Jo Richards Returns for the 76th Centomiglia del Garda With Leo Larcher in the RS21 Tigger

The 76th Centomiglia del Garda will start from Gargnano on September 5, 2026, with Jo Richards returning to the event 17 years after his overall win in 2009. Richards will sail alongside Leonardo “Leo” Larcher on board Tigger, an RS21 modified for ORC competition, as the regatta runs until September 6 with a route planned to cover the whole lake.

Richards, a British designer and sailor, won the 2009 edition on Full Pelt, the first time a British boat took the Centomiglia overall title. The 2026 entry will be Tigger (GBR 2614), prepared for ORC after being adapted from the standard RS21 monohull configuration; Richards is also credited with the RS21 design. The schedule for September 5 sends the fleet down the lake along the Lombard and Veneto shores, with a buoy near Desenzano moved slightly north to allow the Frecce Tricolori to pass. On September 6, the race will head back toward Trentino (including two buoys near Torbole), then return along the Veneto shore, debuting a new Navene buoy before finishing back in Gargnano.

The event is organized by Circolo Vela Gargnano on behalf of the Italian Sailing Federation, with support from the Municipality of Gargnano, Pro Loco, and This is Gargnano. Fineco is the main sponsor, while Cantieri del Pardo will provide two boats for the start and hospitality. New partners include Heineken and Wyler Vetta, alongside confirmed support from Hotel Eala, Turboden, A2A Life Company, and Euroimmobiliare.
Italian Version