Sailing – Garda Regattas

Lake Garda is the stage for some of the most important sailing regattas in Europe, and Gargnano is its beating heart. For over a century, the Centomiglia, the longest sailing regatta on the lake in the world, has started from this village on the Brescia shore, attracting hundreds of crews from all over the continent.

The sailing tradition
Sailing on Lake Garda has a tradition dating back to the 19th century, when the first European yacht clubs discovered the perfect conditions of this Alpine lake. Today, Garda hosts a full calendar of regattas from March to November, with events at every level: from national regattas to world class championships, passing through match races and offshore regattas.
The Centomiglia is the highlight: 100 miles (about 160 km) of night sailing around the lake, with hundreds of boats leaving Gargnano at sunset and sailing all night long. The spectacle of moonlit sails among the mountains is unforgettable.

Sailing conditions
The Garda wind system – the Pelér from the north in the morning and the Ora from the south in the afternoon – offers ideal and varied conditions. The northern part of the lake, with Riva and Torbole, is windier and more suitable for sports sailing. The southern part, wider and with less wind, is perfect for relaxing cruising and learning. Gargnano enjoys a central position that allows both wind regimes to be exploited.

How to participate
Several sailing clubs on Lake Garda offer courses for beginners and boat hire. The sailing schools in Riva del Garda, Torbole, Gargnano and Malcesine are affiliated with the FIV and offer courses for all ages. For those who just want to watch, the regattas are a free spectacle visible from the lakeside and beaches.