Five races have been completed in the first two days of the EurILCA Master Series 2026 grand finale in Gargnano, on Lake Garda, where 84 sailors from 11 nations are competing. The event is organised by Circolo Vela Gargnano on behalf of the Italian Sailing Federation, with the support of Regione Lombardia and Alpe Adria del Garda as event partners.
On Friday, the first race was abandoned when the wind dropped. The Race Committee moved the course further north, where a southerly breeze of about 8-9 knots was enough to complete two races. On Saturday conditions changed: racing started around 9 am with a northerly wind of about 15 knots, gradually easing during the third race. Three races were sailed, bringing the total to five and allowing a discard to come into play.
ILCA 6: Tomasella takes the lead after Saturday’s wins
In the ILCA 6, Edoardo Tomasella of Compagnia della Vela Venezia was the standout of Saturday. After a fourth and a ninth place on Friday, he scored two wins and a third, moving to the top of the standings. Alessio Marinelli of Club Vela Portocivitanova is second on equal points, while Elisa Boschin of Società Nautica Pietas Julia, the Master ILCA 6 women’s world champion, is third, just one point behind the leaders. Boschin won the last race on Saturday and remains the top woman in the event.
ILCA 7: Dapeci dominates, Meciani chases
In the ILCA 7, Austria’s Claus Dapeci remains firmly in front. After two wins on Friday, he added a fifth place (discarded) and two more wins on Saturday. Stefano Meciani of Lega Navale Italiana Follonica is second, 10 points behind. Christoph Marsano, European Grand Master champion, is third, 12 points off the leader, after a strong climb built on a third and two second places on Saturday. Germany’s Roger Schulz is fourth and Andrea Nevierov fifth.
Among the Circolo Vela Gargnano sailors, Roberto Bini is 12th overall in the ILCA 7 and first among the Great Grand Masters, followed by club-mate Giuseppe Cavalli in 13th. Carlo Maria Scoccimarro is also racing in the ILCA 7, while Alberto De Paoli Ambrosi flies the club’s colours in the ILCA 6.
Two faces of Lake Garda
The first two days showed two different sides of Lake Garda as it is typically experienced at Gargnano: the light breeze on Friday and the stronger conditions on Saturday, with sunshine and mild temperatures of around 19-20°C throughout. On Saturday evening, competitors gathered for a dinner featuring spiedo bresciano, a traditional Brescia-style spit-roasted meat dish, giving the international crews a taste of one of the area’s culinary traditions.
The final day of racing is scheduled for Sunday, with a morning start to catch the most favourable wind.
