32nd Meeting del Garda Optimist starts today + Video

by Elena Giolai on 17 Apr 2014 The 32nd Meeting del Garda Optimist - starts today and forms part of the World Youth Sailing Week.

The second World Youth Sailing Week organized by Vela Garda Trentino comes to life with the procession and opening ceremony for the 32nd Meeting del Garda Optimist. The procession took place between the Fraglia Vela Riva and the city centre. The sailing events now commence in earnest and are concentrated in the Garda Trentino region; these regattas will involve over 1200 sailors in total if you include both windsurfers and dinghy sailors.

The Second World Youth Sailing week – 32nd Meeting del Garda Optimist
At the Fraglia Vela Riva registration is open until mid- morning tomorrow. The first regatta is programmed to start at 1.00pm. Actually registered so far are 800 sailors divided between Cadets (9–11 years old) and juniors (12 – 15 years old) they include nations who have not previously taken part in this event like Ecuador and Kuwait. Even today in the Garda Trentino region it was a spectacular sight to see so many boats out training on a beautiful sunny day with excellent wind, conditions which almost certainly will be repeated again tomorrow.

The Second World Youth Sailing Week – Laser Youth Easter Regatta
The regatta started today at the Fraglia Vela Malcesine with the young Laser sailors completing two races in south wind. With 80 sailors registered and a third of them being Italian. In the Laser Radial Class Gianmarco Planchestainer is in command with two firsts with a four point lead over Pietro De Luca (two – four) and Roberto Pollara (three – three). First girl is the German Sarah Roeck who is fifth in the classification. In the Laser 4.7’s leading is Leon Zarti with a one point lead over the Norwegian Hassum who won the first race. Third is the Italian Matteo Saglia and the first Italian girl is Francesca Ramazzotti.

The Second World Youth Sailing Week –Garda lake Trophy Meeting
At the Circolo Surf Torbole it would appear there are in the region of 80 competitors in total who have completed registration. Like the Optimists, racing in this event starts tomorrow and finishes on Saturday 19th of April. This leaves time for the Techno 293 Europeans which takes place straight afterwards and is a selection event for sailors seeking to go to the Junior Olympics.