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The 2025 edition of the Centomiglia del Lario powerboat race in Como, the 76th for the record, “s’non s’ha proprio da fare,” like the historic phrase from The Betrothed set on this very lake. After the forced stop on Oct. 26 due to flooding in Como with the first basin invaded by logs and debris, here is the cancellation of the second date as well, that of Nov. 23 with snow on the mountains. This is not the first time. It had also happened in 1976 that the Centomiglia was canceled.
This time, however, everything had started off in the best of ways with the races on Saturday 22 (Italian Touring and Honda Offshore Championship and International Ordinary Endurance Group A) serving as “openers” to the classic Centomiglia the next day. But instead? Instead, after only four of the fifteen scheduled laps and two red flag race stoppages for accidents, all fifty competitors were sent back to the wingers. And having failed to run at least 75 percent of the scheduled course, the race was deemed invalid.
This is the official note from the Italian Powerboating Federation: “The Centomiglia del Lario has always been an ambitious challenge, capable of bringing boats of different categories to the race and transforming the lake into a spectacular arena. This year, however, two red flags forced a stop: according to the regulations, the competition was cancelled.”
A stop, however, not without controversy even if not directly aimed at organizers Yacht Club Como, Mila and Circolo della Vela. Organizers who had already had to move the wing and paddock area due to work in the city, thanks to the cooperation of nearby Cernobbio.
Under the magnifying glass are the two “red flags” displayed by marshals during the Centomiglia, which had already started an hour behind schedule (2:30 p.m. instead of 1:30 p.m.).
But let’s see what happened. After the reconnaissance lap and the first lap here comes the stop for an accident to Maltese Owen Cassar’s hull number 26, with a swim out of the way, fortunately without serious consequences, and immediate rescue. First the yellow flag is shown warning of danger and then, although the boat with problems is inside the tacking buoy and the pilot safe, the red flag is raised suspending the race.
At least half an hour will pass before all boats complete realignment operations and then a second start is given. But between the second and fourth lap after the new start, Alberto Colautti’s Hull 22 capsized. Immediate rescue and pilot, again, safe. New red flag and new stop with the sun now turning towards sunset and the public sailing suspension permits now at an end (at 4 p.m.); without taking into account the regulations regarding the two suspensions.
The moral: everyone went home with long faces because, despite the polar cold, so many had not wanted to miss this heartfelt competition. For the sake of the record at the head of the race in both starts was Maltese Aaron Ciantar‘s powerful monohull (1100 horsepower!), with Serafino Barlesi ‘s 800-horsepower XCat catamaran (the “20 Blue Bank”) in hot pursuit of a record twelfth victory.
A Barlesi who, however, took it with great philosophy and sportsmanship by focusing, with extreme clarity, on some issues. These are his words stated to the newspaper La Provincia di Como: ” Of course I am not giving up the record of victories, of course trusting that I can do it. I said that as of January 1, 2026, I will return with my pilot’s license to the Como Yacht Club and I will keep my commitment. On Saturday night I telephoned the Federation stewards, warning everyone that with forty or more boats competing in the Centomiglia, on a 3.7-kilometer circuit, it would inevitably happen that we would find ourselves with at least two red flags. I got it right. On such a short circuit, with boats of different powers, there is a continuous and uncontrollable wave motion. Then there is the game of lapped drivers, who risk themselves and endanger others as well. If we want this event to continue, we need to go back to the longer course, not to say as it used to be, but at least to allow for longer passages.”
Words shared by many other pilots, and some have speculated about a return at least as far as Isola Comacina. A topic that will surely be addressed for the 2026 edition.
This was as far as the Centomiglia proper was concerned. However, on Saturday, riders from the Touring Cup, Endurance A and Honda Offshore had taken to the water.
In summary these are the winners. Touring Cup. Class 3.1: Giovanni Micheli, 6 laps in 23’28″8 at an average of 100.34; class 4.1: Iacchini-Maccabruni 23’55.3 average 103.49; class 5.1: Polito – Polito 24’38.8 average 100.38; class 6.1: Aiello-Aiello 23’43.3 average 86.89.
Endurance A. F1 class: Mac Carthy (Gbr) 5 laps in 23’48.7 average 67.96; Sport class: Cassar (Malta) 6 laps in 21’56″4 average 112.74; Supersport: Antoine (France) 6 laps in 20’59.6.
Honda Offshore: Soncin 4 laps in 23’40″7 average 59.64.
Everything okay this time? Not really. In fact, Giovanni Micheli from Lecco, competing in the Touring Cup Class 3. with his Rib Focchi powered Mercury, was already also celebrating winning the tricolor title thanks to the success and simultaneous seventh place (one lap behind) of provisional ranking leader Marco Boldrin. It was the joy of a night because the next morning he was informed that there had been an error in detecting the passes and that Boldrin from seventh had finished third, obtaining the necessary points to win him the title.
Yet another “mess” of an edition of the Lario Centomiglia to be archived as soon as possible while waiting for better times and possibly higher mercury column.
Marco Corti
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