Boats have started arriving in great numbers for the Optimist European Championship, to be held from Saturday 28 June to Saturday 5 July 2008 at Fraglia vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy. 240 boats are expected, representing 5 continents and 38 countries, coming from as far away as New Zealand, Japan, and Argentina. The boats will measure from the 28th June, and a practice race is scheduled for 29th June followed by the Team Meeting and Opening Ceremony.

Championship racing commences on 30th June, with up to 12 races scheduled, with 3 races required to constitute the Championship.

It is anticipated that it will be a closely fought battle throughout the fleet in this extremely competitive and popular Regatta. For the boats that have arrived and have been practising for a few days already, the weather has been absolutely Riva-perfect, with sunny skies and the strong Northerly Ora wind gradually gaining strength from midday and disappearing in time for tea!