5.5 Metre Multi Nations at Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy - Day 1
by Robert Deaves 10 Sep 18:23 UTC
10-13 September 2026
After all the planning, anticipation and excitement, it turned out no racing was possible on the first day of the inaugural 5.5 Metre Multi Nations, at Malcesine, on Lake Garda, Italy.
The new concept has brought together 21 boats from seven nations ranging in age from four years to 74 years (the age range of the crews is almost as large!)
The event was partly designed as a stopover on the way to Greece for next month's World Championship; 10 boats here are heading onto Lavrion, near Athens, at the end of the month.
Most of the fleet arrived early in the week to enjoy temperatures in the mid-30s and typical Garda-esque winds, but that all changed Wednesday with the arrival of storms, dropping temperatures and heavy rain. More than 60mm of rain has fallen in the last 24 hours and daytime temperatures were down to 16 degrees on Thursday.
Even though the weather turned inclement and cold the welcome from Fraglia Vela Malcesine was tropical with a great opening ceremony and welcome buffet on Wednesday evening and a pasta and beer 'after race' party when racing had been abandoned on Thursday.
Soon after the morning briefing, AP was raised with the wind on the lake at 25-30 knots. The wind decreased as a thunderstorm passed to the south but became unstable and brought heavy rain. The strong wind returned later, and just after 16.00 the decision was taken to abandon for the day and begin to serve the pasta and beer.
As well as a very competitive fleet of moderns present in Malcesine, seven beautiful Italian classics have arrived, to challenge for the Italian title. Two are really old ladies, dating from the 1950s.
Kukururu (ITA 6, Giuseppe Matildi, Alessandro Marolli, Gian Luca Marolli) is the oldest boat in the fleet, the oldest in Italy and one of the oldest in Europe. First launched in 1952 in Trieste - 74 years young this year - she was designed by Sweden's Arvid Laurin and built by Cantieri navali Baglietto. Kukururu has been owned by Giuseppe Matildi since 2011 with various improvements over the years. Meanwhile, Violetta IV (ITA 21, Giovanni Antonio, Giangiacomo Stefanon, Federico Buscaglia) was designed by Pietro Baglietto, and launched in Venice in 1956.
Another famous boat in the fleet is Manuela VII (ITA 54, Gabriele Ghirotti, Alessandro Miolato, Lorenzo Salvà), a Britton Chance design, built in carvel planked Mahogany by Hermann Egger in 1967 for Beppe Croce, who became the longest serving President of the International Sailing Federation (now World Sailing). In 1969, the year he became ISAF President, Croce won the Italian 5.5 Metre championship at Torbole, on Lake Garda with Manuela VII.
Everyone is looking forward to seeing this fleet of very attractive classics line up alongside the modern boats of today.
The first warning signal for Friday is scheduled for 10.00.