Lanzarote continues to consolidate itself as a world regatta field, as it was raised in a presentation ceremony this Tuesday morning at Marina Rubicón. During the event, prominent figures from the sports and nautical world and institutions presented the benefits that our island offers at a tourist and sports level.
The climatic conditions, the generous amount of sunshine hours and the constant winds position Lanzarote as an exceptional destination for regattas and training. All this, together with security, air connectivity and hospitality, offers a complete package for practicing various sports related to the sea, cycling and outdoor activities, as promoted by 'SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote' through its brand 'Lanzarote European Sports Destination'. Moreover, in the words of the sailors, the island presents the "perfect conditions" to train and lead an enviable lifestyle.
Consequently, Lanzarote is established as a favorite destination for many athletes, teams and federations of elite national and international of different sailing classes. As a fact, athletes from eight of the ten Olympic classes choose the island for their training. Ports such as Marina Rubicón or Calero Marinas become the entrance and exit of different nautical disciplines. Also, they are established as the main venue for major competitions such as the 'RC 44', the 'iQFOiL Games' or the 'RORC Transatlantic Race'.
This winter around 1,200 athletes, including world champions and Olympic medalists, are perfecting their skills in Playa Blanca, “which underlines the crucial role of Marina Rubicón in promoting nautical sports internationally”, said the CEO of Marina Rubicón. In addition, he referred to the "great economic impact" produced by world competitions, such as the 'Lanzarote International Regatta', “estimated at more than 12 million euros, is a clear indication of the importance of sailing not only as a sport, but as an economic and tourist engine for the island.”
He continued, stating that "it is essential that this dynamic extends throughout the island. Our goal is to open Lanzarote to the sea, not only for international teams, but also, and fundamentally, for the local population and children. We want to foster a stronger connection with the sea and sailing, instilling this passion from an early age and making nautical sports accessible to all."
For his part, the CEO of Calero Marinas, José Juan Calero, stated that "from Calero Marinas we have always promoted sailing events as a vehicle for promoting our marinas, relying on the relevant natural elements that the island has, such as its exceptional regatta field and indisputable climatic conditions. These events, such as the César Manrique Trophy, which for the first time brought categories such as the Tp52 or Swan to the Canary Islands that had never left the Mediterranean, the '44 Cup', the 'RORC Transatlantic Race' or the TP52 sailing world championships, GP42, ORC670, has also attracted the attention of the industry, attracting racing teams to the island to establish their training base for Volvo Ocean Race or Imoca teams.
"It is especially relevant to dimension, not only the media impact of these events, but also the economic impact they leave on the destination, providing excellent value to the service chain in the destination.”
Similarly, the president of the Canary Islands Sailing Federation, Rafael Bonilla, praised the aforementioned, adding that "these competitions elevate Lanzarote and our archipelago as world showcases, promoting nautical sports and showing the diversity of sailing. We thank the schools, teams and organizations for their effort and essential support. Together, we are strengthening sailing as a pillar of our Canarian identity and promoting a sport that teaches respect, discipline and connection with the sea."
Finally, the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, congratulated the business community for directing "efforts" to make Lanzarote evolve as an "epicenter of nautical sports" and has shown his commitment to “resolve those public issues that grant greater legal certainty and guarantee economic development that reverts to residents.”
All this demonstrates the potential, the suitability of Lanzarote for sailing and nautical sports to grow, consolidating these activities as a fundamental sports practice on our island, thanks to the virtues that our environment and waters offer for sailing.