The Lanzarote sailing 2026 season confirms the island as Europe’s winter sailing capital. Between January and February, Marina Rubicón hosts three international competitions bringing together over 900 sailors from 47 nationalities: the ILCA U21 World Championship, the Lanzarote International Regatta, and the Lanzarote iQFOiL Games. Consistent wind, warm waters, and guaranteed sunshine make southern Lanzarote the preferred training ground for Olympic elites heading toward Los Angeles 2028.

Why Lanzarote for Winter Sailing

While mainland Europe shivers through winter cold, Lanzarote offers ideal conditions for training and competing. Temperatures range from 18°C to 22°C (64-72°F), water stays around 19°C (66°F), and the northeast trade winds provide consistent, challenging conditions.

Marina Rubicón in Playa Blanca has positioned itself as the operations base for Olympic teams from around the world. Sailors don’t just come to compete: the average training stay exceeds 60 days. This generates an estimated economic impact of over 18 million euros for the island, including accommodation, dining, nautical services, and transportation.

Marina Rubicón’s infrastructure includes launch ramps, boat storage, technical services, and direct access to racing areas protected from Atlantic swells but exposed to wind.

ILCA U21 World Championship

Dates: January 17-24, 2026
Venue: Marina Rubicón, Playa Blanca
Classes: ILCA 6, ILCA 7
Participants: 148 sailors from 47 countries

The ILCA U21 World Championship opens the season with the under-21 elite of the world’s most popular one-design class. The ILCA class (formerly Laser) is synonymous with Olympic sailing: pure technique, no electronics, where the sailor makes the difference.

Spain, as host nation, fields a strong delegation with podium aspirations. Young talents from Italy, France, United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States complete an extremely high-level racing field. Races follow a fleet format with discards, culminating in a medal race for the top ten finishers.

For spectators, the best viewing spots are the Marina Rubicón waterfront promenade and the harbor breakwater, with direct views of the racing area.

Lanzarote International Regatta

Dates: January 30 – February 5, 2026
Venue: Marina Rubicón, Playa Blanca
Edition: 6th

The Lanzarote International Regatta is the season’s centerpiece event, bringing together multiple Olympic classes for a week of intense competition.

Schedule by class:

January 30 – February 1: Snipe Class
The classic two-person dinghy with strong tradition in the Canary Islands. Notable local and regional participation.

February 2-5: Olympic Classes
ILCA 6 (formerly Laser Radial), ILCA 7 (formerly Laser Standard), Nacra 17 (mixed catamaran), 49er (men’s skiff), and 470 (mixed double). These are the boats we’ll see at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and many future medalists train here.

The sixth edition marks the second year of the post-Paris Olympic cycle, with national teams fine-tuning their programs ahead of world qualifiers.

Lanzarote iQFOiL Games

Dates: February 6-11, 2026
Venue: Marina Rubicón, Playa Blanca
Edition: 5th
Participants: 150+ elite windsurfers

The iQFOiL represents the evolution of Olympic windsurfing: foiling boards that literally fly over the water at speeds exceeding 35 knots (65 km/h). It’s the most visual spectacle of the season.

The Lanzarote iQFOiL Games 2026 officially kick off the Olympic cycle toward Los Angeles 2028 with new rules:

Changes for 2026:

8m² sails for men’s category (previously 9m²)
7.3m² sails for women’s category (new design)
New medal race format: only top 8 advance to final series (previously 10)
Adjusted scoring for more excitement in decisive races

These changes aim to level conditions across body types and ease the transition from youth to elite categories. Marina Rubicón has hosted the iQFOiL Games for three consecutive years, including the 2025 World Championship and Paris Olympic qualifiers.

Economic and Sporting Impact

The three regattas combined attract over 900 athletes from nearly 50 nationalities. But the impact extends beyond competition weeks:

Average training stay: 60 days per sailor
Teams with permanent winter base: Spain, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Australia
Estimated economic impact: €18+ million for southern Lanzarote
Benefiting sectors: Hotels, restaurants, car rental, nautical services, local retail

Marina Rubicón doesn’t just host competitions: it functions as a high-performance training center throughout the European winter, from November to March.

Practical Information for Spectators

How to get there: Marina Rubicón is in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote’s southern tip. From the airport: 30 minutes by car. From Arrecife: 40 minutes. From Puerto del Carmen: 25 minutes.

Where to watch: The Marina Rubicón waterfront promenade and marina offer views of the racing area. For iQFOiL, the spectacle is visible from the southern coast of Playa Blanca.

Access: Free for spectators. Award ceremonies are typically held on the harbor promenade.

Services: Marina Rubicón has restaurants, bars, shops, and parking. The Rubicón shopping center is a 5-minute walk.

Accommodation: Playa Blanca offers everything from apartments to luxury hotels. Book ahead during regatta weeks, especially for the iQFOiL Games.

Complete Calendar

January 17-24: ILCA U21 World Championship
January 30 – February 1: Lanzarote International Regatta (Snipe)
February 2-5: Lanzarote International Regatta (Olympic Classes)
February 6-11: Lanzarote iQFOiL Games

More information: Lanzarote Sailing Center

→ Lanzarote Cultural Agenda January 2026
→ Lanzarote Cultural Agenda February 2026

Updated: January 19, 2026. Official sources: Lanzarote Sailing Center, Marina Rubicón, Cabildo de Lanzarote, ILCA Class, iQFOiL Class.