36th Lake Garda Optimist Meeting at Fraglia Vela Riva - Preview
by Fraglia Vela Riva 2 Mar 2018 23:50 AEDT
28 March - 1 April 2018
35th Lake Garda Meeting Optimist © Elena Giolai
The Fraglia Vela Riva, on the north shores of Lake Garda in Trentino, will be celebrating 90 years of activity in 2018, and is proud to organise the 36th edition of the Lake Garda Optimist Meeting, a youth sailing event, especially for the Optimist class.
The event has been awarded a Guinness World Record® for having the highest numbers in the world for any single class regatta, with 1,055 registered participants in 2012 and even more in subsequent years. Every year, the event takes place in the Garda Trentino area during the week of Easter (28th March – 1st April this year) and attracts hundreds of young sailors from nine to 15 years of age, from 32 different countries. This year, more than 1,200 participants are expected, given that pre-registration has already reached 1,279 and there is still a month to go.
The event officially starts on Wednesday 24th March with the fourth edition of the Country Cup, a special Olympic-style format, where only one participant per nation can take part in the regatta. Winning countries so far are Denmark (2) and Germany (1). On the same day, in the late afternoon, the impressive and moving opening ceremony will take place. All the participants will pass through the centre of town, proudly bearing the flags of their countries, led by the traditional band. From Thursday 29th March to Sunday 1st April, the various regattas will begin, sub-divided by category into cadets (9 – 11 years) and juniors (12 – 15 years).
The highest number of entries registered come from Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, Norway, Russia and Hungary, while, from the other side of the ocean, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United States and, for the first time, Japan will be represented in 2018. Thanks to streaming, the key stages of the regatta can be followed from all over the world, presented by specialist journalists.
The event is supported by the Province of Trento, the Garda Trentino Tourist Agency, the management of the Trentino Riva del Garda Exhibition and Congress Centre - Fiere Congressi, who will make the various buildings of Palavela, Palameeting and Palacongressi available to provide optimal logistics, and also by the Riva del Garda Municipality. This synergy aims to promote the continued growth of an event that already holds a Guinness World Record, so that it can be enjoyed by all the families of the participant and tourists alike, providing a special occasion for everyone. Such an event brings added value and the chance to share the beauty and excellence on offer – the local area, sport and culture, and all this just a few steps away from the heart of Riva del Garda, right on shores of the lake, for a 100% green experience.