EurILCA Europa Cup, qualifying period is over: ready for the finals
Riva del Garda – The 2026 EurILCA Europa Cup event organized by Fraglia Vela Riva continues at full pace and, after two days of racing, has completed the qualification stage. The first final races are scheduled to begin tomorrow at 1:00 PM.
Today, despite lighter and less consistent conditions than yesterday, the excellent cooperation between the Race Officials and Fraglia Vela Riva’s on-the-water team once again ensured the successful completion of the two scheduled races, making the most of an Ora breeze that arrived decisively but faded just as quickly.
Following the racing aboard the media RIB driven by Albano Candolfo, together with several young members of the Optimist Racing Team, were Riva del Garda Mayor Alessio Zanoni and Deputy Mayor Barbara Angelini.
“We are progressing step by step according to schedule, and that is always positive. Compared to yesterday, the weather was more unpredictable, but despite that, racecourse management was virtually perfect and we are now ready to start the finals on the penultimate day of the event. We could not have asked for more,” commented Principal Race Officer Zlatko Jakelic.
In the ILCA 7 fleet, France’s Alexandre Kowalski remains the provisional leader, following yesterday’s two victories with a pair of third-place finishes. Behind him, Israel’s Omer Vered Vilenchik holds on to second place after posting two second-place results today, while Oskar Madonich occupies the third step of the provisional podium, confirming his status as a top contender. Thanks to a first and a sixteenth place, later discarded, the talented Ukrainian sailor has opened a gap over Nicolò Giuseppe Cassitta, who had been tied for third with him yesterday. The Yacht Club Olbia sailor remains the best-placed Italian competitor in fourth, two points ahead of France’s Theo Peyre.
The ILCA 6 Women’s division has a solid leader in the talented Emma Mattivi. Developed at Fraglia Vela Riva and now a member of the Fiamme Gialle Sports Group, Mattivi has posted a perfect series of race wins and leads the standings on just three points, the lowest possible score. Behind her, the battle is intense, with four sailors separated by only a handful of points: Nicol Segnini and American sailor Isabela Cabezas Mendoza are tied for second, Spain’s Marga Perello sits fourth, while Poland’s Zofia Wojcik is fifth.
In the ILCA 6 Men’s fleet, the top ten sailors are separated by just ten points. Fraglia Vela Riva’s Lorenzo Ghirotti currently leads with three points thanks to three race victories, matching Dutch sailor Alexander Hartsink, whose worst result is also a sixth place. Ireland’s Connor Cronin occupies third position, while Fraglia Vela Riva sailors Giovanni Bedoni and Spain’s Nikko Palou are fourth and fifth respectively.
In the ILCA 4 fleet, Enrico Morina is dominating the standings. The Fraglia Vela Riva sailor holds a one-point advantage over Francesco Stabile and a two-point lead over teammate Leandro Scialpi. Three sailors are tied behind them: Emirati competitor Simoen Hristov, Turkey’s Asilkan At, and another Fraglia Vela Riva sailor, Marco Aloisi.
As mentioned, the final series will begin tomorrow, with sailors qualified for the Gold Fleets battling for overall victory.
“It is wonderful to see Fraglia Vela Riva filled with so many young sailors. Just as happened a few years ago, every EurILCA Europa Cup event is a true celebration of sailing. Amid such an enthusiastic atmosphere, it was a great pleasure to welcome the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Riva del Garda, whose presence on the edge of the racecourse once again demonstrated the Municipality’s support and interest in the activities we organize,” commented Fraglia Vela Riva President Chiara Carloni.
