On 30th May, Young Bristol set off on her very first European tour to beautiful Italy! Tucked safely on her new trailer and hitched to Mike and Vyv’s van (alongside Ruth, Karen, and Malcolm), YB departed the compound early Friday morning. Ahead lay 900 miles, a Eurotunnel, and two twelve-hour days on the road to her first destination: Gravedona ed Uniti, nestled on Lake Como.
By 7pm Saturday evening, the team had arrived, joined en route by Jackie and Roger, who followed in their own van. They were greeted by Barbara, Jenny, and Jamie and welcomed into the AVAL Boat Club by the incredibly generous Giovanni, who hosted us during our three-day stay.
Gravedona, Lake Como
The team woke on Sunday morning to stunning Lake Como views, too tempting to resist. YB was back in the water for a gentle row, letting the crew adjust to the breathtaking scenery and summer heat. Afterward, a hearty lunch of fresh pasta and local wine awaited, with Rob and Sonia joining the group. Later that afternoon, Nicky and Penny arrived – almost a full house!
Monday brought less-than-ideal rowing weather, but it gave us the perfect chance to explore Gravedona’s rich history, indulge in local cuisine, and visit the maritime museum with its impressive collection of boats. That evening, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner hosted by the town’s Mayor and key members of the boat club, an unforgettable show of Italian hospitality.
Tuesday offered clearer skies, and YB took to the lake once more. Wend’s arrival in the afternoon completed our crew for the next leg: Genova.
Genova
Wednesday brought a 260-mile journey to Genova. Unlike our easy Gravedona welcome, Genova greeted us with multiple passport checks and endless u-turns to arrive in the port – not ideal with a 24-ft boat in tow (hats off to Malcolm!). Sadly, the slipway wasn’t usable, so we made the best of it, feasting on seafood, polishing off a bottle of limoncello, and raising a toast to spontaneity!
While YB stayed dry, we explored Genova’s charming streets, took in a World Press Photo exhibition, visited every bookshop Jenny’s book appeared in (much fan-girling), and enjoyed watching belugas munch lettuce at the aquarium.
Venice and the Vogalonga!
On Friday, we rolled into Venice, the final stop! With canals, gondolas, and pizza at every turn, Venice truly is like nowhere else. We set up camp on the mainland, then headed into the city for dinner by the waterfront. There, we were joined by Barbara’s mum and family friends and Ruth’s daughter Georgina – and our final crewmember, Phoebe.
Saturday was all about soaking up Venice, climbing St Mark’s Campanile, gelato, water taxis, and alleyways galore. With our step counts soaring, we turned in early, ready for the big day ahead…
The 49th Vogalonga awaited! After a 5:30 wake-up, and a bus ride with a few missed stops, we made it to the starting point. By 8:30, after an hour warm-up row across the lagoon, we joined 2,000 boats for the 32km journey around Venice’s canals and lagoon. The cannon sounded at 9am and we were off…sort of. Navigating a sea of kayaks, paddleboards, and rowboats was no small feat, but the magic of the Grand Canal kept us going.
Out of 2,000 boats, who did we bump into? Jerry, of course! And if that wasn’t serendipitous enough, Ruth’s daughter Georgina surprised her by pulling up alongside, coxing a boat for the first time ever, stepping up last-minute when their cox came down with food poisoning. Go Georgina!
Seven scorching hours later, we triumphantly returned under the Bridge of Sighs to the finish line. A well-earned gelato and shaded sit-down capped off the epic row before the final row back to the boatyard.
While most of us flew home to Bristol on Monday, the trusty trailer team – Mike, Vyv, Ruth, Karen, and Malcolm, hit the road for the three-day return journey, ensuring YB made it home safe and sound.
Grazie Mille!
A huge thank you to:
Mike and Vyv for the generous use of their van and driving (and excellent company!)
Malcolm for his phenomenal towing skills, not a single flinch or shout through a maze of Italian roads.
And of course, Ruth and Karen – our top-tier hype squad.
Endless thanks to Barbara for masterminding this unforgettable trip – no small feat (herding cats, indeed!). Your Italian friends and family were unbelievably kind and generous, and we carry their warmth – and their wine – in our hearts.
We return with bellies full of pasta, heads buzzing with memories, and an open invitation back to Gravedona next year…Watch this space!
Arrivederci, Italia! 🇮🇹❤️🚣♀️
Bristol Gig Club 