Las Palmas
By Theresa Nicholson
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the bustling capital of Spain’s Canary Islands, is more than just a picturesque city off the northwest coast of Africa—it’s the ideal destination for sailors preparing for an Atlantic crossing. Whether you’re embarking on a solo voyage or joining one of the legendary Atlantic Rallies for Cruisers, Las Palmas offers everything you need for a jump across the pond.
Surprisingly cosmopolitan, it’s a fascinating combination of remote beauty with a natural deep harbor and excellent resources—and of course, there’s the wind. For centuries, sailors planning to make the 3,000-mile journey from Europe’s mainland to the Caribbean have sought the traditional trade wind routes south of the European continent, sailing south along the African mainland and south, as they say, “until the buddah’ melts.” When the northeast trades kick in, hang a hard right and keep going.
“Christopher Columbus was familiar with the Canary Islands from previous voyages,” Commercial Director of Las Palmas Port Juan-Francisco told me during my recent visit. Columbus departed Palos, Spain, in August of 1492 and sailed to Gran Canaria, his final port of call before setting across the Atlantic in search of the West Indies.
The history of the port has always been bunkering, Francisco said. “Fuel, water, repairs. For Columbus, his fuel was his sails. He made repairs to the sails and ships, loaded fresh water and set sail.”
Today, the modern port can handle haul outs of some of the largest cruising yachts, with its newest section managed by RoLnautic. One of the new travel lifts can haul yachts up to 850 tons and 15 meters, said manager Juan Carlos Rodriguez as we surveyed an Outremer 55 on the hard. “We’re working on the engine on that one. We lifted 29 catamarans here last year,” he said.
A Natural Departure Point for the Atlantic Crossing
Las Palmas has long been the home port of the ARC, one of the world’s largest transatlantic sailing rallies, which departs annually in November. Muelle Deportivo marina serves as the base for the fleet. The rally’s tradition dates back to 1986, and the marina in Las Palmas is filled with sailors gearing up for the long passage to the Caribbean each fall. Yachts converge here from northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and beyond, making it one of the busiest hubs for transatlantic cruisers. Crew hoping to catch a ride to the Caribbean post notices around the marina and often hang out near the docks with their backpacks packed and ready to go. In 2024, 140 yachts with more than 800 crew from 42 nations set sail with the ARC in late November, heading for St. Lucia. Another 94 yachts with the ARC Plus departed a week earlier, with a planned stop in the Cape Verde Islands before continuing on to Grenada.
Excellent Marina Facilities and Support
The Muelle Deportivo marina is a large, well-equipped marina capable of accommodating more than 1,000 yachts. The marina currently has 1,250 berths, making it the largest in the Canary Islands. VHF 11 is the marina working channel. The marina is protected by two breakwaters and has a 60-ton travel lift. The space somehow easily absorbed the largest ARC sailboats, including the 105-foot Southern Wind No Rush, along with multiple massive multihulls such as the Sunreef 80 Mischievious and the Cantana 65 Misfit. Peering out over the breakwater— where huge stones are painted with visiting yachts’ names and flags—one can spot the open horizon and reflect on all those who came before and set sail across the Atlantic.
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