Lake Garda’s Centomiglia 2018 and Hotel Villa Florida

The Hotel in Gardone Riviera is 10 km from Gargnano, the point of departure of Europe’s longest regatta in inland waters.

There are a great many of our guests who follow the sailing week in Gargnano every year: September 1st  and 2^nd 2018 start with Gorla Trophee followed by the famous Centomiglia on September 8^th and 9^th .

For 68 years Lake Garda has had the honour to play host for an unmissable event which comprises sport, tradition, respect for the environment and colours. Lots of colours: the colours of the canvas and jibs, the ones of water and sky, together with the colours of sunbeams forcibly warming the lake. Sometimes you can even see the colour of the wind taking on the green of Mount Baldo on the horizon.

The frenzy linked to the start of Centomiglia is one of the best moments ever, it gives the same emotion as the cars at start at Millemiglia in Brescia. People who live on the lake gather at the small harbor in Bogliaco early in the morning, since departure time is scheduled between 8 and 9 a.m. In the last years up to 350 crews coming from about 20 countries  took part in the sailing event. Many a boat have a mast 20 mt. high and can be really fast. To counterbalance the strength of the wind the crews turn into human weights, hanging out like acrobats few centimeters from the waves. The world of sailing hides an extraordinary  philosophy of life: sailing fast without polluting, moving about in silence, ideally joining countries divided for no reason by political power.

The day does not end at the arrival: in the evening we are all awaited by village events and exquisite pleasures as the ones at Trattoria Al Marinaio in Bogliaco, at my friend Domenico’s called Menec. He can cook the delicious fish of the lake with utmost care, keeping the flavours of Garda cuisine intact. Everything to go with a good glass of white wine or of Valtenesi Chiaretto.