A doctor, a sail maker and a cane farmer walk into a bar in Italy… sounds like the start of a classic joke, but it was much more. From the look on the boys faces when they jumped in to lake Garda to clean the boat convinced by us it was not that cold, to outrunning a 30 knot electrical storm with the kite up, it was the start of a fantastic, hilarious and enjoyable sailing experience. 

You really have to sail in Italy to understand the splendour and experience they offer.

Organising a J/70 from across the world sight unseen seems a daunting task and it would be anywhere but Italy.

When three Australian J/70 owners got together to buy a boat in Europe chance landed us at Lake Garda. We had already been in communication with the world J/70 president Vittorio Di Mauro who extended extreme friendship and assistance and put us in touch with the people who could deliver this task.

We arrived at Italian JCup #2 in sunny Riva del Garda at the northern end of Lake Garda to be overawed by the magnificent towering cliffs, deep blue water and for the first few days consistent wind.

Our trip had been preceded by Sandringham Yacht Club's Commodore Sue Bowes exchanging burgies (not budgies) with the president of Fraglia vela Riva Mr. Andrea  Camin who extended us great courtesy. From the first moment the locals could not have been more generous with the assistance of Francesco, Rico and Guilia making our conversion from Australia to Italy seamless.

The racing was intense and of a standard unavailable locally. From 39 boats trying to ping the pin at the same time to mark roundings accompanied by yelling in nine languages punctuated by umpires whistles and the universal question Me? Really? It left us ruing what might have been and hungry to return.

As Vittorio said, the philosophy in Italy is simple - one person wins and the rest have fun.