Fraglia Vela Riva took center stage at the ILCA European Championships in Kaštela, securing a full podium in the ILCA 6 Men’s Championship and strong results in all classes.
Kaštela (Croatia) – The 2026 ILCA European Championships concluded with impressive results for Fraglia Vela Riva, a leading force in Croatia with victories, podiums, and high-level placings in all international ILCA fleets.
The U23 European title in the ILCA 7 Olympic Class was celebrated, with Antonio Pascali not only taking the European title in his division but also taking 10th place overall: a result of great technical value in one of the most competitive fleets on the international scene. Fraglia Vela Riva member Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini narrowly missed out on the overall podium, finishing fourth, just three points shy of the medal.
The men’s ILCA 6 also produced a stunning result, with the Fragliotti sailors, protagonists of a great team effort, monopolizing the European podium with a historic hat trick: the continental title went to Claudio Crocco, author of an extremely solid and consistent race, ahead of Lorenzo Ghirotti, second on equal points, and Giovanni Bedoni, third. Completing an exceptional team effort, Mattia di Lorenzo also finished fifth overall.
FVR member Emma Mattivi also stood out in the women’s ILCA 6 fleet, finishing fourth in the Under 23 category after a consistent and competitive championship.
“These were very challenging days of racing, characterized by highly variable weather and numerous wind shifts: this made it crucial to always be attentive in reading the race course. I tried to maintain maximum concentration from the first races, which gave me four victories that were crucial to the final result. On the other hand, my closest rivals were my teammates, all very strong, with whom we often share podium positions during the various competitions; on this occasion, my determination and desire to go all the way were decisive. I am very happy to have achieved this result and I would like to thank my coach, Mauro Bertotti, and Fraglia Vela Riva, who support me every day in cultivating and realizing this great passion of mine,” stated Claudio Crocco.
It was a championship held in medium winds, between 10 and 18 knots, with rough seas, in the middle of the channel formed by the islands off Split. The last three races, however, took place in the inland sea, off Kastela, with gusty and pulsating Borino winds. It was in this context that Fraglia achieved another prestigious result thanks to Antonio Pascali, who was coached in the championship by FIV coach Giorgio Poggi. Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini narrowly missed the podium, missing it by just three points. In the men’s ILCA 6, our team got off to a great start. In the end, there were three of them fighting it out, grouped within as many points. It wasn’t easy for me to manage the balance because all three wanted to win and all deserved it. During the final race, they found themselves in favorable positions one by one. At the last leeward mark, when Ghirotti seemed to have it, Crocco found a favorable overlap by a few centimeters, earning the three points needed to tie the race. with Lorenzo and surpass him thanks to the comparison of partial scores. Bedoni also performed very well, having been ahead in the last race, while Di Lorenzo, finishing fifth, achieved his goal,” said Mauro Berteotti, Technical Director and coach of the Fraglia Vela Riva ILCA Racing Team.
“The results achieved by the ILCA Racing Team in Croatia are a direct result of the combination of the working method developed by our club over the years and the quality of the individual athletes, who, it should be emphasized, are almost always the product of our ‘cantera’. There is therefore even greater pride in seeing the team succeed as a whole and in applauding the individuals for achieving increasingly prestigious results,” said Chiara Carloni, President of Fraglia Vela Riva.
For Fraglia Vela Riva, this result once again confirms the caliber of the work done in the youth and Olympic competitive sectors, capable of bringing the club’s athletes to the pinnacle of international sailing.
