Vogalonga 2010: one for the record books
May 25, 2010 Events & Offerings
Spettacolare. Ideale. Glorioso. Whether you were participating in 36th annual Vogalonga or cheering your pals from the nearest riva or fondamenta, nothing less than superlatives will do when describing the day, the row, the joy, the experience. The thousands of oar-powered boats and thousands more rowers propelling them along the 32 kilometer / 20-mile course from the San Marco Bacino north to Burano, back to Murano and the Cannaregio Canal and down the Grand Canal enjoyed gentle winds, temperate temps, and golden rays…a marked contrast from the near hurricane conditions of the prior year.
As far as we know, we were the only two all-female crews of traditional caorlina type boats. We looked like a set of twins, with bright flowers adorning our grass-green boat, and coordinating kerchiefs; our sister craft had netting that streamed behind it into the water (that’s what we assumed got them into the next day’s journal La Nuova Venezia, and not US).
Little matter…just take in the looks on every rower’s face to see what a grand time was had by all.
Favorite kayaker quote of the day: “They need to make this canal bigger for next year!” Hm….wouldn’t hold my breath.
(We only mowed down four kayaks and two sculls. A much better record that last year. If only they would turn their heads on occasion… )
Tags: row, venice, voga, voga alla veneta, voga veneta, vogalonga
We look marvelous: women of the Sensa, 2009
May 26, 2009 Events & Offerings, Vita venexiàn
Look over these splendid, up-close photos from the Festa della Sensa, taken from on, near, and beyond the galley, the Serenissima. We women once again had the privilege of rowing this prestigious craft on a truly spectacular, if only potentially sizzling, day. The mayor couldn’t make it, but we had plenty of dignitaries form the Comune aboard, including the Assessore Salvadori. Lofty breezes rescued us from potential heatstroke (although that didn’t keep me from the voglia fare un bel bagno in the inviting lagoon waters).
The photo below will link you to the vogavenezia.com website of the Coordinamento Nazionale Associazione Remiere, who is responsible for the photographs…and the video that will appear there soon. (And in case you were wondering, the photo of the bare foot with no nail polish is mine.)
Voga Venezia: Festa della Sensa 2009
Take particular notice of the taxi and the RAI camera that smashed up against the Serenissima so they could get “the” shot, to such a degree that it was impossible to row the boat. Un po’ di rispetto! “A little respect, please,” called Giusto from the helm. We know perfectly well that camera has a zoom…what was the point? Chi se frega is the phrase that seems to embody the attitude of the taxi and his shooter (which translates to something like Maude’s famous, “Who cares, Walter”).
Have you seen the preview of the documentary-in-progress, Beyond the Gondola?
Presenting the Preview
Apr 16, 2009 VIVA la voga
We’re happy to announce the completion of the preview/demo/promo of our documentary-in-progress. We’ll be using this as our “biglietto da visita” as we gather funding…but I have to say the responses so far have been extremely positive, for which we are grateful. There is an Italian version of the preview as well, and the site will be translated into Italian very soon as well.
Beyond the Gondola: Where Hidden Venice Lives from Living Venice on Vimeo.
We’ve added a sidebar link to make it easy to locate the preview in the future. For complete information on the documentary project and to make a contribution, please see vogadoc.org.
Corteo delle Donne
Sep 9, 2008 Vita venexiàn
Between the Storica and the transfer of the Serenissima, I’ve gotten completely behind on everything else around here, and am now swamped trying to catch up. More media to come, but in the meantime, here’re are some photos I took of the event from the best seat in the house. There are none of the Regata itself, because it’s very hard to take pictures when you’re rowing (that, and we had a real hothead for a timoniere – the helmsman – who never would have stood for it).
Women Make Waves in the Regata Storica
Aug 31, 2008 VIVA la voga, Vita venexiàn
I know everyone’s out on their last summer picnic weekend, but when you get back, here’s a re-worked press release we hope will gets some visibility beyond Italian borders (the Italian press has already made appointments for pre-festival photos!):
On Sunday, September 7th, for the first time ever, an all-women crew will row the Serenissima, the lead galley in the most elaborate of Venice’s annual water-festivals, the Regata Storica. They’ll all be from our very own Remiera Cannaregio, and, I’m delighted to say I’ll among them!
The scandolous idea of having only vogatrici (female rowers) lead this procession famossima was proposed by Giovanni Giusto, master stonecutter and restorer, and Head Coordinator of the over 80 boat clubs that support the unique voga alla veneta rowing style (you know standing up, facing forward, made famous by gondoliers). “Maintaining the voga tradition,” smiles Giusto, “doesn’t mean things have to always be done exactly the same!”
For millennia, the voga alla veneta was the only way all the light, shallow craft, both commercial and personal, were propelled across the lagoon and throughout Venice’s intricate canal system. It’s still a passion of many a local for leisure and sport. It’s also one of the few authentic Venetian activities that, thanks to stalwarts like Giusto, has not been appropriated by the tourist trade; and such, it remains one of the living links to the Venice of centuries past and the cradle of vera venezianità .
The serene voga alla veneta struggles to survive among the choppy seas created by the ever-increasing number of motor craft, both pleasure and tourist transport, that criss-cross the lagoon incessantly. But the rowers are a determined lot, not to be counted among the cynics who resign a vital Venice to the past tense. Ask any vogatori, including the eighteen fie (women) you’ll spot in the Serenissma on September 7th.
If you’ll be attending the festival – or anytime you spot voga enthusiasts – feel free to show your support with a shout of Viva le donne, viva la voga!
