a mascarete regatta on Saint Martin’s Day in 1974. At that time, in a world that was increasingly turning towards motorboats, there were only a few people interested in Venetian rowing.

Infact, besides the rowers, other friends were involved, among whom were Lauro Bergamo, then editor-in-chief of Il Gazzettino, Toni Rosa Salva, active in the world of regattas from time immemorial, and Giuseppe Rosa Salva, well-known for his commitment to protect Venice.

And that is how it was conceived to organize a non-competitive regatta, inviting amateurs and all those who had ‘boated their oars’ for too long in order to join against the deterioration of the city and wave-motion, as well as to resume Venetian traditions.

This spontaneous and sincere impulse gave origin to the Vogalonga adventure, first announced on January 26th, 1975, and actively promoted by the committee whose members are: Lauro Bergamo, Carlo Gottardi, Delfo Utimpergher, Lilly Sirolla and the Rosa Salvas (Toni, Lalo, Pino and Paolo).

“A scanty group of Venetians” – that is how Sandro Meccoli referred to them in the Corriere della Sera – “who, tired of babbling and listening to others babble on the fate of the city and its lagoon, have called people to arms; that is, the traditional arm, the oar.”

The route was then outlined: about 30 km across the canals and the most pleasant and picturesque places in Venice lagoon. Support from the press and cooperation on the part of the city’s administration was fundamental.

It was decided that the boats would gather in St. Mark’s Basin in front of the Doge’s Palace on the “Sensa” day (Ascension).

It was May 8th, 1975.

Actually, on that day nobody expected to experience such an emotion: the sight of 500 boats arriving quietly, carrying about 1,500 participants, the still waters of the Bacino waiting for them, the cannon shooting, and then the swishing of so many oars moving together. There were gondolas, pupparinos, and then sandolos, mascaretas, caorlinas, topas, peatas, viperas, s’ciopóns, and many others together with the most prestigious boats of the various Venetian sports clubs, and rowing champions with their entire families.

Venice was awakening and finding a new form and voice.

And not only Venice was there: already at the first competition the participating crews came from the estuary and the coast, from Caorle, Chioggia, Padua, Treviso and Riva del Garda, as well as from Lombardy and Piedmont.

“… the revenge of oars over engine” – wrote Delfo Utimpergher in the newspaper Il Gazzettino – “the rediscovery of the charming environment of the lagoon, a gathering of common people who are not protesting against something or someone, but only showing solidarity with Venice. So many hands reaching out towards the city to defend it from one of its most cunning woodworms, the wave-motion…”

The initiative became more and more successful, and participation increased to reach 1,550 boats and about 5,800 participants in 2007.

On the wave of enthusiasm, in a few years over fifty rowing clubs were created in Venice and neighbouring centres which gradually equipped themselves with wonderful ceremonial boats manned by ten, twelve, and eighteen rowers.

This has led to a new perception of the importance of this unique place and of this craftsmanship that had almost disappeared.