RS Aero Lago Maggiore International Regatta at Circolo Velico del Leone
by Jon Mills 19 Jun 16:46 BST
6-8 June 2025
RS Aero Lago Maggiore International Regatta © Circolo Velico del Leone
The pretty Italian town of Cannobio on the shore of beautiful Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy saw 45 RS Aeros from 10 different countries, split across three rig sizes racing for three days between the 6-8th June.
This was the seventh year of the Lake Maggiore International RS Aero Regatta and the second since it moved across the lake to Cannobio. Cannobio is situated where the wind funnels through the narrow part of Lago Maggiore and is an exquisite town with a beautiful promenade, cobbled streets, abundant accommodation and weekly market stalls. Each year entry numbers grow, this year helped by charter boats from RS Sailing being made available. Each fleet had their own start, and the RS Aero 9 had an impressively good showing of 19 boats.
18 RS Aeros joined the International RS Aero Class Training organised by Jorn Domres of the German Class held over the three days prior to racing, for some early season training and a whole week in the Italian mountains. Raffaele Ravaglia conducted the training with a mixture of on the water exercises, coached racing and theory sessions ashore with the participants all benefiting from the experience.
Conditions for the racing on Friday and Saturday were challenging for the race team with unseasonal wet weather hitting the high mountains at the Northern end of the lake causing the usual thermal lake breeze, funnelled through the narrow lake at Cannobio, to be less reliable. Nevertheless the team lead by Ulli Scheu managed two races on each day, efficiently turning round the three fleets when the breeze was present. Day 3 saw glorious conditions with sunny skies and a steady southern wind. The race team managed all four of the permitted races before the last day cut off time, enabling the second discard to kick in.
The host club Circolo Velico del Leone, were magnificent hosts, being immensely friendly and helpful and with the help of their volunteers and assistance from YC Ascona, providing a three course dinner with wine for all competitors and families on the Saturday night, enjoying the regatta dinner Risotto Party hosted at Oratorio Don Silvio Gallotti. Frank Hoogland (SUI) celebrated his birthday by winning the raffle for the new locally hand crafted RS Aero trophy! Thanks to all the sponsors who added to the event!
With the boat park being on the grass beside the lake right next to the town, launching couldn't have been easier and the walk to the nearest hostelry for post race discussion was just 50 metres.
Each year sees new faces at this event, adding to the regulars who just want to keep coming back.
RS Aero 6 podium:
1st - Sofiia Naumenko (UKR), 1st Female
2nd - Juliane Barthel (GER)
3rd - Roy van Maanen (IRL)
6th - Noa Viool (NED), 1st Youth
RS Aero 7 podium:
1st - Sandy Day (GBR)
2nd - Anreas Gerster (SUI)
3rd - Matej Mlcoch (CZE)
4th - Alexandra Studer (SUI) - 1st Female
RS Aero 9 podium:
1st - Peter Barton (GBR)
2nd - Marcus Walther (GER)
3rd - Tim Woodcock (FRA)
Full results
The next main international event on the RS Aero calendar is the upcoming RS Aero World and Youth World Championships at Quiberon, France, 27 July - 2 Aug, with over 160 RS Aeros entered already.