Lake Garda’s Quirkiest Regatta: Recycled Vessels and Fun Challenges

All set for the crazy regatta. This afternoon, starting from 3 p.m., in the water area in front of the Acquafresca Nautical Center, the most ragtag nautical competition on Lake Garda will begin. Three hundred meters long, the regatta course is to be filled by vessels that have little in common with the world of freshwater sailing.

Boats assembled somehow with recycled materials and non-nautical items. Not, of course, related to any ecological festival, but just a simple and fun challenge among last-minute inventors eager to impress. An event unlikely to disappoint, given that the first entries were already parked yesterday afternoon in the club’s parking lot.

The weirdest vessels

From the giant caterpillar made of soccer balls (which will transform into a circular raft at launch) to the floating cactus. But ready to challenge Garda’s waves is also a sunflower shaped like a human on a flowerpot, without soil, of course, and four friends at the bar sitting comfortably around a table playing cards in the middle of the lake.

As always, the number of participants will only be known at the last minute, although compared to previous editions, eight entries have already arrived with incredible advance, and the number is expected to grow. The jury, having learned from the experience of the five previous editions, has decided to organize a proper starting procedure that prevents anyone from “stealing” precious meters.

The start and the final race

A rope will be stretched behind which, in no particular order or lined up, participants will need to position themselves before the starting shot. After the race, the celebration will continue with another peculiar challenge, only for adults. Tight as sardines on board the Optimist boats—small vessels used by children learning to sail—parents and the young at heart will compete for the title of Sailor of the Year.