Historic boats: 11th edition of “Between Wood and Water” on Lake Maggiore
by Alessandro Bagno 18 Jan 03:10 PST
31 January - 1 February
Il Moro di Venezia (1976) © Foto Maccione
The annual national Convention on Historic Boats, organized by the Officine dell'Acqua Foundation and AVEV, the Verbano Vintage Sails Association, returns on Saturday, January 31, 2026. For the first time, the event will take place inside the Officine dell'Acqua shipyard and museum in Laveno Mombello, on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, just steps from the train station and the ferry terminal. Topics covered, presented by young speakers, include the America's Cup, the Moro di Venezia, navigation in small, lightweight boats, the restoration and construction of wooden boats, and stories of transportation and smuggling on the lake.
On Sunday, February 1st, at the Navigation Shipyard del Lago Maggiore in Arona, you can visit the 1904 paddle steamer Piemonte, which has undergone a complete restoration to mark 200 years of navigation on Lake Maggiore. Participation is open to all, but places are limited and online registration is required at www.officinedellacqua.eu/eventi. The conference venue is easily accessible from Milan by car or train, arriving at the Ferrovie Nord Laveno Mombello Lago station, just 20 meters away.
Over a dozen presentations, ranging in length from 15 to 30 minutes each, will be moderated by President Sivelli and writer Giovanni Panella, who will alternate throughout the conference, with time for questions from the audience. Special emphasis will be placed on young, knowledgeable and passionate speakers who are at the forefront of the future of this sector. Clelia Sessa, from the Luna Rossa America's Cup team, will be the first speaker of the day, followed by her father, Carlo Sessa, captain of the first wooden Moro di Venezia, built in 1976. Panella will recount the recent launch of a Basque whaling vessel in Albaola, off the coast of Atlantic Spain. Elia Origoni will describe his rowing journey across the Tyrrhenian Sea, while Claudio Bermano and Fabio Ernandes will illustrate the recent restoration of the 1904 steamship Piemonte, linked to the 200th anniversary of Navigazione Laghi, as described by Michele Cimelli. Massimo and Matteo Martignoni will illustrate the family restoration project for Tina, a 9-meter wooden motorsailer launched in Norway in 1968. Matteo Cigainero, a master shipwright from the lower Friuli region, will demonstrate how, using the manual "Sailing light," it is possible to build small boats from wood, bamboo, and fabric.
Captain Roberto Castorina, Commander of the Luino Guardia di Finanza (Italian Finance Police) Company, will discuss anti-smuggling efforts in the 20th century, with particular reference to the operational scenario on Lake Maggiore. Edoardo Adamuccio of FERROVIENORD will present the history of transport on the Verbano, from barges to rails, while Marco Dorici will conclude the work with the rescue and restoration of a typical Inglesina rowing boat from the lake.
Information and registration