Join us in the Vogalonga 2017!
Have you ever seen the Vogalonga? It’s a non-competitive rowing regatta in Venice, where everyone can participate.
The Vogalonga is now at its 43rd edition and will take place on Sunday, June 4. Any kind of rowboat can participate, there are no limits in terms of weight, size and numbers of rowers.
This amateur race has no winners at the end of the 30km that have to be covered, so you don’t have to be a professional rower.
The history of the Vogalonga
On November 11, 1974, a group of friends decided to organize a regatta, on “mascarete” boats, but just for fun. The distance to cover was from Venice to the island of Burano.
From that moment on, they came up with the idea of an annual meeting where everyone, professional or amateur rowers, could participate with any kind of rowing boat.
The message was clear: remembering the Venetian festivities and defending the future of Venice with oars.
Part of the Venice’s history and success are based on the power of rowing boats, the gondola is still a clear example of their usefulness.
When boat engines started to be used, rowing boats lost their importance and along with the knowledge of the Venetian rowing technique.
The first Vogalonga took place the year after, in 1975.
Immagine the St. Mark’s Basin with 500 rowing boats, coming from different cities of Veneto, such as Padua, Chioggia and Treviso, ready to reach Burano.
The 30km to row went through the most impressive spots of the Venetian lagoon and the city and the same happens nowadays.
How to join the Vogalonga 2017
Any person over the age of 16 can partecipate to the Vogalonga, but if you are traveling with someone under this age, he or she can still join the race if an adult goes with him/her.
Enrolling in the Vogalonga is really easy: go to the official website of Vogalonga and register yourself!
You can pay the registration fee online with your credit card or with cash at the Registration Office at the Pescheria Vecchia di Rialto, San Polo 342.
Registration opens on May 22 and closes on June 1 and it costs 20 euros per person.
The meeting point is at St. Mark’s Basin
Join the Vogalonga 2017 on a Kayak!
When we said that “any kind of boat can participate” we really meant it!
We invite you to join us in the race, experience the city among locals and spend a day in a different and amusing way.
If you participate to the Vogalonga you have to be able to paddle for 30km, in other words this non-competitive regatta is suitable for those who had previous experiences on a kayak.
Real Venetian Experience offers you the possibility of renting a kayak to live this experience, without bringing you personal kayak with you.
On Sunday we meet at 8am at our headquarters, near the Venice ghetto, as you’ll must be at 9am at the departure point, very close to San Marco square.
Prices
Kayak rental (service available only for the Vogalonga day): the rental price for a 2-Person Tandem Kayaks is 150 euros and for a single one is 100 euros.
If you rent a kayak with us, you’ll have the chance to join our 100-minutes tour around the city (just adding 50 euros) to become familiar with Venice and learn its navigation rules.
We are ready to paddle till Burano and you?
