Skywatch Friday post

This photo, along with the ones I have posted over the last three days, was taken last Sunday, the last time the sun showed its face in Trieste. Here the clouds were moving in from the south and beginning to close in the whole sky over the gulf. Ten minutes after I shot the picture, just before the sun set, it disappeared behind a thick mantle of cloud and that was it, bye bye sun!

See more Skywatch here.

Rowing (3)

A lone rower and an empty oil tanker.

Rowing (2)

Here are the rowers in action.

Two different types of boat are used and reflect the two forms of rowing: sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing each rower handles a single oar in sculling a rower uses two oars, or sculls.

The sweep boats (each rower has one oar) can have a coxswain (a person who steers the shell using a rudder). So we can have a Coxed Pair (2+), a Coxless Pair (2-), a Coxed Four (4+), a Coxless Four (4-), a Eight (8+).
The Sculling Boats (each rower has two oars) only in rare cases have a coxswain. Steering is generally accomplished by applying more power or pressure to the oar(s) on one side of the shell. So we can have a Single (1X), a Double, a Double (2X), a Quadruple (4X), an Octuple (8X).

Oil tanker and mussel farm number 2

...but there's also a European shag spreading its wings on one of the mussel farm's floating barrels.

(number1)

Bora

The bora is a strong, cold and gusty north-easterly wind which descends across the continent to the Adriatic Sea. The gulf never forms large waves, but the gusts of wind rush across the water and can be clearly seen from the highlands. Fingers of seawater are cast up into shallow white crests that gallop across the gulf in a frantic freezing frolic.

Breakwater and buoy

A breakwater and a navigational buoy in Muggia Gulf.

Skywatch Friday Post:

Bad weather looms overhead!
(Have a look at the size of the boats, to see exactly how much bad weather is on its way!)

See more Skywatch here.

Barcolana 2008

There was no wind and an annoying haze in the Gulf yesterday, so for most people watching the regatta from the uplands it must have been a dead bore.
I've posted a photo very similar to the one on Monday the 6th just to emphasize how different the atmosphere was.

Waiting for the Barcolana 08

In the background "la Lanterna" the old but still working lighthouse in the harbour.

Waiting for the Barcolana 08

Yesterday afternoon in the Gulf of Trieste.

For 40 years the Barcolana has been the regatta for everyone. From huge sailing yachts to small boats, from professional yachtsmen and women to the passionate amateur, the regatta is a celebration of the sea and full of competitive spirit. Some of those taking part in the race sail boats which boast the latest marine technology, with ever-larger sails to overcome Trieste’s dead calm and canting keels to fight against the Bora, Trieste’s famous wind. The race will take place for the 40th time this year on 12 October with many events on land and at sea aiming to involve the entire city, guests, competitors and many tourists during a week totally dedicated to sailing, both for young and professional sailors, great champions and beginners.(taken from www.barcolana.it).