Many Triestines are quite able to sail under normal sailing conditions, because it is naturally one of the most common sporting activities in or on the sea.
There are sailing clubs which throughout the year encourage the sea-faring lifestyle and organise both educational and more serious sailing activities which are open to members to aspiring sailors and to schools. The summer season is especially dedicated to young people who can choose from a wide range of courses of different lengths and for different levels of expertise.
Many sailing schools organise weekend or week-long courses to learn of theory and practice of sailing and offer complete packages for those coming from out of town.
Nautical associations and sports clubs, longestablished groups and national institutions such as the Italian Naval League (Lega Navale Italiana), which houses a thematic library in the old Lantern lighthouse, have helped to make the city one of the most important sailing centres in the Mediterranean.

Point of interest
In the sailing clubs of Trieste, you can begin sailing at the age of six with the dinghy called optimist, which is no more than 2.5 metres in length and is especially designed for youngsters. Young sailors particularly enjoy the so-called match races involving boats of the same category.