Tag Archive for: sailing

GEMERA SETS THE PACE ON THE OPENING DAY OF PUERTO CALERO

Puerto Calero, February 5. The 44Cup Calero Marinas got underway today in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, with an intense first day of racing that saw the RC44 fleet once again demonstrate why this circuit is one of the most demanding in the international one-design sailing scene.

 

44 Cup Calero Marinas – © Sailing Energy – 04 February, 2026

 

From 12:00, the racecourse was enlivened by a steady northeast breeze, ranging between 12 and 18 knots, allowing three high-level races to be completed, with constant changes in the rankings. The conditions were perfect for pushing both boats and crews to their limits in a setting as competitive as it is impressive.

As if the racing itself wasn’t spectacular enough, the surrounding scenery left no one indifferent. Persistent rains have created an unusual and breathtaking image of Lanzarote, with a lush green blanket contrasting sharply with the island’s usual volcanic landscape.

The competition kicked off with Artemis Racing (Sweden), helmed by Torbjörn Törnqvist, taking the first race of the day, followed by Gemera (Sweden), with Markus Törnqvist as owner-driver, and Team Charisma (Netherlands), led by Nico Poons. The second race saw Gemera take center stage, claiming victory ahead of Team Nika (Monaco/Bulgaria), skippered by Vladimir Prosikhin, and Peninsula Racing (Great Britain), with John Bassadone at the helm.

The third race further tightened the standings, with Aleph Racing (France), led by Pietro Loro Piana in place of Lepic, taking the win, while Peninsula Racing and Gemera rounded out the podium.

After the first day, the provisional standings place Gemera at the top with 6 points, followed by Peninsula Racing with 9 points and Artemis Racing with 13 points, setting the stage for an exciting competition right down to the final day.

The second day of racing will begin tomorrow at 12:00, and for Saturday, February 7, the organizers have made a free spectator boat available to the public, allowing fans to enjoy the action from the water and admire the spectacular green landscape that makes this edition of the 44Cup a unique experience. REGISTER

For more information about the event, visit www.44cupcaleromarinas.com.

The 44Cup Calero Marinas is organized by the 44 Class Association and Calero Marinas, with the sponsorship of the Government of the Canary Islands, Islas Canarias, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Lanzarote Sports Destination, Insular Sports Service of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Yaiza Town Council, Deportes Yaiza, and Cicar, as well as the collaboration of the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife.

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Puerto Calero Launches the 44Cup Calero Marinas

Puerto Calero today, 4 February, hosted the official launch of the 44Cup Calero Marinas, one of the most prestigious sailing competitions on the international scene, once again placing Lanzarote at the heart of high-level sailing.

Foto: Nico Martínez

 

This event marks the official start of the regatta, with the official training session taking place today, while the official races will run from tomorrow, 5 February, through to Sunday, 8 February, in the waters of Puerto Calero.

The launch event was attended by representatives from the organisers, local institutions, and sailors.

José Juan Calero, CEO of Calero Marinas, expressed his gratitude for the trust the RC44 class has placed in Puerto Calero since 2008 for hosting its events, highlighting the significant economic and media impact the competition brings to the island of Lanzarote.

For his part, Bertrand Favre, director of the RC44 class, noted that few destinations can simultaneously offer both optimal infrastructure and racing conditions for top-tier events, emphasising that the circuit has grown stronger over time. Favre also expressed satisfaction at the class’s growth and maturation alongside Calero Marinas’ organisation over the years.

Representing local institutions, Héctor Fernández, CEO of the Lanzarote External Promotion Society, underscored that Lanzarote leads Canary Islands in visitor spending, a trend boosted by high-profile sporting events such as the 44Cup Calero Marinas. He also highlighted the perfect alignment of this competition with the island’s promotional strategy through the Lanzarote Sports Destination brand.

Juan Mozón, Councillor for Sports at the Lanzarote Island Council, thanked private initiatives for making it possible to host world-class events. He added that his department is working towards Lanzarote being declared a European Island of Sport.

The Mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, emphasised the effort, work, and commitment of the Calero family, thanking them for turning the municipality of Yaiza into a benchmark for international sailing. He also noted that the repeated hosting of the event demonstrates the importance of having a solid, high-level organisation.

From a sporting perspective, two sailors from Península Racing spoke to the media: Matthew Barber (Grinder) and Julia Miñana (Floater). Barber highlighted that, despite competing in numerous high-level international circuits, the 44Cup stands out for its cohesion and competitiveness, making the races particularly attractive. He also praised Lanzarote as a racing venue that always offers excellent sailing conditions.

Julia Miñana, a sailor from dinghy sailing, explained that her integration into the team was natural, as she had previously worked with Canarian Gustavo Martínez Doreste, coach of Península Racing. Regarding the role of women in sailing, she noted that when she started, there were few female role models in top-level competition, but now many women are involved in major projects, expressing her hope that this presence will continue to grow.

As part of the event’s side activities, organisers have arranged a free spectator boat, departing from Puerto Calero on 7 February, giving the public the chance to follow the races from the sea. REGISTER HERE

Foto: Nico Martínez

 

 

For more information about the event, visit www.44cupcaleromarinas.com.

The 44Cup Calero Marinas is organised by the 44 Class Association and Calero Marinas, with sponsorship from the Government of the Canary Islands, Canary Islands, Lanzarote Island Council, Lanzarote Sports Destination, Lanzarote Island Council Sports Service, Yaiza Town Council, Yaiza Sports, and Cicar, and in collaboration with the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife.

 

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“44Cup Calero Marinas 2026: The RC44 Class Elite Returns to Puerto Calero, Lanzarote”

The 44Cup kicks off its new season next week in a venue that has, over the years, become one of the great references of the international circuit: Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, Canary Islands. This location, managed by Calero Marinas, has been a key and established partner of the RC44 Class for decades, a relationship built on trust, continuity, and a shared vision of high-level sailing.

The races will take place from February 5 to 8, with a pre-event training day on Wednesday, February 4, marking the return of the RC44 fleet to Lanzarote following the close of the 2025 season, which was held for the first time at Marina Jandía, the newest facility of Calero Marinas, located in southern Fuerteventura. At that event, GeMera, owned by Markus Törnqvist, took home the trophy, although Team Nika’s consistency, with podium finishes in every event of the year, allowed Vladimir Prosikhin and his crew, led by British tactician Nic Asher, to win the season crown.

The year 2026 holds special significance for the RC44 Class, as it celebrates its 19th season of competition, solidifying its status as one of the longest-running and most prestigious one-design grand prix classes on the international scene. The appeal of the “owner-driver” format, combined with an extremely high level of competition on the water, camaraderie on shore, and the sporting value offered by the class, remains one of its defining features.

Lanzarote once again hosts the 44Cup Calero Marinas, a key venue on the circuit since 2008. Two years later, it hosted the class’s first world championship, where Larry Ellison’s Oracle Racing was crowned RC44 World Champion in these waters. Since then, Puerto Calero has witnessed some of the most memorable chapters in the class’s history, with eight different winners, six of whom will return to compete in this edition, including Artemis Racing (2011), Team Aqua (2012), Peninsula Racing (2017), and Charisma (2018).

Team Nika returns to Puerto Calero as the defending champion and a top favorite, proudly displaying the symbolic yellow leader’s jersey of the 44Cup, represented by the distinctive golden rudders adorning Prosikhin’s boat. However, Aleph Racing, owned by French sailor Hugues Lepic, also enters as a strong contender, being one of the few teams to have won this event twice, in 2021 and 2023.

The sailing conditions off Puerto Calero, dominated by the north and northeast trade winds, create a technical and demanding racecourse, highly valued by the RC44 fleet. Beyond the competition, teams highlight the hospitality of the Calero family and the legacy of Calero Marinas in the Canary Islands, which began in the late 1980s and is now consolidated with marinas in Lanzarote, La Palma, and Fuerteventura.

“Hosting the RC44 Class in Puerto Calero is always a source of pride for us,” says José Juan Calero, CEO of Calero Marinas. “This fleet embodies excellence, innovation, and top-level competition, values that fully align with our vision of sailing.” José Juan Calero also emphasizes the strength of a relationship built over the years: “There is a relationship of trust and mutual collaboration between the RC44 Class and Calero Marinas. Puerto Calero has become a regular and highly valued venue for the fleet, and we look forward to writing many more chapters of this story together.”

The 44Cup Calero Marinas is organized by the 44 Class Association and Calero Marinas, with the sponsorship of the Government of the Canary Islands, Canary Islands, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Lanzarote Sports Destination, Insular Sports Service of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Arrecife City Council, Deportes Arrecife, Turismo Arrecife, and Cicar, as well as the collaboration of the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife.

 

Picture @Nico Martinez / 44Cup – Image of the fleet during the 2024 edition of RC44 Calero Marinas.

 

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4 – 8 FEB
CALERO MARINAS
CANARY ISLANDS