Ora Cup Ora 2026 at Circolo Vela Arco - Overall
by Elena Giolai 10 Aug 19:52 UTC
8-10 August 2026
The two Gold Fleet final races reshuffle the Junior podium: Spain's Miguel Echavarri wins ahead of USA's Ryan Lee and fellow Spaniard Luca Nueschen. Italy's Annalie Meoni finishes sixth overall and first female.
In the Cadet Division, Switzerland's Carlo Milan takes victory ahead of Italy's Valerio Pucci, who also wins the ARMARE Ropes Trophy. Almost 600 young sailors from 47 nations and five continents for an Ora Cup Ora that once again went far beyond the results.
The 31st Ora Cup Ora, organized by Circolo Vela Arco under the authority of the Italian Sailing Federation, came to a close on Garda Trentino after three days of racing, with almost 600 young sailors, 47 nations and all five continents represented. After two days characterized by a regular southerly breeze, Monday required a longer wait. The northerly wind remained until late morning and, once it faded, finally made way for the Ora. After quickly resetting the racecourse, the Race Committee started the finals despite several general recalls, premature starts and black flag procedures. The Junior Gold Fleet, made up of the top 123 sailors after the six qualifying races, managed to complete two races before the 4:00 pm time limit.
Juniors, the finals reshuffle the podium
The two final races completely changed the standings in Junior Division A. After qualifying, Slovenia's Mihael Zobecwas leading, while eventual winner Miguel Echavarri of Spain was only ninth. With a 10th and an 8th in the two finals, Miguel Echavarri, Spain, climbed all the way to victory, finishing 2 points ahead of USA's Ryan Lee, who produced his own impressive comeback from 13th place with a 7th and a 3rd.
Spain's Luca Nueschen, who had been 16th before the finals, finished third, 5 points behind Lee. Slovenia's Mihael Zobec, winner of the first final race, ended the event in fourth, 18 points away from the podium. Among the girls, an excellent result for Italy's Annalie Meoni, who finished sixth overall and first female. Margaux Nguyen-Minh, Hong Kong, was second female and eighth overall, while Turkey's Dilara Koldas finished third female and ninth overall. Eight different nations are represented in the Junior top ten, further confirming the international level of the event.
Cadets, victory for Switzerland's Carlo Milan
In Cadet Division B, with 98 competitors, the final race handed victory to Switzerland's Carlo Milan, who finished 4 points ahead of Italy's Valerio Pucci. Pucci also won the ARMARE Ropes Trophy, awarded for the best combined result across the two consecutive Optimist events held on the Upper Garda, the Trofeo Simone Lombardi at Fraglia Vela Malcesine and the Ora Cup Ora at Circolo Vela Arco. USA's Arthur Yepes finished third, while Belgium's Maxime Glorie Farrerons was fourth, just 2 points away from the podium. Among the girls, victory went to Turkey's Ayla Karagulle, fifth overall, ahead of Jiahe Liu, Hong Kong, seventh overall, and Bulgaria's Alessandra Vasileva, 12th overall.
Cagnoni: "Numbers that make us very proud"
Circolo Vela Arco President Massimo Cagnoni expressed his satisfaction:"We reached almost 600 sailors, with 47 nations from all five continents, and this is a result that makes us extremely proud. Thirty-one editions are a lot. We started at a time, around the Ferragosto holiday period, when practically no regattas were held here on Lake Garda, and today seeing these numbers gives us enormous satisfaction. We have coaches here from all over the world and we are receiving invitations from other countries to share and replicate this model. There are places, such as China, where we have been asked to work with them and explore how events like this could be created there, and we will certainly do so."
The prize-giving ceremony was also attended by Marco Piantoni, Deputy Mayor of Arco and Councillor for Sport, and Roberta Prandi, Councillor for Economic Activities, Social, Environmental and Economic Sustainability Projects for Economic Activities, and Communications. The sporting results, however, tell only part of the story of Ora Cup Ora. Teams from 47 nations, club pennant exchanges, families gathering on Garda Trentino and the big Sunday evening lottery, which provided practically every participant with a prize, once again highlighted the special character of the event.
Over its 31 editions, many young sailors who competed at Ora Cup Ora have gone on to reach the highest levels of the sport, from the Olympic Games to the America's Cup and major solo ocean sailing challenges. But above all, Circolo Vela Arco wants every participant to leave with an experience to remember. That goal was made possible thanks to the work of the Race Committee, FIV Protest Committee, mark layers, race office, scoring team, on-water support, logistics staff, and the many Circolo Vela Arco collaborators and volunteerswho worked for three days both on the water and ashore. Because Ora Cup Ora aims to be a major international regatta, but above all, a regatta to remember.
Find full results here