Regatta of traditional boats with mainsails
###
The Second Rovinj regatta of traditional boats with main sail was held, organized by the eco museum „Kuća o batani“ (House about batana), City Tourist Board, Sailing Club „Maestral“ and Venetian association „V
###
The Second Rovinj regatta of traditional boats with main sail was held, organized by the eco museum „Kuća o batani“ (House about batana), City Tourist Board, Sailing Club „Maestral“ and Venetian association „Vela al terzo“.
This old boats regatta on the eastern side of the north Adriatic was a result of cooperation between the residents of Rovinj and Venetian association, which each September organizes a large historical regatta in famous Canale grande. During the last two years, Rovinj’s batanas and falkušas from Komiža have participated in Venetian regatta as special guests. Last year’s first regatta of traditional boats with main sails had attracted twelve and this year eighteen boats to Rovinj aquatorium. As expected, Rovinj’s boats were presented by sea dogs – brothers Veneir with batana „Calsantom“, Sergio Sponza with batana „Fiamita“ and Alvaro Macchi with his gajeta. In addition to locals, eleven boats from Venice, led by a barque participated in regatta which attracted a large number of curious observers. In addition to Italian, boats were sailing in from Slovenia, neighbouring Pula, Opatija and island of Rab.
The main sail first started being used in northern Adriatic, from where its use spread to Dalmatia. It is trapezoidal, and is placed at half mast. Given that its length covers two thirds of the boat, the Italians named it „vela al terzo“. The production of the main sails which are of specific colour, enabling fishermen to recognize each other more easily at sea, was renovated at the occasion of the opening of eco museum „Kuća o batani“. Within museum’s function, every year, on a specially prepared plateau on the waterfront, one batana is being built for several weeks before tourists’ eyes. After it is supplied with a mast and sail, it is left to care of professional fishermen, who welcome such attractive tourist manifestations and who are a sort of guarantee that this valuable tradition of building batana, autochthon vessel of Rovinj’s fishermen will not only be preserved, but also enriched and improved.
