Marina Rubicón presented, this morning, the 2026 international sailing regatta season, a calendar that, between January and February, will once again position Lanzarote as one of the major benchmarks on the international nautical scene.
The event, held in the Navy's Captaincy Square, was attended by the Minister of Physical Activity and Sports of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Juan Monzón; the mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda; the head of Lanzarote Sports Destination, María Martín; various institutional and sports representatives, including Bernardo Salom, representing the Canary Islands Sailing Federation; and Rafael Lasso Lorenzo, CEO of Marina Rubicón.
During the presentation, the three major events that make up this season were detailed, starting with the ILCA U21 World Championship (January 17–24, 2026), which highlights the young promises of international sailing and reinforces Marina Rubicón's commitment to training and fostering emerging talent. Among the participants will be local youth Alonso Pérez Fernández, who has been the Spanish champion in the ILCA 4.7 class in past seasons.
In this regard, Rafael Lasso Lorenzo emphasized that "since 2017 – and more intensely since 2020 – Lanzarote has gathered the best talents in international Olympic sailing every winter. This highlights the great potential our island has and should serve as an example to local youth, as well as to island institutions, to promote activity by the sea; one of the greatest resources Lanzarote offers and which should be taken advantage of by its population."
The season will continue with the sixth edition of the Lanzarote International Regatta (January 30 – February 5, 2026). The Snipe class, with strong local and regional participation, will compete from January 30 to February 1, while the Olympic classes —ILCA 6, ILCA 7, Nacra, 49er, and 470— will do so from February 2 to 5, in the midst of the second year of the Olympic cycle towards Los Angeles 2028. And, subsequently, as the crowning event, the fifth edition of the Lanzarote iQFOiL Games (February 6–11) will take place, a discipline that represents the evolution of Olympic sailing and a commitment to innovation within nautical sports.
In summary, this season the island will host more than 900 sailors from 47 nationalities. But what is truly significant is not the strict racing period, but the months of training they spend on the island with their companions, with an average stay of about 60 days. This generates spending in the destination that, for this edition, is estimated at around 18 million euros, including accommodation, meals, travel, rentals, etcDuring the event, counselor Juan Monzón highlighted that "the celebration of these regattas consolidates Lanzarote as an international sailing benchmark and represents a unique opportunity to continue fostering grassroots sports, inspire new generations, and promote the island at a key moment in the Olympic cycle heading towards Los Angeles 2028."For his part, Mayor Óscar Noda, who was in charge of closing the speeches, thanked Marina Rubicon for its involvement in sports and in the tourism promotion of Yaiza: "For us, Marina Rubicón and all the range of nautical sports activities it develops is a further boost to our tourism and sports offering promotion, but it is also for continuing to implement what we call the Yaiza Brand." "Playa Blanca and Marina Rubicon are more than ever partners offering modernity and quality to their visitors and athletes," he addedLikewise, María Martín, head of Lanzarote Sports Destination, emphasized "the importance of these unique events for the Canary Islands, which help position Lanzarote as one of the best regatta courses in Europe." In this regard, she pointed out that "Lanzarote is considered a Medal Maker destination, and we must thank the class organizers, Marina Rubicón, and all the sailors for choosing us as their training base and as the starting point for their year of competitions."
At the event, athletes Andrea Torres (iQFOiL), Marga Perelló (ILCA), and Conrad Konitzer (49ER) also spoke, sharing firsthand accounts of the island's advantages and what Lanzarote means to them.
With this presentation, Marina Rubicón kicks off a season that will once again turn Lanzarote into a meeting point for young talents, Olympic sailors, and cutting-edge disciplines, reaffirming its commitment to sport, youth, and the sea.
This event is organized by Marina Rubicón and is sponsored by the Cabildo de Lanzarote through the Insular Sports Service, SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote through its sports tourism product “Lanzarote Sports Destination”, the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, the Yaiza City Council and Turismo de Islas Canarias; with the collaboration, among others, of the Canary Islands Sailing Federation, DinghyCoach and the Latin Sailing federations.