The main sporting, tourist and marketing event has been delayed by one year. It has been eagerly anticipated in Genoa since last September, when it was announced at the Genoa Boat Show that the 2021-2022 edition of The Ocean Race would have its grand finale in the city.

However, Genoa may still be participating in a European regatta which is being organised by the same group as The Ocean Race. The Council has put the city forward as hosts of a leg of The Ocean Race Europe.

Since 23 September 2019, Genoa has been preparing for this historical event, showcasing La Superba to the world. But the Covid-19 pandemic forced the organisers to delay the departure of the regatta, which was planned for October 2021 from Alicante.

Ten legs which will add a new exciting chapter to the history of ocean sailing. The departure will be from Alicante, in Spain, then passing through Cape Verde in South Africa, Shenzhen in China, Auckland in New Zealand, Itajaí in Brazil, Newport in Rhode Island (USA) Aarhuse in Denmark, The Hague in the Netherlands and the grand finale in Genoa.

The arrival in the port of Genoa, with the Porto Antico being the hospitality village and the Riparazioni navali for technical needs of the teams, was scheduled for the summer of 2022. It has now been moved to 2023.

The decision has now been made and the Genoa City Council had to make the new arrangements, modifying the contracts with the organisers of The Ocean Race. On 25 June the council approved the “guidelines for the modification of contracts for the event, The Ocean Race”.

In short, when the organiser communicated via letter to the city of Genoa the exclusivity it had as host city for the final leg, they had also placed as a binding condition that the Council sign two contracts, the Host Venue Agreement (HVA) and the Genoa Destination Partner Agreement (GDPA), which were signed in September 2019.

“After the health  emergency – says the resolution – the parties have agreed to change some of the terms of the contractual agreement indicated in the Host Venue Agreement (HVA) and the Genoa Destination Partner Agreement (GDPA) The proposed modifications – continues the council resolution – mainly regard the delay of the event to 2022-23, and the consequential delay of one year in the payment of the amounts chargeable to the Genoa City Council agreed upon in the two contracts.”

In addition, in the document published by the Council, it states that The Ocean Race “is currently evaluating the organisation of a provisional European regatta called ‘The Ocean Race Europe”, would may take place in 2021” and that “the Genoa City Council has confirmed its interest to be a part of that event as a leg in the yachting competition, The Ocean Race Europe.”

Giuseppe Orrù