Lake Garda’s Sixth Crazy Regatta Tests Creativity with Recycled Boats
The time has come for the Crazy Regatta. Returning on Ferragosto, the most whimsical competition on Lake Garda, now in its sixth edition.
In the race, in the body of water in front of the centro nautico Acquafresca, participants are allowed to use “boats” built with a wide variety of materials, all rigorously recycled and non-nautical. Motorized boats are not permitted; only vessels propelled by sails or oars are allowed.
Of course, not the traditional ones. The occasion is therefore for ingenuity to take flight and for participants to discover makeshift vessels capable of keeping their hull afloat and traveling the 300 meters of the straight course that divides the starting point, the small beach south of the nautic center, from the opposite end of the Acquafresca site.
The course and unusual vessels
A short but hazardous stretch for boats that have nothing to do with the water world. Examples include roll-up shutter rafts, basins, or wardrobes with oars, not to mention sail-backed drums or tubes-shaped boats.
These are just some of the means seen at the crazy regatta, born from an idea by those pranksters of polisportiva Fior d’Olivo, who cleverly carved out a space for themselves in the sailing regattas of Italy’s largest lake.
An idea that continues to gain popularity, given the increasing number of participants eager to compete in an event where ingenuity, humor, and a lot of cleverness are essential to succeed. And already, entries are coming in.
“We received early confirmations from four crews,” say the organizers from the Acquafresca base. “There’s anticipation for this challenge, and many club members are working to launch truly unique floating vessels in time.”
The Ferragosto race will start at 3 p.m., but the participating boats must be displayed in our center’s square starting at noon, to allow the jury to assess hull suitability and to create an initial ranking for the most original boat.
On the same day, a regatta among adults competing aboard Optimist boats will be held; small vessels used by children just learning sailing.
Past events and incredible feats
Turning back to the crazy regatta, there have been truly unique examples in the past. For instance, the feat of a sailor from Padua who successfully managed the difficult task of launching a piano into the water.
Supported by inner tubes, the musical instrument, with a sail depicting musical notes at its center, drifted across the lake before going adrift near Trimelone Island. Sitting at the keyboard, dressed in an elegant tuxedo, the helmsman recited his part like a seasoned actor.
No less original was the aquatic bicycle piloted by twelve-year-old Daniele Vangelista. A white Graziella with paddles instead of wheels, operated by pedaling. The handlebar was used to steer the rudimentary wooden tiller.
Plastic bottles provided balance to the hull. It’s ultimately cleverness that wins in the most rickety aquatic competitions, like that of the reigning champion Edoardo Gobbi, who last year even invoked Leonardo da Vinci by assembling an astonishing boat after reading a text dedicated to the great Renaissance engineer.
In the end, he took home the crown of the best—or should we say the craziest?