6 June 2023
By Tim Koch
For the third and final article about the 2023 Vogalonga, Tim Koch takes a rare look at social media.
Nearly 2,000 boats and over 7,300 rowers, scullers and paddlers took part in the 47th Vogalonga on 28 May. The event is a non-competitive celebration for all human powered craft. This peaceful protest against wave damage caused by motor boats, and lagoon degeneration, brings together Venetians and enthusiasts from around the world. The Vogalonga is held on Pentecost Day which, according to Venetian tradition, is connected to the symbol marriage of the Doge (Venetian Head of State) to the sea. The 30 km/18 mile course starts in the bay opposite St Mark’s Square, crosses the Venetian Lagoon to the island of Burano and returns to Venice through the Cannaregio Canal to the finish point in the Grand Canal.
As I discovered last year, it is near impossible to row and take photographs, so I have again taken the liberty of using other people’s social media pictures (#vogalonga2023) to try to give some idea of the atmosphere of this great event.
The Start
The Venetian Lagoon
The Cannaregio Canal
The Grand Canal
A two-minute official video of last year’s Vogalonga is on YouTube. Enjoy/Godere!
Hear The Boat Sing 