Sep 30, 2024
Sailing 29:er in Riva del Garda
It's time for another blogpost! Let's catch up with our 29er team from Riva del Garda about their life and how it is to be based in one of the worlds best places for sailing (tiny bit jealous, yes). Riva and Lake Garda means a lot to us and it feels very heartwarming to be supporting a skilled local youth team who sail for Fraglia Vela Riva, the local sailing club in Riva Del Garda. But first, let's talk a little bit about about this beautiful place.
Riva del Garda is a charming town on the northern tip of Lake Garda in Italy, and it is a great place to visit if you love beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. With its mix of mountains and lake views, it’s perfect for hiking, biking, windsurfing, and sailing thanks to the area’s reliable winds and trails. The town itself has a laid-back vibe with cool spots like the medieval Rocca di Riva, lively piazzas, and cozy cafés. It’s also a great spot to taste delicious local food and soak up the relaxed atmosphere. Riva del Garda offers the perfect mix of adventure, history, and chill vibes.
But we are here for the sailing - Lake Garda hosts up to 100 sailing events each year, making it one of the most popular destinations for sailing enthusiasts in the world. The lake’s consistent winds, such as the “Ora” and “Peler,” create ideal conditions for competitive sailing and regattas. These events range from local races to international competitions, attracting sailors from around the world. Popular events include the Centomiglia and the Lake Garda Meeting Optimist Class, one of the largest youth sailing events globally.
We talked to Caroline and Victoria the other day and asked them a few questions about their sailing and their life in Garda. It's always fun to get some insights from locals, and of course hear a bit more about their upcoming sailing plans!
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What is your sailing background?
Caroline:
My sailing journey started in Norway when I was 8 yo and I represented Norway throughout my opti career. My final optimist regatta was the European Championship 2021 in Cadice, and after that my family moved to Riva del Garda where I started sailing the 29er. I used to visit my family in Italy a lot during the optimist and therefore got to sail with many different coaches around the country. In 2018 we visited Garda for the first time and fell in love with the place and now it's our home!
Victoria:
I started sailing when I was 8 yo in Riva del Garda. I started off with the summer course and later the same year joined the Fraglia Vela Riva sailing team. Same as Caroline, I qualified for the European Championship 2021 and finished in 7th place. Last year I won the 41st Lake Garda Meeting in the female category and shortly after that decided to quit the optimist and move on to the 29er.
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Cheeky side note: We both hated sailing in the beginning and wanted to quit. Luckily our parents didn't let us and now we love it and couldn't live without it.
How did you decide to sail together?
We have been sailing together for a year now. I (Caroline) was looking for a new helmsman and Victoria had just finished sailing the optimist and was looking to get into the 29er class. We had talked to each other a few times before we tried sailing together, and it felt like a good match straight away. We became friends really fast and it only took 5 training days before our coach let us sail our first regatta together.
How does a normal week look for you?
Our weeks look very similar. We usually don't have sailing during the weekdays but we spend a lot of time together anyways. We both go to school in the morning and some afternoons. After school we usually go to the gym together and then back to studying. On the weekends we sail and depending on upcoming regattas the amount of sailing will vary.
What's your long term sailing goal?
We're hoping to qualify for the Youth World Championship and perform there for the next season. We're then hoping that the year after we can move into sailing the 49er FX.
How do you like having Garda as your base?
We're incredibly lucky to have our base in Riva Del Garda. It's a place for great sailing conditions and we love sailing on the lake. Although due to clinics and winter training, we tend to spend quite a bit of time away from the lake as well.
What’s the best thing to do in Garda?
The best thing you can do is of course sail! But there are plenty of other fun activities as well such as hiking and running up the mountains.
What is next for you two?
We only have one regatta left this season and that is Euro Cup in Riva del Garda in October. We're also planning on sailing the Euro cup in Palamos in December but that will count towards the season of 2025.
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If you're keen to visit Garda, don't hesitate! It's a very memorable place (with very good ice cream as well).