Marina Lanzarote, departure point for Rallye des Iles du Soleil 2017

by Grand Pavois on 23 Nov 2016 The departure for this first Rallye des Iles du Soleil to Marie-Galante (Guadeloupe) will, finally, be from Marina Lanzarote, located in Arrecife on the island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands). Lanzarote is the easternmost island in the Canaries and is 580 miles (1,069 km) by sea from the Gibraltar Straits and 900 miles (1,680 km) from Cap Finisterre (Spain).

This volcanic island has a large variety of landscapes, with long beaches, picturesque villages, rocky coastlines, valleys surrounded by extinct volcanoes, a national park scattered with impressive lava flows, and more. Located in Arrecife, the recent Marina Lanzarote hosts many events such as the RORC Transatlantic Race and has all the equipment and facilities needed to prepare a transatlantic crossing in the best possible conditions. There is also an excellent technical zone with two 100 and 820-tonne travel-lifts available, many bars and restaurants, a supermarket, customs and immigration services and ship chandlers, bearing in mind that Arrecife town centre is just a 5-minute walk from the jetties.

Secure and guarded 24 hours a day, Marina Lanzarote also has car parks nearby, Wi-Fi, a cash dispenser, a launderette, not to mention a Tourist Office ready to help you to explore this unusual island. Finally, Marina Lanzarote is already offering each boat that wants to arrive before the event a 10% discount on mooring places valid for five months before departure. Also, it should be noted that Lanzarote has a leading international airport with many destinations served and a rich hotel offering.

Departure on Saturday 18 November 2017 for a 2,800 mile crossing.

Although the organisation and Marina Lanzarote will host participants free of charge from the morning of Sunday 11 November in order to start security checks, the idea is also to bring participants together before the event in order to optimise relations between boats, provide training and information meetings, organise briefing sessions for skippers and weather briefings in the very best conditions, as well as moments of relaxation and exchanges before setting sail for Marie-Galante (Guadeloupe).

This departure will take place, as initially programmed, on Saturday 18 November off the coast of Lanzarote for a 2,800 mile crossing (5,200 km) in, normally, a well-installed system of northeastern trade winds.