Cadet class World Championship 2026 at Circolo Vela Torbole - Day 1
by Alastair Muir Wood 5 Aug 23:53 BST
2-7 August 2026
Cadet class World Championship at Garda day 1 © Tom Sullam
The opening day of the Cadet World Championship will be remembered — but not for the racing!
The night before the first scheduled races, Lake Garda was lit up by a spectacular thunderstorm. Before the regatta, Nick Craig had briefed the British team that Garda's famous Pelèr and Ora wind cycle is remarkably reliable, except when disrupted by an overnight storm. His warning proved prophetic.
The fleet launched into the dying Pelèr and was towed across to the western side of the lake, where the race committee quickly got the first race underway. It soon became clear that the wind was refusing to follow the script. As it veered, the opening beat became a procession on port tack and, with the course no longer fair, the November flag was displayed and the race abandoned.
With the breeze disappearing altogether, sailors settled in to wait and everyone expected the Ora to arrive.
Instead, Lake Garda produced something altogether different.
From the RIB I was aboard, we headed south to investigate what looked like the first signs of breeze. Turning back towards the fleet, we realised the wind had arrived—but not as the gentle Ora everyone had been waiting for. A violent Vinessa squall swept across the race area, bringing an estimated 40–50 knots.
Some boats capsized immediately, others tried to sail through the squall before suffering torn sails or broken masts. Within moments, the focus had shifted from racing to rescue.
Every support boat was immediately called into action, recovering sailors separated from their boats, assisting damaged dinghies and ensuring the entire fleet was safely accounted for. Although Garda squalls can often pass quickly, this one continued for over an hour, making for challenging rescue conditions.
No races were completed on Day 1, but the technical committee still faced one of its busiest days of the championship. With broken masts, torn sails and damaged boats filling the dinghy park, there was plenty of work ahead before racing could resume.
The opening day was a timely reminder that, even on one of the world's great sailing venues, it is Lake Garda that ultimately decides when racing takes place!