Ora Cup Ora Days 1 & 2: Lake Garda's most popular summer Optimist regatta
by Elena Giolai 12 Aug 06:29 NZST
10-12 August 2024
These are days full of happiness, sport and sailing at Circolo Vela Arco, on Garda Trentino-Italy, where 544 under-15 helmsmen are taking part in the Ora Cup Ora. This classic Optimist regatta, held in the middle of summer, has become an unmissable event for many families who choose Garda Trentino for training and racing.
The Ora Cup Ora also has a special place in the memories of two-time Olympic Nacra 17 champion Ruggero Tita, who won this regatta in 2006. Eighteen years later, in Marseille, he won a second historic gold medal. Who knows whether for these young helmsmen racing until Monday 12 August, this event will not be an incentive to continue with commitment in this beautiful sport!
As many as 29 nations are represented, with an increasingly international participation from outside Europe: the farthest countries include the USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
Racing began on Saturday with two races for each fleet (five heats for the juniors - Div. A with 466 participants and a single heat for the 78 participants in Div. B - cadets). On Sunday, thanks to a fine southerly wind of 10-12 knots, three more races were completed for each grouping. On Monday, the last day of racing, the juniors will be divided according to the overall qualifying ranking, with the best 93 helmsmen competing in the gold fleet.
Juniores - Div. A
The current top 10 positions are occupied mainly by Swedish, Italian, American and Turkish helmsmen. After five races and one gap, with four first places and one eighth, Sweden's Alexander Forssèn is in the lead. Only four points behind is Turkish Budak. Third is Artur Brighenti (Italy), first in the fifth and final race of the day. Just one point behind Brighenti is the American Pablo Munoz Montes, while fifth is Martino Paone Mittner (Italy). Excellent performance for Sofia Bommartini (Italy), first female and currently tenth overall.
Cadetti - Div. B
Six nations are represented in the top 10 places, with Frenchwoman Antoinette Papin leading the way thanks to three partial victories, a second place and a discarded 30th. Behind her, with a certain distance, there are three Italians, all locals: Pietro Lombardi (FV Malcesine) is second, followed by Pietro Bonomo (FV Riva) and Martino Broilo (FV Riva), in a tie. They were followed by Alix Nguyen-Minh from Hong Kong, first female, the American Strickon in sixth and Italy again with Jugo Lazzerini (CV Torbole) seventh.
On Sunday evening, after the fleet had returned ashore, the most eagerly awaited moment for the participants took place: the customary rich lottery, the highlight of the event that thrills all those present, who experience this event as a beautiful celebration of sport and more!
On Monday, the start of the first race of the day, the sixth overall, is scheduled for 12.30 pm. It will, as always, be very interesting to watch the junior gold fleet, where the best helmsmen among the 466 entered in this category will compete in the same fleet.
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