Nearly 100 sailors head to Gargnano for the grand finale of the EurILCA Master Series 2026
by Elena Giolai 29 Sep 22:30 PDT
2-4 October 2026
ILCA Master European Championships © Thom Thow / EurILCA
From 2 to 4 October, Circolo Vela Gargnano moves on from the Centomiglia to one of the world's most popular single handed dinghies, the Laser of yesterday, today's ILCA.
The entry list includes two recent European medallists, Grand Master champion Christoph Marsano and bronze medallist Roger Schulz, together with two time World Champion Elisa Boschin. Among the Italian sailors is also 2026 Great Grand Master national champion Davide Grassi. Four sailors will represent the host club. The event is held with the support of Regione Lombardia.
Less than a month after the 76th Centomiglia del Garda, which recorded a strong response both in terms of participation and engagement across the official social media channels of the event and Circolo Vela Gargnano, Bogliaco is already preparing for a completely different kind of racing. From the big boats of the Centomiglia, the focus now shifts to one of the world's most widespread single handed dinghies, the boat that generations of sailors will probably always think of as the "Laser" and which today is known as the ILCA.
From 2 to 4 October, Circolo Vela Gargnano will host the EurILCA Master Italy, the final event of the 2026 EurILCA Master Series, with nine races scheduled on Lake Garda in Lombardy. The event is organised by Circolo Vela Gargnano and held with the support of Regione Lombardia, within the activities of the Italian Sailing Federation and EurILCA. The first start is scheduled for Friday 2 October at 1:00 pm.
With the late entry of Germany's Roger Schulz, the fleet has grown to 83 sailors, 53 Italians and 30 international competitors, representing nine nations. Alongside Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Hungary and the United States will all be represented. Austria, Germany and Switzerland will field particularly strong contingents.
The number of entries is significant compared with several other events in the 2026 EurILCA Master Series and once again confirms the ability of Lake Garda to attract sailors from across Europe.
Adding further interest to the fleet are two sailors who have just stepped onto the podium at the ILCA Master European Championships in La Baule. Austria's Christoph Marsano will arrive in Gargnano as the newly crowned ILCA 7 Grand Master European Champion, while Germany's Roger Schulz claimed bronze in the same category.
Among the leading Italian names is Elisa Boschin, ILCA 6 Master Women World Champion for two consecutive seasons, in Formia in 2025 and Athens in 2026. Her story perfectly reflects the spirit of Master sailing. After years devoted to studies, work and family, she returned to racing on her 40th birthday. That decision allowed her to rediscover goals, competition and an important part of herself, ultimately leading to two consecutive world titles.
Circolo Vela Gargnano will not only be organising the event, but will also be represented on the racecourse by Carlo Maria Scoccimarro, Giuseppe Cavalli, Alberto De Paoli Ambrosi and Roberto Bini. It has already been a particularly significant season for Bini and Cavalli. In Athens, Bini won the ILCA 7 Great Grand Master World Championship bronze medal, while Cavalli finished 11th in the same category. At the Italian Master Championship on Elba, the two Gargnano sailors finished second and third respectively among the Great Grand Masters, and both were also among the leading competitors at the recent third Italia Cup Master event in Castiglione della Pescaia.
It is precisely this mix of experiences that defines the EurILCA Master scene. Sailors who never stopped racing, others who returned to the sport after several years, World and European champions, and passionate competitors who continue to travel with their ILCA to meet again on racecourses across Europe. From sailors in their thirties all the way to the Legend categories, generations change and, for many, even the name of the boat has changed. What remains unchanged is the desire to return to the start line. From 2 October, that start line will be off Gargnano.