FUN AND GAMES

SAILORS OF THE WASZP CLASS DESCEND UPON LAKE GARDA, A MECCA OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE SAILING FOR A FOILING IMMERSION

- GAVIN BALL

LAKE Garda is sailing’s amphitheater, a place with a sailing culture unlike any other. Centrally located in Europe and with clinical conditions, it is also the heartbeat of international wind sports. In the cradle of the Italian Alps, it is completely normal to run across boats from Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and everywhere else. With a whistling northerly Pelér in the morning and a warm Ora southerly in the afternoon, Garda is blessed with two distinct world-class sailing conditions for much of the year. And the scenery is the most stunning of any sailing venue. All of this is to say there really is no finer place for one-design sailors, wingers, kiters and foilers to play, which is why Waszp sailors gather once a year for Foiling Week, and this year the official Waszp Games and World Championship.

While Garda is known for being a near-perfect spot and easily accessible to those in Europe, getting there from Hawaii is anything but a straight shot. But it is worth it. To get to Garda this past July, negotiate through four canceled flights, 10 days of delayed baggage, and a bunch of other annoying hiccups until finally reach my final terminal in Verona, Italy.

But this time, arrive with no bags and no gear.

No worries. I'll figure something out.