AUSTRALIA'S OWN VOGALONGA
Ever heard of the Vogalonga? It’s not a race but an international, non-competitive rowing event that happens every year in Venice, Italy. It started as a local event with the intention to preserve the tradition of Venetian rowing or voga alla veneta and has grown over the years and now attracts crews and boats from all over Italy, Europe, the US, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.
Only human-powered craft are allowed to participate - paddled or rowed mostly by hand, sometimes by foot. The event in Venice attracts over 2000 craft and 8000 rowers and paddlers annually, so it can get a bit chaotic but it’s heaps of fun and a great coming together of people from many countries in a spirit of peace and friendly participation.
In Venice, the fleet usually includes local Venetian boats of many types (not just gondolas) plus rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, dragon boats, SUPs, skiffs from England and currachs from Ireland as well as some weird and wonderful watercraft that are not so easy to categorize. Some crews dress up in colourful themed costumes or simply wear their local team gear or create something unique to commemorate their participation in the event.
A local Working Group in Goolwa, South Australia, representing a range of Goolwa-based organizations including Cittaslow Goolwa, the Goolwa Aquatic Club and Coorong Quays had planned to conduct the first ever Australian Vogalonga - called the Vogalonga Down Unda - on Sunday 26th April 2020 but this had to be postponed due to COVID-19. It eventually took place on 4 October 2020. It was the only Vogalonga on the planet that year as the one in Venice, Italy had to be canceled due to COVID.
In Venice the route for the Vogalonga is around 28 – 30 kms. The inaugural event in Goolwa was approximately 12 – 14 kms return with options for crews who would like to extend their route but still finishing at roughly the same point as the rest of the fleet. A shorter, family-friendly alternative route through the quays on Hindmarsh Island was also an option for those with younger children or as an extension to the main event route.
A second Vogalonga Down Unda was held on 16 May 2021 and was bigger and better than the first one despite a quick turnaround to reset the annual cycle of the event for April/May of each year.
The third Vogalonga Down Unda was held on 24 April 2022 .
The Founder of VAVA Inc., Michael Piovesan, who was instrumental in initiating these events and is a member of the Vogalonga Down Unda Working Group. VAVA was able to build it's first Venetian-style boat in time for the third VDU. The VAVA boat featured prominently in the event and served as a tangible link between our local event and the original in Venice.
Below are some photos of the VAVA boat at the most recent Vogalonga Down Unda.
Please help us to build another boat or three. You can Donate here.
Only human-powered craft are allowed to participate - paddled or rowed mostly by hand, sometimes by foot. The event in Venice attracts over 2000 craft and 8000 rowers and paddlers annually, so it can get a bit chaotic but it’s heaps of fun and a great coming together of people from many countries in a spirit of peace and friendly participation.
In Venice, the fleet usually includes local Venetian boats of many types (not just gondolas) plus rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, dragon boats, SUPs, skiffs from England and currachs from Ireland as well as some weird and wonderful watercraft that are not so easy to categorize. Some crews dress up in colourful themed costumes or simply wear their local team gear or create something unique to commemorate their participation in the event.
A local Working Group in Goolwa, South Australia, representing a range of Goolwa-based organizations including Cittaslow Goolwa, the Goolwa Aquatic Club and Coorong Quays had planned to conduct the first ever Australian Vogalonga - called the Vogalonga Down Unda - on Sunday 26th April 2020 but this had to be postponed due to COVID-19. It eventually took place on 4 October 2020. It was the only Vogalonga on the planet that year as the one in Venice, Italy had to be canceled due to COVID.
In Venice the route for the Vogalonga is around 28 – 30 kms. The inaugural event in Goolwa was approximately 12 – 14 kms return with options for crews who would like to extend their route but still finishing at roughly the same point as the rest of the fleet. A shorter, family-friendly alternative route through the quays on Hindmarsh Island was also an option for those with younger children or as an extension to the main event route.
A second Vogalonga Down Unda was held on 16 May 2021 and was bigger and better than the first one despite a quick turnaround to reset the annual cycle of the event for April/May of each year.
The third Vogalonga Down Unda was held on 24 April 2022 .
The Founder of VAVA Inc., Michael Piovesan, who was instrumental in initiating these events and is a member of the Vogalonga Down Unda Working Group. VAVA was able to build it's first Venetian-style boat in time for the third VDU. The VAVA boat featured prominently in the event and served as a tangible link between our local event and the original in Venice.
Below are some photos of the VAVA boat at the most recent Vogalonga Down Unda.
Please help us to build another boat or three. You can Donate here.
COME AND TRY - ROW LIKE A VENETIAN
As soon as we have a suitable boat to commence operations, suitably trained, experienced and competent Club members will offer free try-outs of Venetian rowing to the general public at various locations such as the River Torrens at Elder Park in the city; The Aquatic Reserve and the Rowing SA centre at West Lakes; the Onkaparinga River near Port Noarlunga; the Goolwa Aquatic Club, Goolwa; the Murray Bridge Rowing Club and other locations wherever there is a suitable body of protected water. Free trials such as this will be conducted every weekend or public holiday assuming competent Club members are available to offer this service.
