Pisa: 69th Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics, the crews of the “Red Galleon” in the water in Genoa

La 69th edition of the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics will take place in GenoVa, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October 2024 next. The program includes a series of events that will culminate on Sunday 13 October with the rowing challenge in Prà calm channel, between the four crews representing each of the Republics: Pisa, Venice, Amalfi and Genoa. This year for the first time there will also be an all-Italian regatta female. The event will be broadcast in live Rai.

Meanwhile, in the palace Short-legged, on the afternoon of October 1st the crew of the Red Galleon. At the opening, the Mayor delivered the Boatswain the oriflamme of the Republic of Pisa, which will be displayed at the stern of Pisa's boat.

"Thanks to all those who have worked hard to get to this appointment - said the mayor of Pisa Michael Conti -. I know that the training sessions were tiring, both for the girls and the boys; to train you sacrificed your studies and daily life; it was a sacrifice to work for this goal that will surely be repaid. I am convinced that we will be able to obtain an excellent result. Thanks again to the managers and the technical staff for having put this representation of ours back in order, also because we come from a difficult situation. But I am sure that we have great potential to express and a long tradition to respect. I am sure that all together we can achieve important results».

«This year in Genoa the 69th edition of the Regatta coincides with the celebrations in memory of Christopher Columbus, so it will be a very rich weekend – declared the councilor for traditions, history and identity of Pisa, Filippo Bedini -. As for the historical reenactments, it will be a double celebration, because there will be the parade of the Maritime Republics that represents the city with our 50 participants who will be away both on Saturday and Sunday. In today's ceremony, the Mayor will deliver the flame of the Republic of Pisa that will be hoisted on the Galleon, to symbolize that from today the city's insignia are officially in your hands. Having this symbol and carrying it out of Pisa means being aware of a history that, thanks to the period of the Maritime Republic, has led Pisa to be known throughout the world through the triumphs and glory that we recall and of which we must be proud and responsible: for this reason I wish you good luck».

«We are really ready – said the sports councillor, Frida Scarpa -, the galleons have left the Canale dei Navicelli, they are in the Arno at this moment, to testify that we are in the final stages of training in preparation for the Regatta, those of perfecting and finishing the athletes and technicians. We hope and invite the Pisans to look out from the Lungarni parapets to see our boys train and cheer for the Pisa boat, the red galleon».

The regatta on Sunday 13th, as per tradition, will be preceded the day before by the parade through the streets of the city (starting at 15.00) which will start and in Piazza De Ferrari to end at Ducal Palace (hours 16.30) where, in the Hall of the Great Council, the institutional ceremony for the presentation of the crews will take place. Sunday 13th, at Genoa Prà the departure of the historical procession of the four maritime republics is expected (Amatore Sciesa square, 16.15pm) which precedes the women's regatta (hours 16.45) and that male (hours 18.00).

Regatta Crew Maritime Republics

Simone Barandoni;

Of Corso Cosimo;

Garuccio Francesco;

Mancini Nicola;

Meliani Andrea;

Meliani Emanuel;

Paul John;

Crazy Andrea;

Pioli Leonardo;

Tonini Simone.

Female Crew

Welcome Chiara;

Borghini Charlotte;

Victory Card;

From Martino Veronica;

Marconcini Elisa;

Clara Farmhouse;

Silvia Persian;

Alice Combs;

Paola Piazzolla;

Storax Zoe;

Silvia Terraces.

Technical staff

Technical director: Leonardo Pettinari.

Sports director: Luca Gagetti.

Coach: Alessandro Simoncini.

Boatswain: Antonio Pucciarelli.

Helmsman: Lorenzo Giuntini

La Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics (or Palio delle Antiche Repubbliche Maritime) is a sporting event inspired by a historical re-enactment established in 1955, with the aim of celebrating the exploits and rivalry of the most famous Italian maritime republics: Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice. The event, held under the high patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, is preceded by a historical parade, during which participants dress up as ancient characters that characterized each Republic. In the case of Pisa, its main protagonist is Kinzica of Sismondi, the heroine who, according to legend, saved the homeland from the assault and raid of the Saracens in 1044.

Each crew participating in the Regatta is made up of 8 rowers and a coxswain while the boats are 15 meters long and 1 meters wide. The galleons, built on models from the 70th century, are made along the lines of the ancient “galleys" or "Representative feluccas” and painted with the traditional colours of the symbols of the four ancient maritime republics: red with eagle for Pisa, white with dragon for Genoa, green with lion for Venice and blue with winged horse for AmalfiThe winning city will be awarded the gold and silver trophy made by the Florentine goldsmith school, which will be put up for grabs again at the next regatta.

Pisa boasts 8 victories, the last one dates back to 2010. In 2023 the Regatta took place in Venice and was won by the white galleon of Genoa, followed by Venice, Amalfi and Pisa. The last time the city of the lantern hosted the event was in 2021.

More information on the official website https://www.repubblichemarinare.org/