Marina Rubicón has been transformed into the stage for one of the most anticipated, and apparently most difficult, competitions on the Olympic sailing calendar. Since March 5th, more than 120 boats from 36 countries have taken to the waters of Lanzarote, seeking not only glory in this 49er and FX World Championship, but also crucial points for qualifying for Paris 2024. This event, which will extend until next Sunday, March 10th, is truly testing the skill and preparation of Olympic athletes, highlighting the importance of Lanzarote, and the Canary Islands, as a key destination for international sailing.
After two days of competition, the atmosphere in Marina Rubicón is vibrant. The challenging conditions, with winds that have reached 25 knots (last Tuesday), have tested the competitors, offering spectacle and tension in equal parts. The expectation for the final round this weekend is high, with all eyes on the crews seeking to secure their position in the gold fleet and, with it, their opportunity to fight for medals and the podium to be proclaimed the best in the world in one of the most important classes.
The Minister of Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, Hipólito Suárez, has highlighted the relevance of this event, not only for sports but for the Canary Islands as a whole: "This World Championship is yet another example of our commitment to sailing and the sea. For this reason, it is important to emphasize the importance of further opening our waters and supporting international events of this magnitude, which not only test the talent and preparation of athletes, but also position the Canary Islands as a first-class sports destination. Olympic sailing is a sport that embodies values such as effort, strategy and connection with the sea, and we are proud to host an event that attracts the best of this sport worldwide."
On the first day of competition, the Spanish crews have demonstrated their worth, with Támara Echegoyen and Paula Barceló, and Alicia Fras and Elena Barrio (from the Canary Islands), positioning themselves in sixth and seventh place respectively in the 49erFX class on the first day of competition. In the men's 49er class, Diego Botín and Florian Trittel have achieved a remarkable recovery with respect to the start, placing themselves since yesterday in fourth place. With the competition still in its initial stages, excitement and tension are guaranteed in the coming days leading up to the weekend.
The Lanzarote International Regatta is organized by Marina Rubicón and has the collaboration of the Royal Canarian Sailing Federation, as well as the institutional support of the Tourism area of the Cabildo de Lanzarote through the European Sports Destination sports product (managed by SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote), Promotur Turismo de Canarias, the Yaiza City Council and the private entities Dinghycoach, Naviera Armas and Cabrera Medina (Cicar).
