Optimist Ora Cup Ora on Garda Lake - Some Post-Regatta Notes


Here are a few notes following the Ora Cup Ora, organized by Circolo Vela Arco - one of those big Summer high level European Optimist regattas that just concluded on Garda Lake, Italy.

- this is a world level regatta, attended by many of the very best Optimist sailors in the world, including World Champion Marco Gradoni and European Champion Alex Demurtas, both from Italy.
- there was a large number of participants - 540, while nearly 600 registered - in two fleets Juniors (U16) and Cadetti (U12). There were 167 sailors in the cadetti fleet, and 382 sailors in the juniors fleet.
- there were big fleets from a number of countries: Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Monaco, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Malta, etc.
- many teams were travelling without parents, in vans for 8 to 10 sailors, and large trailers for 8 to 10 hulls and a coach boat
- unlike with IODA regattas, the registration fees are kept very affordable: 60 euros for 3 days regatta - accommodation is left to the teams, parents - the organizers just organize the regatta
- and of course, unlike IODA events, one can participate without trials at the national level - so it’s an opportunity to participate in a world level event - in the most simple and straightforward manner, compared to when qualifiers are involved
- the location of the regatta - North of Lake Garda - is just amazing. It’s not wonder that many of the best sailing athletes in the world, such as Paul Goodison, live in the area, at least part of the year. Also, the Cadetti fleet had a spectator none other than Robert Scheidt - multiple Olympic medallist and world champion, as his son was competing in the regatta.
- generally speaking, equipment was of high quality, with dominance of One Sails and J Sails - but other sail makers were present ; MK3 and MK4 spars were probably the most used  ones; there were many brands of hulls: Blue Blue, Nautivela, Erplast, Winner (3D and Flex), Devoti - the latter being increasingly seen among top sailors. As for blades, there appeared also to be wide variety.
- for many sailors, having starts at 8 AM was a novelty - that’s linked with the thermal winds present on Garda Lake
- there were only 4 races completed in the Junior fleet, and there was no Gold/Silver/Bronze … fleets because of lack of time - fleets were pretty large - approx. 90 boats each
- despite the generally low winds, several races were completed in over 10 knots - thanks to the thermal winds.
- the racing was dominated by several of the worlds best Optimist sailors, several of the them who will attend the Worlds. Check the results for finding out who was top in the regatta.
- European champion, Alex Demurtas, who placed 3rd,  will not be allowed to participate in the Worlds, despite the fact he presently is one of the best Optimist sailors in the world (but was not in the top 5 of the Italian trials)
- Level of sailing in the Cadetti fleet (U12) appeared already pretty high. There are only 2 fleets - Juniors and Cadets - unlike the Red, Blue, White, Green system in other countries - no Green fleet at this event, despite many sailors being very young.
- compared to a regatta like CORK, which just was completed in Kingston, ON, a regatta like Ora Cup Ora can be seen as a CORK on steroids. Imagine the Canadians confronted not with one strong international team (Americans took 6 out of the 7 first positions at CORK), but with about 10 of them.
- While racing was intense, there was lots of joy, lots of fun, and lots of talk among sailors ashore - nothing formal and somewhat artificial like the « trading » at IODA events.
- There was a 3 day regatta on the same lake just before -the Trofeo Lombardi, which attracted a few hundred sailors, which was also very nicely organized, and which served as a pre-event for many sailors ; others teams decided to only compete in Ora Cup Ora and train among themselves before.
- Concluding comment: The Garda meeting that takes places in March / April is much better known, with its 1000 + competitors. But Ora Cup Ora, sailed in the same venue, but in warmer conditions in the summer, is a must attend event - and it’s really worth it for international sailors, including from North America, to participate in the future.

Above is the (very high quality) video summarizing the event. Below the 3 videos summarizing each day.

Also see the results

http://www.circolovelaarco.it/regate-icagenda-menu/41-23-ora-cup-ora

Videos





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