Beaver Sailing Club has reason to celebrate after Richard Hanby claimed overall victory in the RS300 Class at the prestigious 2026 Blue Garden Riva Cup, held at Fraglia Vela Riva on the stunning shores of Lake Garda, Italy.
Competing against an all-British fleet of 12 sailors across eight races, Richard delivered a performance of real quality — combining outright speed in testing heavy-air conditions with the composure to recover from an early setback and pull clear of the field.
A Rocky Start, A Brilliant Recovery
Richard arrived at Lake Garda in strong form, but the opening day was not without drama. Lying second in Race 1, a costly error dropped him back to fifth — a result that would ultimately be discarded but would have been enough to rattle many sailors. Race 2 was barely less frustrating; he crossed the line just a foot behind second place after what had been a rapid charge through the fleet.
The conditions did nothing to make life easier. Strong, gusty winds made for demanding heavyweight sailing throughout the regatta, and on the Thursday evening the fleet were treated to the kind of spectacle only Lake Garda can provide — a dramatic lightning strike that split the rocks on the shoreline.
But if the first day tested Richard’s resilience, Day 2 confirmed his class. He hit the water flying, reeling off a string of firsts and seconds that put the result beyond doubt. Even a set of penalty turns during one race couldn’t stop him — he still finished at the front.
“The first day was a proper rollercoaster — I was sailing well but made a silly mistake in Race 1, and in Race 2 I lost second by the width of a boat. The conditions were seriously windy throughout, real heavyweight weather — challenging but manageable. Once I got into my rhythm on Day 2 I found my flow — even when I had to take penalty turns I knew the pace was there. To come away with the overall win on Lake Garda is something I’ll never forget. I even watched lightning smash into the rocks on the shore — it was quite a weekend!” — Richard Hanby, Beaver Sailing Club
The Final Standings
Richard’s net score of 12.0 points from seven counting races told the story of a near-faultless second half of the series. David Acres of Emsworth was a solid second overall on 18.0, with Peter Mackin of Y Felinheli in third on 25.0.
| Rank | Helm | Club | Net Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Richard Hanby | Beaver Sailing Club | 12.0 |
| 2nd | David Acres | Emsworth | 18.0 |
| 3rd | Peter Mackin | Y Felinheli | 25.0 |
The Event
The Riva Cup is one of Europe’s most celebrated small-boat regattas, drawing competitors to race on the spectacular waters of Lake Garda each May. This year’s edition saw participation nearly double from 2025, with close to 100 entrants across five classes — Korsar, Dyas, 505, RS300, and RS600. The event is supported by the Blue Garden Shopping Center and organised by the renowned team at Fraglia Vela Riva, who successfully completed the full eight-race programme despite the volatile conditions.
Club Pride
This is a brilliant result and a proud moment for everyone at Beaver Sailing Club. Competing internationally, in testing conditions, against a quality field — and coming away as overall winner — takes real skill, speed, and mental toughness.
Please join us in congratulating Richard on an outstanding performance.
Well sailed, Richard — we’re proud of you!
