Lake Garda is proud of its long and consolidated tradition. In the past 50 years, its yacht clubs have been the hotbed for top Olympic skippers such as Fabio Albarelli, Roberto Benamati, Albino Fravezzi, Flavio Scala, the Celon brothers, Luca Devoti and Silvio Santoni, to name a few. Others, such as Olympic winners Jesper Bank from Denmark, Germans Joerg Schuman (a three-time gold medal winner in three Olympics), Alex Hagen, Vincent Hoesch and Markus Wieser, and Austrian Raudaschal, have chosen Lake Garda as their favorite training center.
The winds vary from one zone to another: there are light breezes in the lower part of the lake and brisker winds north of Gargnano towards Malcesine and Torbole sul Garda. Each area has its own Yacht Club or Guild with a school, recognized by the Federation, for youngsters and adults alike. Just as famous are the Garda races such as the popular Centomiglia and Intervela, which have existed for 50 years. International championships are organized at Lake Garda each year; the latest was the first Italian Open Championships for the 10 Olympic classes. Lake Garda has also been the site of the world championships for 5.50, F.D., Soling, Mini Tonner, Hobe Cat, Fun, Tempest and of the European championships for Star, Finn, Fun, Asso 99, Trias, Dyas, Dragoni, Soling Match-race, a trail in the international two-man challenge, and the Pedrini Cento Cup.