The race, organized by the Venice Yacht Club, is an end-of-season event where each yacht will represent one of the most famous hotels in town. The contestants fight for the symbolic trophy of the regatta, a Doge’s Hat made in Murano glass by the Berengo Glass Furnace.
Among the several yachts (and skippers) that will race are Nautor Swan 70 Flying Dragon (Mauro Pelaschier), Moro di Venezia (Dodi Coletti), Arca SGR (Furio Benussi), Shockwave 3 (Mitja Kosmina) in representation of Alajmo Ristorante Quadri, Aman Venice, Bauer Palazzo, Ca’ di Dio VRetreats, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Hotel Danieli, Hotel Excelsior, The Gritti Palace, Londra Palace, JW Marriott, Nolinski Venezia, Palazzina, St. Regis, SINA Centurion Palace, and Violino d’Oro Hotel. Extra participants are the local military high school Morosini and the City of Venice.

What’s new this year is an exhibition to go with the event: Venice Hospitality Challenge. Il Decennale, curated by Patrizia Zambelli and including the most beautiful, exciting pictures ever taken of the regatta. Venice Hospitality Challenge is a sports event that mirrors the cultural values of a city that enjoys the deepest symbiotic bond with seafaring as well as, of course, with hospitality and hotellerie, known all over the world.
Those who love Venice and the sea will also respond to the themes of the environment and health, which means that the regatta is the perfect chance to promote commitment to environ- mental sustainability: all technical clothing has been made by MureaDritta with recycled plastic bottles. Once used, they will be recycled themselves.
Venice Hospitality Challenge also sponsors the Lega Italiana per la Lotta ai Tumori (an Italian association that funds cancer education, screening, counselling, and research), represented by maxi yacht Kiwi. The Pink Vaporetto, a hybrid, low environ- mental impact boat, will accompany the race to raise awareness on breast cancer screening.