Fraglia Vela Riva season starts with Garda Optimist Meeting + Videos

by Fraglia Vela Riva on 23 Mar 2016 The racing season at Fraglia Vela Riva starts with a “bang” as the first international event of the season kicks off with the Guinness World Record event “ The Garda Optimist Meeting” for youngsters aged (9-15 years) of the Optimist class. Almost 1000 helmsmen from 30 different nations are taking part during the week of Easter and will involve the collaboration of directors, coaches, parents and many member volunteers.

New for 2016

Among the new changes for 2016, with almost 90 days of regattas scheduled this season, is the organisation of the first leg of the GC32 Racing Tour with the highest level of technology used in modern sailing. In fact the modern and high speed catamaran foil GC 32 will compete for the first time at Riva del Garda opening the 2016 Tour on the waters of Lake Garda, Trentino with the promise of the highest level of performance and a unique spectacle with at least 10 catamarans competing. The GC 32 Racing Tour comprises of a total of five legs and we could see during the event, organised by Fraglia Vela Riva, the speed record of 37.9 knots held by Spax Solutions in 2014 broken given the wind and wave conditions on Lake Garda, Trentino, (a combination of strong morning winds and calm waters).

The established classic events, for example Garda Trentino Olympic, are becoming increasingly popular. This is the only event which brings together all the Olympic classes. The Sailing Series of the Melges and its different fleets 20, 24 and 32. The 32 class will hold its European Championships. The D-One, Laser 4000, Surprise and 29er hold their international events, ((Eurocup and European Championships). In open-sea sailing the classic Nastro Azzurro will hold its 65th Regatta Nastro Azzurro-Trofeo Rothoblast which will set off in the morning from Riva del Garda with northerly winds, round the island of Trimeleone off Malcesine-Val di Sogno and return full sail.

Our goal this year is to have as many boats as possible from all over the lake in an effort of bringing the event back to its splendour of bygone days and will involve the many enthusiasts of this class who have a boat berthed in the harbours and marinas up and down the length of Lake Garda.

The percentage of completed races held in 2015 was very high thanks to the wind conditions and the preparation of the Regatta Committee and buoy setters. In fact 98% of the races scheduled on the calendar at Fraglia-Vela-Riva were completed. This offers a guarantee to participants that their efforts in coming here are worthwhile.

34th Garda Optimist Meeting - Update

The international racing season opens during Easter Week at Fraglia-Vela-Riva with the classic Garda Optimist Meeting, an event which attracts every year hundreds of young sailors from the ages of 9-15 years.

With just a few days left until the start, pre-registration has reached 931 representing 30 different countries including Bermuda, Santa Lucia, Kuwait, Lithuania, Algeria, Tunisia and the U.S.

The Garda Optimist Meeting kicks off during the week of Easter. The event organised by Fraglia Vela Riva holds the Guinness World Record as the Largest regatta of a single-class in the world and attracts a huge number of youngsters (between 800-1000 every year), from 30 different countries.

Every year this extravaganza is renewed by the energy and enthusiasm of the Optimist competitors who choose to come and spend their Easter holidays racing on Lake Garda. Fraglia Vela Riva rises to the occasion by constantly improving the formula, raising the competitive standard and providing entertainment on land with fun, games and lots of prizes. The starting procedure for the junior heats will be the same as last year with a virtual pre-start zone and a regular start with a committee boat in the centre between two buoys. The finishing line is the same as in major International regattas.