Marina Rubicon in Lanzarote has been confirmed by World Sailing as new venue for the event.
The iconic island of Lanzarote in Canary Islands (Spain) will be the European and African continental qualification regatta for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. With the confirmation from World Sailing and Class Association the new dates provide the opportunity for these Olympic Classes (49er, FX and Nacra 17) to take the ticket and participate in next Olympics.
This regatta will be organized by Canary Islands Sailing Federation and Marina Rubicon, with the support of the Canary Islands Government. The schedule provides around 15 races plus Medal Race on three different Racing Areas.
Rafael Bonilla, President of Canary Island Federation said: “We are delighted as an event of these characteristics in Lanzarote. It’s a good opportunity to show the potential from Spain. Our main target is to provide an amazing regatta and the best hospitality and organization for all the teams”
Rafael Lasso Lorenzo, Marina Rubicon’s CEO commented: “ we, as passionate sailors and passionate about our Island, are very happy to be able to host this qualification and show the world of sailing the excellent combination between water and land that Lanzarote and Canary Islands offers. All our staff is really looking forward to this event and the opportunity to have more important events in the future.”
The main support for the event comes from Canary Islands Tourism board. The regional Government’s Tourism department has activated various communication actions addressed to the sports tourism segment and professional athletes to make them aware of the alternatives offered by both Lanzarote and the rest of the Archipelago. This strategy includes supporting international regattas that will allow consolidating the image of the Canary Islands as a European benchmark in nautical sports.
The Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of the Government of the Canary Islands, Yaiza Castilla, has ensured that “the announcement of the International Sailing Federation designating Lanzarote as the venue for the Olympic qualifier is a unprecedented success and a historic milestone in sailing for the Canary Islands. Right now we are the only place that offers the guarantees of sanitary security and the suitable climatic conditions for this type of events, with a fabulous regatta course in terms of navigability”.
At the moment 35 countries are training in Lanzarote for Tokio 2020 in all the Olympic sailing classes. More than 300 sailors and staff have chosen this island for the last training stages before the Olympics. The feedback from sailors and coaches has been crucial for the election of Marina Rubicon as the new venue for the Olympic qualification.
About Marina Rubicón, Lanzarote and Canary Islands.
Marina Rubicon is a unique setting, in the south of Lanzarote (Spain), between the natural monument of los Ajaches and Playa Blanca. This magnificent setting offers just the right place to sail and train all year around.
Canary Islands, Top Sports Destination
The natural conditions of the Canary Islands transform the Archipelago into a paradise for professional training and active sports. Many elite athletes choose the Archipelago to perform their training. In addition to sailors, also surfers, triathletes, swimmers, paragliders, beach volleyball players and cyclists from all over the world choose the Canary Islands as their training base. Moreover, there are national teams or top-level teams, such as the INEOS Grenadiers or the Jumbo-Visma in cycling, which prepare for the major competitions of the season on the slopes of the archipelago. And the fact is that passing quickly from sea level to more than 1,800 meters is very easy due to its volcanic origin. Training at altitude, with lower atmospheric pressure, improves athletic performance, and Teide, the highest peak in Spain, is a favourite by cyclists.
The numbers for the Canary Islands are clear. 23º average in summer, 19º in winter and 4,800 hours of daylight per year. “The Canary Islands has been an established sports tourism destination for many years. We are the only place in Europe that has extraordinary conditions for training in winter. And this year even more so. The islands are an oasis in this unhappy winter we are suffering in the world,” says José Juan Lorenzo.
The connectivity of the Canary Islands, even now, allows athletes to reach the Archipelago from the main European cities in a matter of a few hours. The islands have 1,500 kilometers of coastline washed by volcanic waters rich in nutrients and suitable for thalassotherapy, which helps with quick recovery. Also, there is a wide range of facilities for high-level athletes, such as Olympic champion Max Salminen, who says that “we all feel as if we have discovered paradise.”
