Swan Lake Garda Challenge Preview: ClubSwan 28 fleet ready to race in Riva del Garda
by ClubSwan Racing 23 Jul 2025 16:14 BST
July 23-26, 2025
From July 23 to 26, The Nations League brings sailing excitement to Lake Garda with eight teams from seven nations. DENZA, the luxury brand of the BYD Group, joins as the official automotive partner of the circuit.
Fraglia Vela Riva is set to host the much-anticipated first edition of the Swan Lake Garda Challenge from July 23 to 26, the third seasonal event of ClubSwan Racing's The Nations League, the international One Design sailing circuit by Nautor Swan. For the first time, the ClubSwan 28s will race not at sea but on the freshwater of Lake Garda, in what promises to be a thrilling and closely fought event.
"For ClubSwan, bringing a fleet to Lake Garda is of great significance and opens up new opportunities within the ClubSwan Racing world," said Federico Michetti, Head of Sport Activities at Nautor Swan. "Thanks to the compact size and easy road transport of these boats, we can now organize high-level events even on lakes. These often offer unique racing conditions, both in terms of wind and spectator engagement. I can't wait to see the fleet sail beneath the magnificent cliffs of Pra'!".
Following Bonifacio and Porto Cervo, the Nations League overall standings are currently led by Marcello (FRA), owned by Philippe Ligot, thanks to a first and second place finish in the earlier events. Just three points behind is Play Bigger (USA), skippered by Al Ramadan, while Swing (JPN), helmed by Keisuke Suzuki and fresh from winning the Gold Cup in Porto Cervo, sits in third.
Eight boats will compete in this Garda leg, representing seven nations and with more than 40 sailors onboard from ten countries. In addition to the top-ranked teams, the lineup includes: Anya (ITA) by Giulio Gatti, also owner of a Swan 48; Black Swan (MON) by Lorenzo Bortolotti; Hatari (GER) by Marcus Brenneke, well-known for the namesake ClubSwan 50; and Isabella (GER) by Frank Winter, owner of the historic S&S 36 that won the S&S Classics division at the 2024 Rolex Swan Cup. Both Hatari and Isabella, which tested the ClubSwan 28 at the Primo Cup in Monaco, now return to the class for their debut in The Nations League.
The Swan Lake Garda Challenge will also mark the entry of Fra Martina, skippered by Edoardo Pavesio with tactician Diogo Cayolla, into the ClubSwan 28 fleet. The team will sail under the colors of DENZA, the new official automotive partner of The Nations League. Throughout the event, spectators will have the opportunity to experience the DENZA Z9GT DM-i firsthand. On display at Fraglia Vela Riva and available for exciting test drives, the Z9GT showcases hi-tech luxury at its finest — a perfect blend of comfort, power, and innovation, symbolizing the future of mobility.
"We are proud to bring DENZA to such an iconic setting as Lake Garda, where elegance, technology, and sporting spirit come together," said Alessandro Grosso, Country Manager of BYD & DENZA Italy. "Our commitment to innovation takes shape through our support for the Swan Lake Garda Challenge and the exclusive presence of the Z9GT DM-i. It's an experience that perfectly embodies DENZA's vision: to combine luxury, performance, and environmental responsibility in a truly unique context".
The growing number of participants, from five boats in Bonifacio to seven in Porto Cervo and now eight in Riva del Garda, confirms the strong international interest in the new ClubSwan 28 class. With the first boats now ready to head overseas, the class looks set for rapid expansion.