Its charm lies in the fact that, for many years, it has represented much more than a prestigious sporting event. It is a real meeting place for people who love the sea and being able to swim immersed in nature, linked by friendship and mutual support. The historic ''Cagliari-Poetto'' open water event will celebrate the twentieth edition of its second spring on 9 and 10 September: it will be the twentieth edition of the new course inaugurated in 2004 with Cesare Goffi, a true master of swimming Sardinian as well as president of the In Forma Group, one of the most representative figures of an ever-growing movement: gentle manners, cordial tone of voice of someone who has solid experience on his side, 65 years of which 55 dedicated to swimming, a passion transmitted by his father Ugo which has become increasingly intense over time. The event, organized by the Nuoto Club Cagliari of which Goffi is sporting director, is ready again this year to welcome many athletes who, after leaving from the beach of Sant'Elia, will arrive at the Poetto, to be exact at the Marina Militare 2 establishment; to welcome them they will once again find a large and warm public linked to the sea by a deep relationship. A sea which, as the famous Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges said, is an ancient language that cannot be deciphered. And that is where its beauty lies.
Goffi, when was Cagliari-Poetto born?
« The event has its roots in the 1950s, thanks to the intuition of some athletes from Rari Nantes Cagliari who decided to give life to a very suggestive event which, at the time, started from Su Siccu and arrived at Poetto. Various non-continuous editions have been held over the years, then in the 1970s a historical figure in Sardinian swimming, Salvatore Migliaccio, gave a significant boost to its development. For years, then, it was no longer organized until in 2004, the undersigned took over the activities of the Nuoto Club Cagliari, starting a new path that still lasts today ».
How did you convince yourself to organize a historic race like Cagliari-Poetto again?
« I was greatly stimulated by Salvatore Migliaccio's sons, Gian Mario and Maddalena. In particular, it was Gian Mario himself who proposed to me to reinstate the race in 2004. That was a period of great turmoil, above all because an interesting movement of triathletes was being born in Cagliari who intended to tackle sea races. In short, since then we have recovered at a good pace and in 2023 we will celebrate twenty editions: a round figure, which represents a lot for us ».
How has Cagliari-Poetto evolved?
“ There have been various changes. Previously, we also organized a 3500-metre middle-distance race which, however, we won't do this year, in the past that specific race started from Calamosca. Then, still some time ago, we introduced the Gran Fondo between 2008 and 2010 which was 20 km long, a distance that we reduced to 14 km. The Gran Fondo test, one of the most popular with athletes, this year can also be tackled in a relay race: four athletes each can swim 3500 metres. In September, the Gran Fondo will take place on Saturday, while the six and a half kilometer cross-country trial will take place the following day».
Cagliari-Poetto is receiving acclaim throughout Italy: what is its trademark?
« They are many. I would say, first of all, the liveliness, enthusiasm and sense of friendship elements that really make the difference. There is an atmosphere of great conviviality and this pushes the athletes to participate. Athletes, I emphasize, of all ages from the youngest to the Masters who never fail. In the past, we had up to 250 participants, coming from all over the peninsula».
For some of these swimmers, among other things, the Cagliari-Poetto represented a notable springboard.
« Sure, just think of Marcello Guidi and Fabio Dalu who are the flagships of Sardinian cross-country swimming. But that's not all: many talented young people took part in the event such as Antonio Dalu, Fabio's brother, Elena De Candia, the brothers Marco and Francesco Ratto and, recently, the Esperino Claudio Soi and Beatrice Argiolas. We hope that many other new faces can take part in the race and can carve out a leading role in the panorama».
You were among the very first in Sardinia to believe in the open water sector, among the competitions you organized, the Poetto Triangle and the Sant'Elia Trophy also stand out. How important are they in view of the pool races?
« Personally I think they are fundamental and I hope that our technicians also notice this, because too often there are people who consider sea races harmful for tank races when things are not like that».
What benefits can be gained from sea trials?
« First of all, the physical effort is greater because you have to adapt to the currents, which represents a considerable training which then comes in very handy in the pool, giving you greater sensitivity and no small agility. Furthermore, open water competitions truly represent a remarkable opportunity because they allow you to lengthen your competitive career, allowing swimmers of even thirty years of age and little more to express themselves at excellent levels. In Sardinia we need to invest in this sector also because we are lucky enough to be able to swim in the sea for most of the year, thanks to the warm temperatures we can enjoy, and this can be an element that can make the difference».
Going back to Cagliari-Poetto, what characterizes it the most?
« Well, in addition to the climate of great joy that reigns, I would certainly say the landscape which is one of the elements that athletes from the rest of Italy envy us. Swimming behind the promontory of the Sella del Diavolo is a spectacle, you are truly immersed in an enchanted scenery. Many people, even from Cagliari, don't know some corners; here, I would say that taking part in the event can allow you to become aware of these aspects: sea races go beyond the technical aspect, they are great adventures to be experienced with enthusiasm and fun».