Campione del Garda to host Optimist European Team Racing Championship

The Optimist European Team Racing Championship will be held at Univela in Campione del Garda from October 13 to 17. This continental youth sailing event features sixteen national teams, including competitors from Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.

The competition follows a team racing format where squads of four athletes compete against one another, emphasizing speed, tactics, and collective communication. The event includes approximately 190 matches, with the top eight teams advancing to the Gold Fleet and the remaining teams to the Silver Fleet.

Dedicated to the memory of coach Claudio Brighenti, who passed away in 2022, the championship serves as a developmental milestone for young sailors. Many professional sailors, including those in the America’s Cup, began their careers in the Optimist class.