Marina Lanzarote to Host 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race Start

Lanzarote provides a spectacular backdrop for the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race Sailing Energy. Calero Marinas/Courtesy RORC

The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 2026 Transatlantic Race will once again set off from Marina Lanzarote on January 11, with a fleet of offshore contenders bound for Antigua.

Since 2014, the marina has served as the launch point for the 3,000-mile crossing, cementing its role as a fixture in international yacht racing. The location is no accident: Lanzarote combines the facilities, heritage, and culture that make it an ideal gateway to the Atlantic.

Boats preparing for the start find a marina equipped for serious offshore campaigns. With capacity for yachts up to 60 meters, heavy-lift cranes, a full-service boatyard, and specialized technical support, Marina Lanzarote provides everything teams need for final tuning before the ocean push.

But infrastructure is only part of the story. The Canary Islands’ steady breeze and year-round sailing conditions have long attracted sailors, from training squads to bluewater cruisers. The local Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, founded in 1872, adds tradition and grassroots energy, while Lanzarote’s lively waterfront community infuses the race village with spirit. Crew briefings, safety checks, and provisioning are matched with public celebrations, school visits, and shoreline gatherings that connect visitors and locals alike.

The docks at Marina Lanzarote are buzzing as teams get ready for the long race ahead. James Mitchell/Courtesy RORC

“Lanzarote remains the ideal starting destination for the RORC Transatlantic Race,” said RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton. “With its exceptional facilities, rich maritime heritage and perfect year-round sailing conditions, Lanzarote offers everything a race of this calibre requires.”

José Juan Calero, CEO of Calero Marinas, added: “We take great pride in our long-standing partnership with the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Lanzarote’s unique setting – with its beauty, climate and sailing conditions – offers an unrivalled backdrop, while the warm community spirit makes every edition truly special.”

For the sailors on the line, the start delivers an unforgettable send-off: volcanic ridges and trade winds framing the exit from Europe to the open Atlantic. For cruisers following the race, Lanzarote also serves as a reminder that this corner of the Canaries is not just a stepping-off point for competition, but also a welcoming landfall for passagemakers bound west.

The countdown is on. The 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race will start from Marina Lanzarote. Courtesy RORC

The 2026 edition will be the 12th running of the RORC Transatlantic Race, organized in association with the International Maxi Association and Yacht Club de France.

Entries are now open at rorctransatlantic.rorc.org.

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