Venice Hospitality Challenge 2020

The flag of the Lion of San Marco returns, to wave for the start of this year's Venice Hospitality Challenge. The seventh edition of the Grand Prix sailing through the City of Venice is the only regatta held in the inland waters of one of the most famous cities in the world, the Serenissima.

The regatta will be held on Saturday 17 October with a new record of participants. Fifteen Maxi Yachts that have left their mark on the history of world sailing will be lined up on the starting line. Internationally renowned skippers will compete for a prestigious victory and the now famous doge's hat, specially made this year by the historic Murano glass factory, Signoretto.

The race will start at 13.30 on Saturday 17 October, and the fleet's base will be on the Marina Santelena while the focal point of the route, San Marco basin, will allow the public to follow a spectacular competition from the shores.

The prize giving will take place at the “Zattere” at the Venice Yacht Pier (VYP) at around 4.30pm.

To arbitrate a high-level competition, a unique international judge has been appointed, namely Alfredo Ricci whose impressive credentials include Stella d'Oro from CONI, International Umpire, International Judge and International Race Committee, making him the only Italian racing official to have all three qualifications. From the America’s Cup and the Olympic Games, he will arrive in Venice to chair the Committee of the Venice Hospitality Challenge, assisted by Emilia Barbieri and the national judge Gianfranco Frizzarin - on board from the first edition.

Again this year's event involves high end Venetian hospitality, uniting a passion for the sea with the love for this city. The hotels participating in this sixth edition are: Alajmo Restaurant Quadri, Bauer Palazzo, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, SINA Centurion Palace, Belmond Hotel Cipriani, San Clemente Palace Kempinski, Hotel Danieli a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort, The Gritti Palace a Luxury Collection Hotel Venice, Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, Hotel Londra Palace, Palazzina and the St. Regis Venice.

The maxi yachts are also joined by the Moro di Venezia which will race for the Venice Boat Show while New Zealand Endeavor Covid19 will compete with a crew of Venetian doctors who have fought the pandemic.

Venice Hospitality Challenge 2020 – Participants

Maxi Yacht	Hotel	Skipper
Ocean Maxi	Alajmo	Franco Corazza
Pendragon	Bauer Palazzo	Carlo Alberini
Arca SGR	Ca’ Sagredo Hotel	Furio Benussi
Anemos Allianz	SINA Centurion Palace	Guglielmo Danelon
Anywave	Belmond Hotel Cipriani	Mauro Pelaschier
E…vai	San Clemente Palace Kempinski	Massimiliano Pontani
Adriatic Europa	Hotel Danieli	Dusan Puh
Ancilla Domini	Hotel Excelsior	Andrea Straniero
Way of Life	The Gritti Palace	Gasper Vincec
Portopiccolo Tempus Fugit	Hilton Molino Stucky	Claudio Demartis
Kiwi	Hotel Londra Palace	Paolo Pesaresi
Idrusa	Palazzina	Paolo Montefusco
Tutta Trieste 2	The St. Regis Venice	Mario Hrvoj
Il Moro di Venezia	Salone Nautico Venezia	Dudi Coletti
New Zealand Endeavour	Covid19	Valentino Maestrutti

"Everyone knows that Venice in its history had to face the plague and epidemics of various kinds" evokes Mirko Sguario, President of the Yacht Club Venezia and organiser of the event: “Yet, despite everything, the city did not stop. To honor our history and our deep-rooted traditions, with all the companies involved we will do our utmost for the best outcome of the regatta in full compliance with current regulations. In moments of difficulty, Venice has always looked up to the sea to rediscover its soul and its strength. And that is why I have never lost hope of being able to give life, this year too, to the best expression of VHC sailing, a sport that better than any other represents the essence of this city. "