Gondola racers push for win at Newport Harbor

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Eric “Enrico” Bender maneuvers his gondola to the finish line for first place in the first race of the day during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals held at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Gondolier racers from around the country, and from 12 different companies, gather at the starting line at the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A gondolier is happy to cross the finish line during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Adam “Ivano” Alves cruises to second place in one of the early races during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Cole “Colombo” Hanson cruises to second place in one of the early races during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Gondoliers pull away from the starting line during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Greg “Rafaello” Coffey pulls close the finish line for a first in his race during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A gondoliers prepare their oars during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A gondola hood ornament adorns a boat in the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals held at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Gondoliers line-up the boats at the starting line in the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals held at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Eric “Enrico” Bender, left, and Cole “Colombo” Hanson, maneuver toward the starting line during the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Gondolier racers from around the country gather at the starting line at the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals held at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

Nov. 14, 2015 4:39 PM PT

Donning their classic striped shirts, gondoliers were off to the races in Newport Harbor on Saturday morning.

More than 50 rowers representing 20 gondola operations across the United States turned out for the first day of competition in the fourth annual U.S. Gondola Nationals. Before arriving in Newport Beach, the event was held twice in Providence, R.I., and once in Huntington Beach.

During the two-day showcase, gondoliers compete in seven races, including one-, two- and four-rower distance races and one- and two-rower sprints. They also have a two-rower distance race in a slender boat called a pupparin and a one-rower race on a sandolo, a flat-bottomed Venetian row boat.

The races conclude Sunday at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar. The action starts at 9 a.m.