Spectacular pictures are spreading around the sailing community this week after a massive squall swept through a fleet of small yachts and dinghys on Lake Garda, Italy during the annual Centomiglia regatta.

 

From casual sailing, to 50 knots and complete carnage in just a few minutes is how some sailors described the storm as it swept through the fleet, capsizing anyone why chose to keep even their smallest sails up. Even the keelboats like the Etchell’s ended up pretty soggy!

Lake Garda is known for having fickle, and interesting wind patterns for sailors, but kiteboarders and windsurfers enjoy the frequent strong winds that start blowing from this time of year. It’s usually pretty tame though, with strong days reaching 30 knots at most. This day was not tame however, and nor was the racing with several of the obscenely complicated ‘Libera’ Class yachts (or should they be called dinghys?!) being toppled by the squall.

If you havn’t had the chance to see what these ‘Libera’ Class boats are like, imagine an 18ft skiff on steroids, scaled up to 45ft, with crews of 15, ALL on trapeze. Yes, ALL on trapeze. It’s insane, and something that only really happens on Lake Garda during the Centomiglia regatta.

Next time you see a big black cloud rolling towards you in a regatta, spare a thought for these poor guys and girls who had to contend with 14 of their closest mates trying to keep their 45 foot dinghies upright. Then take your sails down and head for the marina…

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