Not just competitions and preparation in the pool: for Rari Nantes Spezia and many cross-country and middle distance lovers, this discipline is expressed at its best even in open water. And to honor a now consolidated tradition in the La Spezia area, the Palmaria Island returns again this year, a race organized by President De Luca’s club which will be held tomorrow June in the waters off the island and Porto Venere, with a high level of competitive spirit and show. “This year – they say from the control room – the route will be 3.5 km: we will not do the tour because last year there were difficulties, especially on the route between Torre Scola and the head of the island in front of the Tino. Thus, to ensure maximum safety for participants, we will resume the 2019 route starting from Pozzale and finishing in front of the Doria bar in Porto Venere”. A high participation is expected: the registered athletes, who will try to climb onto the first step of the podium – occupied in 2023 by the Rari athlete Niccolò Ricciardi, who also won the Byron Cup in a magical year for him – are around 200 , a number that the organizers expect to grow further in the last days before the start. And for the spectators there will be a feast for the eyes: the Olympic medalist Rachele Bruni and other champions with participations and medals among the European and Italian youth and overall championships such as Sofie Callo, Silvia Ciccarella, Giulia Salin, Iris Menchini have already signed up.
“There will be a total of around 60/70 competitive athletes and there could also be surprises on the men’s front after the call-ups for the European Championships. It will be a race of the highest level, which is confirmed to be capable of having a strong appeal on the competitors. It will start at 12 from Pozzale and the first ones will arrive around 12.40” explain from the club. The deployment for the safety of the athletes is huge: Coast Guard, Cnes, Guardia di Finanza, Comsubin, Fire Brigade, Red Cross will be on the front line, with the support of the Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti consortium and the patronage of the Municipality of Porto Venere at the demonstration. The off-circuit Palmaria Island will also see the collaboration this year with Dominate The Water of the champion Greg Paltrinieri, who is about to participate in the Olympic Games scheduled in Paris from 26 July to Sunday 11 August. There will also be a race for the little ones starting from 10.30 am on a 400 meter course. About thirty budding swimmers will compete, there will be a prize for everyone. Chiara Tenca
