Lanzarote, the easternmost of Spain’s Canary Islands, sits in the Atlantic Ocean just 125 kilometres off the coast of West Africa. The island’s volcanic landscape, black sand beaches, and consistent trade winds have made it a favourite venue for the TP52 Super Series, which schedules two events here in 2026. Puerto Rubicon on the south coast hosts the July edition.
The trade winds at Lanzarote are among the most reliable in the Atlantic. July brings northeast trades at 15-25 knots with remarkable consistency, driven by the Azores High pressure system that dominates the subtropical Atlantic through summer. The wind rarely drops below 12 knots and occasionally exceeds 30, creating some of the most physical racing on the TP52 calendar. Crews work harder here than at lighter Mediterranean venues, grinding winches and hiking on the rail through multi-hour sessions.
Racing starts at 12:00 WEST (UTC+1, the Canary Islands use Western European Summer Time). In London, that is 12:00 BST (same offset). Madrid sees 13:00 CEST, one hour ahead. New York gets 07:00 EDT, while Dubai at 15:00 GST has an accessible afternoon slot. Sydney at 21:00 AEST offers a viable evening option.
The waters around Puerto Rubicon are deep blue and largely free of the short chop that characterizes some enclosed Mediterranean venues. The Atlantic swell runs in from the northwest, creating a longer wavelength that TP52s handle well, planing down the faces of swells on reaching legs at speeds that can exceed 20 knots. The absence of land to windward means the breeze arrives clean and undisturbed.
Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, and the island’s environmental protections extend to its waters. The volcanic island’s stark beauty, designed and preserved under the artistic vision of Cesar Manrique, provides a unique backdrop for racing. From the racecourse, crews can see the Timanfaya Fire Mountains, where volcanic eruptions in the 1730s reshaped the island.