2016 34th Garda Optimist Meeting kicks off next month + Video

by Fraglia Vela Riva on 25 Feb 2016 2016 34th Garda Optimist Meeting – The racing season at Fraglia Vela Riva kicks off next month on Lake Garda, Trentino with the classic Easter event which every year attracts hundreds of young helmsmen between the ages of 9-15 years.

As of today 570 participants have pre-registered from 25 different countries including Bermuda, Kuwait, Algeria and the U.S.

The Garda Optimist Meeting, organised by Fraglia Vela Riva, returns for the week of Easter. This event holds the Guinness World Record as the largest Regatta of a single class in the world and brings together an impressive number of helmsmen (from 800 to more than 1000 a year), representing around thirty different countries. Every year this spectacle seems to renew itself with a candour that only the very young Optimist helmsmen know how to provide as they choose to spend their Easter holidays competing right here on Lake Garda, Trentino.

Year after year Fraglia Vela Riva strives to improve its winning formula by increasing the technical standard of the fleet while at the same time guaranteeing time for leisure on land with entertainment, games and prizes. The same starting procedure will be as last year with the pre start area for the junior heats and a normal starting gate with the introduction of a marker, keeping in line with the types courses used in the major international regattas.

Gold Medal Board
In the last few years Italy has shown an upward trend by winning in consecutive years the largest and hardest fought Junior category: in 2013 with Alexandra Stalder, in 2014 with Davide Duchi of Fraglia Vela Riva and then again in 2015 with Riccardo Sepe. In the last 15 years Italy has taken no less than 10 championships (including 2000 champion Giulia Cont, World 49er Champion).

This year we could see Demetrio Sposato (sixth in the World Optimist Championships) and local girl Gaia Bergonzini (silver medallist in the European Optimist 2015 and recent winner at the International Regatta at Palmòs) add their names to the medal board but they face some stiff competition.

Keep an eye on Roko Mohr of Germany and the Hungarians Làszlòfy Levante (second in the recent International Regatta of Palamòs) with their team who were judged in the Miami Cup at the World Optimist Championships, 2015. Also up there is Farrugia Vella and Victoria Schultheis of Malta (bronze medallist at the European Championships in 2015).