An eclectic mix of vessels will take to the water at Goolwa today (Sunday, May 16), for the second annual Vogalonga Down Unda.

Participants in the Vogalonga Down Unda will set off from Goolwa Aquatic Club (GAC)  at 9am, and will have the choice of three courses of varying lengths.

Each course will start with a ceremonial procession, incorporating the entire Vogalonga fleet from the GAC to the wharf precinct.

The event is the brainchild of 62-year-old Michael Piovesan, who was inspired by his time living in the Veneto region of Italy, where he was a member of two Venetian rowing clubs.

From September 2014 to October 2018, Michael lived in Treviso, just north of Venice, where his father’s side of the family originates from.

It was while walking around the regional city of about 60,000 inhabitants to get his bearings shortly after arriving, that the dual Australian-Italian citizen came across a flyer advertising Venetian-style rowing.

Intrigued, he knocked on a door and asked for more information, before promptly signing up.

“I also joined a club in Venice very quickly and we would catch the train down to Venice,” Michael says.

What followed sounds like a dream. Michael built up enough skill to row by himself, and was allowed to borrow boats from his clubs, enabling him to explore the region from the water. 

In Venice, he rowed to the Venetian islands of Murano and Burano, famous for their glass blowing and lace making, respectively. 

“Sometimes I’d row on the Grand Canal, and other times out to the Venetian Lagoon,” he says.

At home in Treviso, Michael would row along the Sile River, the longest ‘resurgence river’ or spring-fed river in Europe.

“It was pure and crystal clear and rowing along it was paradise.”

During his time living in Italy, Michael also participated in three Vogalonga events in Venice in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

He says that, just like its Venetian namesake, Goolwa’s Australian version of the event is “a non-competitive rowing and paddling regatta for any human-powered craft”.

“Canoes, kayaks, skiffs, sculls and SUPs, dragon boats and dinghies are all eligible…  virtually anything without a motor or sails powered only by hand or foot.”

Now based at Port Noarlunga, Michael said it’s his dream to row Venetian-style boats along the Onkaparinga River.

“I can’t live in (South Australia) without Venetian rowing. So I started a Venetian rowing club -- the Voga Alla Veneta Association of SA Inc.”

The club has a handful of members, but is currently fundraising to build two Venetian-style boats, via the Australian Sports Foundation.

A local South Australian boat builder will build the boats, estimated to cost between $10,000 to $12,000, using digital plans.

Venetian rowing is different to other styles of rowing, so, until the boats are built, Michael said he is ‘suffering’ and dreaming of the day he can take one of the completed boats out on the water.

“Venetian-style rowing is done standing up, facing forward, and you ‘push’ with your oar to propel the boat forward,” he says.

“You keep the blade in the water to act as a rudder, to get proportion and steering.”

He says Venetian-style rowing can be learnt in five hours, but takes a lifetime to master.

The beauty of the sport is that it is open to people aged eight to 80 years.

“There are lots of competitions in Venice, although the only prize is a pennant and a first, second or third place,” he says.

“But more and more women are taking up Venetian-style rowing and there are many events on the Venetian calendar, including the Vogalonga in Venice, and also Carnevale and La Senza”.

Michael said Venetians typically row in a pair, or in a group of four or six, and, perhaps surprisingly to some, gondolas aren’t the only boats in Venice -- there are many types of flat bottomed boats.

He encourages people to check out today’s event, chat to him about Venetian-style rowing, join the club or donate to build the new boats -- especially as Venetian-style rowing is sustainable, environmentally friendly, and a great form of exercise.

“It can be done calmly, relaxedly, for recreation, or competition,” Michael says.

“It really is almost meditative”.

Michael rows a gondola along the Torrens River, Adelaide 2016.

Michael, pictured living his 'best life' in Venice.

For more information about the Vogalonga Down Unda, people can visit HERE

To find out more about the Voga Alla Veneta Association of South Australia Inc, people can visit vavasa.weebly.com, or to make a donation towards building Venetian-style boats, check out: https://asf.org.au/projects/voga-alla-veneta-association-of-south-australia/ or https://asf.org.au/projects/voga-alla-veneta-association-of-south-australia/a-classic-venetian-sandolo/