The road to Los Angeles 2028 begins to be traveled in Marina Rubicón. From today, the marina becomes a competition field, hosting the Lanzarote iQFOiL Games, from January 28 to February 2, and the Lanzarote International Regatta, which will take place between February 14 and 23.
Both regattas have been announced this Tuesday morning, in the captaincy square of Marina Rubicón. Its CEO, Rafael Lasso, explained that “Lanzarote is once again becoming the epicenter of sailing thanks to the good conditions on the island and, of course, the quality of the services and the safety offered by the destination.” “More and more, the nautical world is aware of the enormous advantages of choosing Lanzarote as a training place. This is demonstrated by the medals that have come out of the island in the last two Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.”
We remember that last year, the waters of Playa Blanca were the scene of the iQFOiL Worlds - the first time the archipelago hosted an Olympic competition - and the 49er and 49er FX Worlds. In short, there were four world championships of Olympic classes, including two Olympic qualifiers, representing the culmination of an intense 2021-2024 cycle in Marina Rubicón. Specifically, during the same, 54 nations trained in the marina and the teams that were in Lanzarote, won 18 medals - including six golds -.
In the words of the Sports Councilor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Juan Monzón, “Lanzarote has been standing out for years as a destination for practicing numerous sports disciplines. Our work focuses on the promotion and promotion of sport. From the Island Sports Service, we will always work hand in hand with the promoters of important events of this type, which highlight our idiosyncrasy.”
Now, with the counter at zero and at the beginning of the Olympic cycle towards Los Angeles 2028, the sailors are once again concentrating in Lanzarote to test themselves. Thus, a total of 300 athletes, including two medalists from Paris 2024 - Marta Maggetti, gold medalist, and Emma Wilson, bronze medalist - repeat in Lanzarote to demonstrate that this base has been the ideal place to take their career to the next level. “This is the first year of this new cycle that begins in Lanzarote; in the coming seasons more will come, with more sailors, since it has become clear that the medals in sailing are based in Lanzarote,” added Lasso.
On this occasion, they even do it to test new materials. This is because this year, the women's and men's iQFOiL fleets adopt new sail sizes to promote greater accessibility and smoother changes between the youth and senior categories.
Regarding the Lanzarote International Regatta, the spectacle on the sea will be starred by various Olympic classes to which other light sailing classes will be added. Specifically, a first stage will be held from February 15 to 18 with iQFOiL male and female, 49er and 49er FX; and then, from February 20 to 23, it will be the turn of the 470, ILCA 6 and 7, Waszp and Snipe classes.
Exciting days that will highlight that “it is the same athletes and national, European, American or Asian teams who decide where to train and where it is best for them to compete, so there is no better reference than the choice of elite athletes, who value the Playa Blanca destination and the regatta fields it offers, as well as the magnificent facilities of Marina Rubicón. For our municipality it means a great international promotion on different platforms and a positive impact on the local economy due to the long stay of the teams. We are delighted to host this season one more year, which will be spectacular again” as stated by its mayor, Óscar Noda, during the press conference.
This event is organized by Marina Rubicón and is sponsored by the Cabildo de Lanzarote through the Island Sports Service, Turismo Lanzarote through its sports tourism product “Lanzarote Sports Destination”, the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of the Cabildo de Lanzarote and the Yaiza City Council; with the collaboration, among others, of the Canary Sailing Federation, DinghyCoach and the Latin Sailing federations.