The Antigua Craiova, owned by Ye Cabrera, and skippered by Alejandro Morales, was proclaimed the absolute winner of the XIX Edition of the Canary Islands-Madeira International Regatta, which departed last Tuesday, September 6, to cover the 291 nautical miles (538.93 kilometers) that separate the two archipelagos from Marina Lanzarote to Funchal.
This traditional regatta was held for the first time in 1978, and continues to be held biennially, departing alternately from different Canary Island ports. In this edition, the event was jointly organized by the Club Naval do Funchal and the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, with the collaboration of the Portuguese Sailing Federation, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, the Madeira Regional Sailing Association, the Canary Islands Association of Nautical Clubs, and the Portuguese Navy.
Forty-six boats from Funchal, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, and Lanzarote took the start in front of the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, offering a spectacle that will take a long time to repeat in Lanzarote, as this event starts from this island every 6 years.
The departure from Lanzarote has the peculiarity that the first 30 miles run along the east coast of the island, in a close-hauled course that participants approach very close to land, so it is easily visible to fans, until the boats are lost on the horizon after passing between La Graciosa and Alegranza to set course for Funchal.
The events of this emblematic regatta concluded on Saturday, September 10, with the awards ceremony at the Club Naval de Funchal headquarters and the traditional white party
Wide representation on the podium of the Lanzarote fleet
The Antigua Craiova also won the first prize in the ORC 2 class, but it is not the only Lanzarote boat that obtained a podium place in this edition of the Canary Islands-Madeira International Regatta.
In the ORC 1 class, the Sorondongo IV of Miguel Angel Armas was second classified, while the Lola III of Rafael Lasso obtained the third position.
The winner of the ORC 3 class was the boat Altamar of Paco Curbelo, and the second classified was the Pionene of Miguel Pérez. In the Open 1 class, the Alaminos of Antonio Cabrera obtained the third position.
The Madeiran boat "Swing" was the first boat to cross the finish line in Funchal with a real time of 43h41’ receiving the "Dr. Alivar Jones Cardoso" Trophy.
Optimist Trophy with 12 Lanzarote participants
Parallel to the cruiser regatta, the La Vie Funchal Trophy of the Optimist class was held, in which children from Madeira, Lanzarote, Tenerife and La Palma competed.
The podium of the sub-11 category was entirely taken over by RCNA sailors. Eduardo Brito obtained the first position, followed by Juan Afonso and Pablo Cabrera.
