Canary Islander sailor Gustavo Martínez Doreste, local expert for the Alegre team, was decisive in the victory of the British boat during the official training day of the Marina Rubicón Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week.
The Canary Islander Gustavo Martínez Doreste, local expert for the Alegre team, emerged as a key figure during the official training day of the Marina Rubicón Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week. The fleet of 13 TP52s, representing 11 nationalities, faced the tough wind and sea conditions off the southern coast of Lanzarote, where the Alegre, helmed by British Andy Soriano, triumphed in the only race held.
The conditions were extreme: north winds of 15 to 25 knots and a short, choppy wave that tested the crews' skills. The Alegre made the right call by choosing the left side on the downwind leg, a decision that, according to Martínez Doreste, was crucial to surpass Provezza, which led for much of the course.
The local factor of Lanzarote
Gustavo Martínez Doreste, a native of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with extensive experience in Canary waters, highlighted the complexity of the racecourse:
“It was a very uncomfortable course, with short side waves, very gusty wind, and shifts… But a good course. The downwinds with this wave and this wind intensity are not easy, especially with the current in this area of the island.”The Canary Islander explained that the southern current was a determining factor, and that choosing the left side on the downwind leg was what allowed them to win.
Martínez Doreste, who serves as a local expert for Alegre, knows the secrets of the Bocaina Channel, between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, perfectly. According to him, the forecast for the week is for moderate to strong winds, guaranteed by the typical trade winds of the Canaries:
“Once the anticyclone is positioned in the Azores, the north wind settles in. That is guaranteed: it’s what we have 80% of the year.”
Eleven Spanish sailors in the fleet
The Marina Rubicón Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week features a strong Spanish representation: 11 sailors on board six boats. In addition to Cantabrian Pablo Arrarte, trimmer for Alegre, Balearic Manu Weiller competes as tactician for the Thai Vayu, Galician Pablo Torrado as piano for the Italian Alkedo Vitamina, and Balearic Pedro Mas as bowman for the Hong Kong Alpha Plus. The German Platoon Aviation continues to be the most “Spanish”, with Catalan navigator Juan Vila, Balearic strategist Jordi Calafat, Cantabrian trimmer Javi Plaza, and Galician grinder Víctor Mariño. The Turkish Provezza relies on Cantabrian navigator Nacho Postigo, bowman Joan Fullana, and grinder Matthew Barber, both Balearic.
Canary Islander Martínez Doreste is not the only representative from the Islands in the competition, but he is the one who knows the terrain best. His role as local expert is vital for Alegre to take advantage of the wind and current peculiarities of the area.
Third title of the season at stake
The historic first visit of the 52 SUPER SERIES to the Canary Islands puts the third title of the 2026 season at stake. After winning at the events in Puerto Portals and Porto Cervo, Takashi Okura's Sled arrives in Lanzarote as the solid provisional leader, with a 15-point lead over Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon Aviation and 25 over Andrea Lacorte's Alkedo Vitamina. However, the competition is fierce: nine of the 13 boats have already achieved partial victories in the 18 races held.
For the Canary audience, this event is a unique opportunity to see the elite of world sailing in action. The races will take place between Tuesday and Saturday, with a program of up to ten scoring races. The weather forecast, with reliable trade winds, guarantees an exciting spectacle.
The races will be broadcast live through the official platforms of the 52 SUPER SERIES, with coverage in Spanish for the first time from Marina Rubicón. Canary fans will be able to closely follow the performance of their representatives, especially Gustavo Martínez Doreste, who aims to leverage his local knowledge to lead Alegre to the top.
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