Anchorages and Marinas of the Eastern Canaries: Sailing off the Coasts of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria

By Roland Nyns

Updated in October 2017. This pilot-book covers 30 marinas and anchorages of the Eastern Canary Islands, with as many chartlets and original photographs. It provides up-to-date information on marinas and ressources available there, as well as some proposals to enjoy your stay on these magnificient islands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roland Nyns
• Release date: May 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463368039

Roland Nyns

I have been sailing since I was 18, and that seems a long time ago. I trained at the renowned French sailing school "Les Glénans" and remained true to them, becoming an instructor with them. It is as a sailing instructor that I crossed the Atlantic and discovered the Canary Islands and the West Indies.Later I was to return to these paradisiac islands with my own boat and more time on my hands. Time to visit these places in depth and detail, and also time to write.

Book preview

Contents

Contents

Introduction

General advice to sailors

Variation

Buoyage

Anchorages and marinas

Winds and waves

Weather forecasts

Marine charts

Marine wildlife

History

Geography

Practical information

Administrative

Ports of entry

Taxes

MRCC

Regulations

Business hours

Gran Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Pasito Blanco

Arguineguin

Anfi del Mar

Puerto Rico

Puerto Mogan

Puerto de las Nieves (Agaete)

Anchorage in Puerto de las Nieves

Anchorage in Puerto de Sardina

Lanzarote

La Graciosa

Caleta del Sebo

Playa Francesa anchorage

El Veril, Alegranza anchorage

Marina Lanzarote

Bahia de Arrecife Anchorage

Puerto del Carmen

Puerto Calero

Playa Quemada Anchorage

Playa Papagayo Anchorages

Marina Rubicon

Playa Blanca

Fuerteventura

Corralejo

Isla de Lobos anchorage

Puerto del Rosario

Caleta de Fuste / Puerto del Castillo

Pozo Negro Anchorage

Jacomar Anchorage

Gran Tarajal

Morro Jable

El Puertito Anchorage

Introduction

To many cruisers the Canaries are merely a stepping stone on the way to the West Indies or Brazil, This has a long historical tradition going back all the way to Columbus. True to this tradition it is also how I first set foot on Tenerife; three or four days, time for a round of cool beer, a crew change, and stocking up for the journey ahead. But nowhere near long enough to even guess the sights and cruising opportunities the islands offer.

The climate is exasperatingly agreeable: it rarely exceeds 29°C in the summer months, and cools down to 18°C average during daytime in the winter. The sea temperature varies by two to three degrees around the 20°C. There is virtually no rain during the summer and only in December and January you risk 10 days of rain a month.

None of the islands is further than a day's sailing from one of the others and the coast is generally clear of dangers, making eyeball navigation straightforward.

All of the seven major islands have an airport, in most cases an international airport with good connections not just with Spain, but all large European cities. Many flights are operated by low cost companies, making it reasonable to leave one's boat in the Canaries to fly home for a while.

The official language of the islands is Spanish, but many speak English and in some cases German. This is certainly the case of marina staff.

General advice to sailors

Variation

Magnetic variation is about 6° West throughout the Canaries, but since most navigation will be done by sight, this has little importance.

Buoyage

Buoyage is sparse. This might be on the way to the Americas, but you are still in the IALA zone A, so it's green to starboard and red to port on entering a harbour. Cardinal buoys are rare.

Anchorages and marinas

The rocky coasts of the islands are steep and there are no river estuaries which makes anchorages rare. Those that do exist are only tenable in settled weather conditions, with the surf and wind coming from the right direction. Serious ground tackle is generally advised, with some 50 or more meters of chain, since you will often be anchoring quite deep. You will find a few shallower anchoring grounds along the eastern coasts of Lanzarote and Fuertevenura.

Marinas are not too distant from each other and generally well staffed. However, some marinas will not accept visiting yachts, while others depend on the port authorities and require that you book in advance. Most marinas in the eastern islands monitor VHF CH 09.

Berthing varies from alongside a (cement) quay, to finger pontoons or stern-to on lines fixed to cement blocks on the bottom, but unless you arrive at the wrong moment, you will have staff (sometimes security guards) to help you if you contact the marina on VHF prior to entering.

Tide and currents

Tides are minimal, with barely two meters during the exceptionally strong spring tide of