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Gibraltar to the Canaries via Madeira

Updated: Mar 5, 2023

This trip is planned to leave Gibraltar, and to reach Gran Canaria in time to join the ARC+ transatlantic rally.

Over 1.000 NM in the Atlantic Ocean, with two long non-stop passages (580 and 260 NM).



Route summary:



Detailed Passage Plan:



Navigation file for import to Navionics:


Highlights

Images are from Google Earth, and texts from the IMRAY Atlantic Islands Pilot (2021).


Baia de Porto Santo

Madeira and its smaller neighbor Port Santo have long been a popular destination for travellers, wether arriving by yacht, ship, or air. Madeira offers a stunning combination of sheer cliffs, dramatic mountains and abundant greenery, while Porto Santo boasts a perfect 7km beach to rival anything in the Caribbean.

Porto Santo is a complete contrast to Madeira in both appearance and character, and is well worth exploring. A taxi tour of the island takes two hours or more.


Quinta do Lorde, Madeira

Madeira, with its rich volcanic soil and mild climate has an amazing variety of flowers, trees, and shrubs, which thrive at different altitudes, with fruit, vines, and sugar cane cultivated on laboriously constructed terraces. Over 200 species of birds have been identified in Madeira. There are many lovely public gardens worth visiting, of which the Jardim Botanico is the best known.

Despite its somewhat remote location, Quinta do Lorde marina is the landfall of choice for most yachts visiting Madeira.



Santa Cruz de la Palma

La Isla Verde and La Isla Bonita are two of the names given to this gem of an island which is the most mountainous of the Canaries (2422m). La Palma is the wettest, and therefore, the greenest in the archipelago.

A volcano erupted in La Palma in 09/2021 causing destructions in the south-west (Puerto Naos). Santa Cruz is on the east side.



San Sebastian de la Gomera

La Gomera is an island that is heavy on the "wow" factor, as much of it is extremely beautiful and it is worth making an effort to explore inland.

San Sebastian is the main harbour of La Gomera.



Marina Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest island of the archipelago, and is dominated by the highest mountain in Spain (3718m). We should hire a car for 2-3 days and go exploring.

Beware of the wind acceleration zones.



Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the third largest of the Canary Islands, and Las Palmas is the busiest port in the Canaries. We need to go there however to join the ARC+ rally preparations and departure.



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