Centomiglia Regatta Celebrates 50 Years with Major Events and Route Details
La Centomiglia marks half a century with a rich program of ancillary events, but it also features the route of the last three editions. This summary emerged during the presentation of the most important European regatta, which takes place on inland waters, held at the Grand Hotel Terme di Sirmione.
The Centomiglia will start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 2nd, from Bogliaco. The course includes, immediately after the start, a disembarkation buoy offshore of Castelletto di Brenzone, followed by the passages through Sirmione, Desenzano, Gargnano, Limone, Malcesine, and Assenza di Brenzone. As always, the finish line is set in front of the port of marina Bogliaco 2000.
Course and participating groups
Regarding the Veronese coast, there are two—and a half—passages. In addition to Malcesine and Assenza di Brenzone, there is also the disembarkation buoy, which will be crossed by the entire fleet at Castelletto.
The nearly thirty classes in competition will be divided into three groups based on boat size. Each group will follow a different route. The largest boats (Group 1) (Trofeo Conte Bettoni) are required to double all buoys.
The medium (Group 2) (Trofeo Regione Lombardia) and small (Group 3) (Trofeo Comune di Gargnano) boats will not pass through Desenzano. For Group 2, the northernmost crossing is Malcesine, while Group 3 will turn at Assenza di Brenzone, where all registered boats in the regatta (over 300 representing 16 nations) will also pass.
At this location, Yacht Club Acquafresca, in collaboration with the municipality, will set up stands where spectators can follow the race and receive live radio updates.
History, races, and innovations
“For the past couple of years, there has been a return to the origins of this regatta,” said Andrea Damiani, president of the Circolo Vela Gargnano. “The regulation has been tweaked to allow participation in this race by all boat types without constraints or limitations. The image of the Centomiglia should be that of free sailing.”
The 2000 “Cento” is associated with Velavento, the European circuit for the Libera class, featuring spectacular boats with flying terraces or tubular structures that crew 12 crew members, and is about to establish a twinning with la Barcolana, the most crowded regatta in the world (with over 1,500 boats registered) which takes place in October in Trieste.
“Cesare Pasotti, the organizer of Velavento, deserves great credit for revitalizing this international event for the Libera class,” Damiani continued. “Boats born on Garda specifically for the Centomiglia. The Libera boats will also participate in the Barcolana, and the boats navigating in the Gulf of Trieste will probably come to race on Garda.”
After a decline in the early 1990s, the Centomiglia is steadily increasing its number of registered ships. However, it should be considered that almost no one participates in the “Cento” simply for a boat ride with friends, as might happen elsewhere, such as in the Barcolana; here, the technical level of the crews is very high, and many shipyards use the Centomiglia as a showcase for their latest jewels.”
Celebrations and program
The rich schedule of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Centomiglia will kick off on Friday, August 25th, with the inauguration of the exhibition dedicated to the Centomiglia and the presentation of the volume “Centomiglia, 50 Years of Sailing.” On Sunday, August 27th, the 34th Riccardo Gorla Trophy will be raced.
The celebration will continue with the European Championship for the Asso 99 monotype (August 28–31) and the races of the Settimana Internazionale Cento Week: Furio Castellani Trophy (August 30) and Steno Marchi Trophy (August 31).
From August 25th to September 3rd, evenings will be filled with musical performances and events, including an encounter with the Luna Rossa crew (August 30) and the initiative “A Boat of Books“, organized in collaboration with Mursia Editore and the main bookstores of the Garda area.
Luca Belligoli
