Venice Vogalonga 2026
- monmouthrcweb
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Spritz, Steering, and Survival: Monmouth RC Takes on the Venice Vogalonga!
What do you get when you mix 2,000 self-propelled boats, not a motor boat in site, a 30km course, and a healthy dose of Italian chaos? You get the Vogalonga—Venice’s legendary rowing festival, and the ultimate rowing bucket-list event.
This year, Monmouth RC’s very own Helen T, Maggie H, Mary M and Patricia C managed to snag a highly coveted spot before entries slammed shut. Teaming up with a friend from across the rowing world, they formed a crew ready to trade the River Wye for the Venetian Lagoon.
Power to the Paddles: The Story Behind the Spectacle
While it feels like a giant floating carnival today, the Vogalonga actually started as a passionate civic protest back in 1974. A group of local Venetian rowers grew tired of the constant noise, pollution, and—most importantly—the destructive wake (moto ondoso) from motorized boats, which was literally eroding the foundations of the city's ancient palazzi.
To take a stand, they "took up arms" with their oars, launching the very first official event in May 1975 to champion environmental sustainability and revive traditional Venetian rowing. Decades later, the message remains exactly the same: for one glorious, quiet day, the engines are switched off, the lagoon belongs entirely to human-powered craft, and the city breathes a little easier.
The "Perfect" Preparation
As is tradition for Masters rowing, preparation didn't exactly go to script. Training for a grueling 30km trek was hit by a comedy of errors including illness, injury, and even surgery. But what this crew lacked in uninterrupted training mileage, they made up for in pure, unadulterated determination. (And perhaps the promise of pasta at the finish line).
British Rowing Umpires, Look Away Now...
Let’s be clear: while the Vogalonga is a festival and not a race, it is absolutely not for the faint-hearted.
Starting and finishing at Venice Lido added an extra 5km stretch each way. The water was so choppy it actually sank at least two unfortunate crews from other clubs! Then came the infamous canal log-jams. To say the steering from some international crews was "creative" would be a massive understatement.
Warning: The overtaking maneuvers witnessed out there would give any British Rowing umpire absolute heebie-jeebies.
The air was regularly painted a very bright shade of blue in about twelve different languages. Luckily, Monmouth had a secret weapon: the ice-cool Helen T at the helm. Under her expert guidance, the crew navigated the aquatic bumper-cars without a single scratch.
The Grand Finale
The reward for surviving the chaos? A breathtaking, unforgettable procession down the iconic Grand Canal, surrounded by cheering crowds and spectacular architecture.
The crew returned to Monmouth with a bank of glorious memories, zero boat damage, and a brand-new, highly refined appreciation for a Campari Spritz.
A massive thank you to everyone who held down the fort and covered duties at the Monmouth Regatta so the team could live out this long-held dream. We promise to bring some of that Venetian sunshine back to the Wye!
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