International fleet takes shape for the 76th CentoMiglia del Garda at Circolo Vela Gargnano
by Elena Giolai 6 Aug 13:11 PDT
5-6 September 2026
75th CentoMiglia del Garda © Elena Giolai
Owners and crews from across Europe are invited to compete on 5 and 6 September in one of the continent's most distinctive lake races, with two courses linking Lombardy, Trentino and Veneto and an ORC format designed to reward different types of racing yachts
With one month to go before the start, preparations are gathering pace for the 76th CentoMiglia Internazionale del Garda, the historic Italian lake classic organised by Circolo Vela Gargnano under the authority of the Italian Sailing Federation. The main competition will take place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September. Saturday will feature the Trofeo Gargnano, while Sunday will mark the 60th edition of the Trofeo Riccardo Gorla. The combined ORC Overall scores from the two races, without a discard, will determine the final winner of the CentoMiglia and the recipient of the Alessandro Bettoni Trophy.
First held in 1951, the CentoMiglia offers international owners and crews the opportunity to race across Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake and one of Europe's most celebrated sailing venues. The event connects the three territories surrounding the lake, taking the fleet through the waters of Lombardy, Trentino and Veneto. Competitors experience the broad southern basin, the villages and historic buildings overlooking the western shore, and the dramatic Alpine landscape surrounding the northern lake.
Behind the scenery lies a demanding sporting challenge. Local wind systems, differences in pressure between the northern and southern areas, transitions close to the shoreline and sudden changes in direction can repeatedly reshape the race. Boat speed remains essential, but tactical judgement, crew management and the ability to interpret the lake are often decisive. On Saturday, the Trofeo Gargnano will take the fleet from Bogliaco and Gargnano towards Desenzano before returning to Bogliaco. Sunday's Trofeo Gorla will head north through Limone and Torbole, before crossing to the Veneto shore and returning south towards the finish. One of the main course developments for 2026 will be the introduction of two marks in the Garda Trentino area. The fleet will sail in front of Circolo Surf Torbole and Circolo Vela Torbole before beginning the return leg. A further mark will be positioned off Navene, near Fraglia Vela Malcesine, adding a new tactical section along the eastern shore.
The format reflects the CentoMiglia's identity as a full lake race, supported by clubs and sailing organisations across the three shores. Alongside the contest for line honours, awarded to the first yacht to finish each race in real time, the CentoMiglia will feature corrected time results based on the ORC system. The 2026 edition is expected to adopt the ORC All Purpose Time on Time method, with the aim of keeping the standings open until the final boats cross the finish line. The system is also intended to offer greater opportunities to medium sized and smaller yachts, particularly in a fleet that brings together boats with very different dimensions, histories and design philosophies.
This creates an attractive challenge for owners of established racing one designs. Classes such as the Cape 31, Melges 24, Melges 32, Platu 25 and the traditional Garda fleets can enjoy close competition between similar boats while also challenging for the ORC Overall classification. The 2025 results demonstrated the range of yachts capable of competing at the front. The Swiss Psaros 33 Carpediem Cube, owned by Luc Munier, won the CentoMiglia ORC Overall classification. Harald Brüning's Cape 31 Topas Squirt, winner of the Sunday Trofeo Gorla, finished second, while Patrik Herzig's Psaros 33 Evanesse completed the podium.
The modified Asso 99 Idefix finished fourth overall, ahead of the Melges 32 OD Lexotan and the modified Esse 990 Essenziale. The results showed that well prepared lake racers and popular racing designs can remain highly competitive against more recent or specialised projects. The first entries for 2026 already reflect this international and technical variety. Thomas Jundt's QFX, SUI 1, will return representing Société Nautique de Genève. Designed for high performance lake racing and sailed by a crew with extensive experience in major Lake Geneva events, QFX won both line honours and the Trofeo Gargnano on the opening day of the 2025 CentoMiglia.
One of the most anticipated newcomers is the Croatian Code X CROZ, CRO 3001, led by Olympic ILCA 7 sailor Filip Jurišic. Designed by Paul Bieker for Code7 Marine and built in Croatia by Sandi Misiraca, the full carbon racer combines characteristics of a sportboat and a coastal racing yacht. Its lightweight construction, modern appendages and powerful configuration have already produced important results. Code X won ORC 2 in the offshore race of the 2024 Loro Piana Giraglia and finished fourth in real time at the 2026 Sušac 100×2 double handed race.
Another major international name will be Hans Spitzauer, who is expected to compete aboard GER 244 for Bayerischer Yacht Club. Spitzauer won the Finn World Championship in 1995 and represented Austria at five Olympic Games between 1988 and 2008, racing first in the Finn and later in the Star. GER 244 is a 45 square metre Nationaler Kreuzer, part of the historic Austrian and German lake racing tradition. Its elegant lines also illustrate the renewed interest in established classes and designs which, when properly prepared, can still perform at a very high level under ORC. Germany will also be represented by Wolfgang Palm's Unchained Lady, GER 26, from Yacht Club Langenargen. The light and compact Wilke 26, designed for inland waters, returns after a mast failure during training prevented the team from starting the 2025 event.
A dedicated ORC Double Handed classification will add another dimension to the competition, with the winning two person crew receiving the Beppe Croce Trophy. A reduced entry fee has also been introduced for double handed yachts. Among the first boats entered in the division are Pirillina, the Platu 25 sailed by the Fasoli family and winner of the category in 2025, and the modified Protagonist Spirito Libero, raced by a father and son crew from the Bazzoli family.
The full event programme will begin on Friday 4 September with the Homerus Regatta for blind sailors and the Cento Junior for young competitors. The Cento People, a non competitive sailing event for sailing schools, charter boats and enthusiasts, will take place on Sunday. International followers will be able to follow the racing through live updates, social media coverage and GPS tracking provided by Kwindoo.
Entries remain open until 1 September 2026. The 76th CentoMiglia del Garda is organised by Circolo Vela Gargnano with the support of the Municipality of Gargnano, Pro Loco Gargnano, This is Gargnano and the sailing clubs involved along the course. Fineco is the event's main sponsor. Official partners include Cantieri del Pardo, Heineken, Wyler Vetta, Turboden, A2A Life Company and Euroimmobiliare. Consorzio Lago di Garda Lombardia, Fonte Tavina and Consorzio Valtènesi support the event's connection with Lake Garda, its communities and its local excellence.