NEWS

Spain triumphs in Lanzarote

The Spanish team proves to be more than ready for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, taking 3 podiums with two golds and a bronze: Diego Botín and Iago López topping the 49er, Canary Islands favourite Tara Pacheco and Catalan Florian Trittel leading in Nacra 17 and Tamara Echegoyen with Paula Barceló surprising with 49er FX bronze.

From the Canary Islands to Tokyo: Ireland has secured the Olympic berth in the 49er, Belgium in the women's 49er FX class and Finland the Nacra 17 Olympic ticket.

Lanzarote has had very tough conditions during the last day of racing, with lots of short but very big waves, with a high probability of capsizing the boats, as well as 14-16 knots with an easterly, southerly, easterly component. This Friday was the last qualifying race before the Medal Race for the gold groups of the men's 49er and the women's 49er FX, as well as the mixed group of the Nacra 17. This last regatta has been lived with intense emotion in the Lanzarote race courses, as they have finally put names to the places for the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020: Ireland (49er), Belgium (49er FX) and Finland (Nacra 17). However, it has been the entire Spanish team that has excelled in the pre-Olympics that have taken place in the Canary Islands, managing to celebrate in record time all the daily scheduled races, with perfect weather and sailing conditions according to the sailors, which they describe as "champagne conditions".

The islands have not only become the continental qualifier for Europe and Africa, but have also been the stage where over 100 competitors from more than 30 countries from all over the world have competed. But it has been the Spanish armada that has proved to be more than ready during the Canary Islands pre-Olympics to sweep Tokyo, with the Cantabrian Diego Botin and the Galician Iago Lopez crowning gold in the men's 49er and getting the best score of the competition, with more than 20 points difference with the Danes. Jonas Warrer and Jakob Precht won the silver for Denmark on the Lanzarote regatta course, while at the last moment, the Irish Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove not only got the Olympic pass, but also won the Medal Race and took the bronze from the English, with a difference of only 5 points. 

 

Canary Islands dominate the flying catamaran in Lanzarote  

Although the 49er class took the lead throughout the competition, the catamarans literally flew during the last qualifying race before moving on to the Medal Race. But it was the catamaran of Tara Pacheco and Florian Trittel that led the class throughout the competition; however, there was a brutal collision between the Spanish duo and the Swede that left both boats out of the race. They managed to get a repair, thanks to which they have managed to maintain first place and win gold in the Nacra 17 class. "We have left the regatta almost without starting, but we have had many races with different conditions throughout the week and we are very happy with the results", says Pacheco. In the Catalan sailor's words, they have led practically from the start, the conditions in Lanzarote are magnificent and "we have been getting stronger here in Lanzarote".  

In this discipline, after years of fighting for a place, Finland secured their Olympic berth after the first qualification race before the Medal Race, a place they contested with the Greeks. "We have worked very hard for the last four years already, so we are very happy after securing the Olympic place before the Medal Race," said Sinem Kurtbay and Janne Jarvine. Germany took silver, while France took bronze. 

 

From the Canary Islands to Tokyo: Belgium takes the 49er FX Olympic ticket

In the women's 49er FX, Brazil has led the field throughout the competition with Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze proving that they are the favourites Tokyo. But Spain's Tamara Echegoyen and Paula Barceló also proved to be up to the task, managing to come from behind to take bronze at the last minute after suffering several off-lines that had pushed them back in the rankings. It was not until the Medal Race (where double points are awarded) that the Galician and Mallorcan sailors surprised the Danes, taking the bronze by just 1 point.  

Brazil and Spain had already qualified for the Olympic Games, but the Belgians Isaura Maenhaut and Anouk Geurts have been measured with the Croatians and have finally achieved the place for Tokyo. "We are very excited and very happy, we have only just started sailing and this regatta has been the best we have done by far," exclaimed the Belgian sailors. The Netherlands won the silver medal in this category. 

Finland qualifies for the Olympic Games in the Canary Islands

The Finnish team of Sinem Kurtbay and Janne Jarvine booked their place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Lanzarote International Regatta in the Canary Islands. The Finnish duo got the place even before the Medal Race, for which they qualified in the top five.

Belgium qualifies for the Olympic Games in the Canary Islands

The Belgian team of Isaura Maenhaut and Anouk Geurts booked their place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Lanzarote International Regatta in the Canary Islands. The Finnish duo got the place even before the Medal Race, for which they qualified in the top five.

Ireland qualifies for the Olympic Games in the Canary Islands

The Irish team of Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove booked their place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (49er class) at the Lanzarote International Regatta in the Canary Islands. The Irish duo got the place even before the Medal Race, for which they qualified in the top five.

Lanzarote reserves olympic passes for medal race

The Olympic places for Tokyo 2020 are still open. Finland is close to a ticket to Tokyo in the Nacra 17 flying catamaran, Ireland holds the 49er pass, while Belgium is in contention for the pass and the Medal Race. The final will be broadcast live on the Olympic Channel and World Sailing.

Canary Islands becomes a prelude to the Olympic Games

The Spanish team continues to dominate the Lanzarote International Regatta, with Canary Islander Tara Pacheco and Catalan Florian Trittel holding first place in Nacra 17, plus Cantabrian Diego Botín and Galician Iago López topping the 49er. Could we see the same result in Tokyo 2020?

The Spanish Team dominates the Pre-Olympics

Tara Pacheco from the Canary Islands and Florian Trittel from Barcelona have shown that they know how to read both the wind and the waves of Lanzarote better than anyone else on the Canary Islands regatta course.

The Spanish Olympic team places in the top ten in Lanzarote

The Irish, Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, have been the first to take first place in the 49er, while the French Lili Sebesi and Albane Dubois are positioned in the women`s 49er FX. The Germans Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer got in the last minute the first place in the Nacra 17 class.

NEW DATES - Notice of Race updated

Due Covid-19 pandemic restrictions the Organizing Authority has made some adjustments to facilitate the logistic between Canary Islands and the mainland.

Main Sponsors

Islas Canarias - Calidad de Vida
Cabildo de Lanzarote
Turismo Lanzarote
Turismo Lanzarote

Organizers / Institutional

Federación Canaria de Vela
Marina Rubicón
Real Club Nautico Arrecife
World Sailing
Real Federación Española de Vela
Consejo Superior de Deporte
Gobierno de Canarias
Ayuntamiento de Yaiza
DinghyCoach

Collaborators

Trasmediterránea
Naviera Armas
Murimar
Club de Regatas 4 Vientos
Club Deportivo Código Cero
Cicar
Real Club Náutico Gran Canaria
Federación de Vela Latina Canaria
Federación Insular de Vela Latina Lanzarote

In recognition

Kahaway
Barbara Muller
H10 Rubicón Palace