Garda Optimist Meeting achieves Guinness World Record

by Elena Giolai on 7 Apr 2012 Garda Optimist Meeting, organised by Fraglia Vela Riva with the support of Kinder+Sport, is being held from Wednesday 4th April and ends on Sunday 8th April. Today, Friday 6th April, the event was officially declared as the largest sailing regatta in the world (single-class); a Guinness World Record.

With the first races completed yesterday 1039 participants were validated out 1073 total entrants at the Garda Optimist Meeting. Only those participants who had completed at least one race could be counted towards the record so there were more than enough to achieve this new Guinness World Record and since the event doesn't end until Sunday, the number could increase if other participants run at least one complete race. There was a great sense of satisfaction among the organisers of Fraglia Vela Riva as well as all the participants who helped reach this fantastic record.

This event is played out with so much enthusiasm in the name of sport and sailing for the very young and gives these youngsters a truly unique experience here on Trentino Garda. Taking part in the regatta are youngsters from the age of 9-14 years from 27 different countries. Naturally Italy has the largest representation with 332 entrants followed by Germany with 235 and Denmark 69. Others have come from as far away as Australia, Bermuda and the United States with 22 participants.

Regarding the junior category, after yesterday's three races, (the results were posted in the evening and were only partially complete), Isik Omer of Turkey leads (1-1-3) followed by Jack Cookson of Portugal (1-1-6) three points behind. Patrick Zeni (Fraglia Vela Malcesine), of Italy is in third place (2-3-3 partials). Maria Vittoria Marchesani (SV Barcolo Grignano), who was third in the female world championships in New Zealand in January, is third among the girls and 13th overall after an excellent second partial in the second race.

Event website