UNIMATIC x Centomiglia Del Lario | The Need for Speed
The pairing of Lombardy’s most scenic lake with high-octane watercraft makes for a memorable three-day outing.
Every year powerboat enthusiasts in the Bel Paese gather around the shores of Lake Como to watch competitors partake in a quest for speed. The challenge is doubly hard given that each lap on the circuit is unpredictable as the watery course throws up a number of challenges. But this is the beauty of the Centomiglia del Lario, a historic boat race hosted in a location which has long been a source of inspiration.
Like land-based open-road races, the Centomiglia competition is a test of endurance and technical prowess.
But they diverge when it comes to the field of play. An asphalt track is static, unvarying. The course of the Centomiglia constantly shifts underneath the pilots’ feet as the bobbing waves and wake from rival boats calls for those behind the wheel to be extra vigilant.
Steeped in tradition, the inaugural regatta of the Centomiglia dates back to 1949 and has run without fail for 77 years – a tribute to consistency. First-time observers are immediately drawn in by the race backdrop. In place of grandstands, one may admire the stunning villas and stately palazzos surrounding the watery circuit.
Whereas Formula 1 has Monaco as its glamour venue, here patrons need look no further than Lake Como itself, which is deeply carved into the landscape and has as its supporting cast the dramatic Comasche Prealps. Meters from the race’s starting line, patrons can view the impressive architecture along the Como waterfront, including the imposing granite monolith, a prominent work of rationalist architecture, that was erected to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers of World War I. Nearby is the Neoclassical monument to Alessandro Volta, a Como native and inventor of the battery. Volta might have found himself out of place at Centomiglia given the focus here is squarely on petrol-powered craft that produce a thundering noise of horsepower that gets the heart racing.
To best enjoy the action at Centomiglia, attendees congregate on the terrace and dock of the Como Yacht Club and mingle with powerboat drivers decked out in their racing suits. There is a smell of petrol in the air as drivers take a quick glance at the watch to count the remaining minutes before proceedings begin. Soon there is a final check of the equipment before ear plugs are inserted (to dampen the roar of their
watery chariots) and a safety helmet is donned.
While the initial years of the race allowed for a full circumnavigation of the lake, it was decidedly early on to shorten the course and create a scenic circuit running from Como’s lakefront to Isola Comacina and back. Furthermore, both outboard and inboard motorcraft are permitted to enter the competition, which adds to the excitement as differently sized craft jostle for the racing line.
After the starting gun goes off observers quickly see the potential hazards that lie in wait. A sharp turn at the first buoy requires steely nerves as racers navigate the course and look for an opening. The spray and wake from competing boats offers up significant problems as the pilots handle their machines. Mechanical precision and reliability are essential when powering up an engine capable of doing 100 knots.
During each lap, there is a constant reassessment of strategy. Watching one’s speed is key to avoid the dreaded porpoising effect – the rhythmic, repeating bounce where the bow of a boat pitches up and down out of the water. But if one has in their possession a finely tuned instrument, one that is properly balanced, the outcome will be favorable. Standing on land the result will be clear to all as the boat will mimic a missile and produce a watery comet tail that will leave the spectators in awe.
