Write-Up

Lake Garda  provided a fantastic start with sunshine and perfect wind for the first races of the season as the Lake Garda International RS Aero Regatta opened the new RS Aero season in Italy alongside the Open Skiff Eurochallenge 

The weather did not disapoint and the regatta organised by Circolo Vela Arco got off to the best possible start. On Friday 5 April, Garda Trentino welcomed almost forty or so sailors in the RS Aero class and 200 sailors in the FIV “Open Skiff” youth class. With warm sunshine and a perfect wind for racing in this early part of the season, with an intensity that never went beyond 12-13 knots. CV Arco made use of their electric buoys on the race course, and also for their first time an all-electric safety boat.

The excellent RS Aero turnout came from several nations, with Lake Garda attracting foreign sailing enthusiasts, guaranteeing profitable training/racing trips in the idyllic sailing venue. The RS Aero fleet, divided into the three categories with different size sails RS Aero 5, 6 and 7. 

The RS Aero 5 category was dominated by the Italians, with Sardinian Francesca Ramazzotti (Veliamoci, Oristano) leading the way. 2nd, and first under 17, was Enrico Loi (LNI Cagliari) with Mattia Monti (CN Rimini) in 3rd.

The RS Aero 6 racing was close! Cagliari’s Elias Nonnis (LNI Cagliari), took the overall win and was first Under 22. One point behind was the Irishman Roy Van Maanen in 2nd and just another point behind in 3rd was Sardinia's Alice Sussarello (LNI Sulcis).

There was also a good fight between the first two positions in the larger RS Aero 7s. It all came down to the final race with Britain’s Nick Craig winning to take the title just 2 points ahead of Sardinia’s Filippo Vincis (LNI Sulcis). Germany's Marcus Walther took 3rd.

Thank you to Garda Trentino and Circolo Vela Arco for hosting another fantastic championship. After a day of rest on Monday there then follows four days of International RS Aero Class training at CV Arco organised by the German Class.

Italian Gallery for larger photos, thanks to Elena Giolai

Results