An archipelago on the trade winds route
Not for nothing that Christopher Columbus, on the road to the Americas, has stopped there several times... it's that the Canaries, located off Mauritania, are right on top of the trade winds, this NE'ly wind able to push you quietly or almost as far as the West Indies, well south of the Atlantic lows.
To reach the archipelago, take 8 to 10 days from southern Europe (Spain or Portugal). The best season for this trip is late August/early September. October and November can be a little harder in terms of weather. That's why many sailboats arrive early in the season and spend two months in the archipelago.
Waiting for the end of the cyclones
Why are they staying so long? To set off into the Atlantic when the tropical cyclone season is over... and the trade wind sets in. The ideal period for this transatlantic race starts in mid-November and continues until April... but most of the crews want to make the most of the good weather in the West Indies (from November to June).
Las Palmas, the ideal stopover to get ready
Of the 5 to 6,000 sailboats that cross the Atlantic each year, no less than a quarter of them are released in Las Palmas. The largest city in the archipelago with its 350 000 inhabitants, it is a great place to live and above all the nautical infrastructures are particularly complete. It is thus the ideal place to refill, equip, repair... In addition to the large marina, a vast free anchorage is possible, but the atmosphere is port. Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, is also a popular stopover.
An archipelago worth a visit
If the Canary Islands drag the image of cities filled with concrete and tourists, this reality is finally confined to the southern shores - the driest, leeward - of the two main islands, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. For the rest, the wild nature is very largely dominant! The archipelago has seven islands and a few uninhabited islets. Volcanic and exposed to the Atlantic swell, the islands offer only few anchorages, except those of Graciosa and Lobos. But the ports and marinas are numerous and welcoming.
The Canary Islands' assets: an ideal climate - average temperature in January of 18°C and 24°C in July -, never cold water, almost no rainfall - and therefore more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year - and... wind! But also infinitely varied landscapes: mountains, dunes, steep cliffs, beaches..
Islands to visit from the interior
In short, for a technical stopover, relax in Las Palmas, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the city - while having the assurance that your yacht will be in good hands if needed. A real miniature continent - Gran Canaria is"only" 1,560 km2 -, the island offers sublime walks, especially the peak of Las Nieves, at an altitude of 1,956 m, without forgetting the natural park, which occupies almost half of the island. Plan a little wool... And if you have a few weeks ahead of you, go on an adventure in the archipelago, you will not be disappointed!
