Initially launched in 1987, the Canary Islands Rally, now renamed as the Canaries Odyssey, was – and continues to be – an attempt by Cornell Sailing Events to give sailors stopping in the Canary Islands on their way across the Atlantic the opportunity to visit not just one or two islands, as most do, but all seven islands of this attractive archipelago.
This year, the special Barbados 50 event, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Barbados independence, has been incorporated into the Canaries Odyssey. After a week of seminars and visits to various local attractions in Lanzarote, on Monday the participants were taken by bus and ferry to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura. The decision was taken not to sail to Fuerteventura, as we had done with previous events, because docking facilities in the north of the island are of a poor standard and could not accommodate a fleet of 30 yachts.
A doubledecker bus was needed to accommodate all the Barbados 50 crews!
A visit to Fuerteventura must start by climbing one of the enormous sand dunes
Enjoying a break in Pajara
…. and a glass of local wine in the historic bar of Santa Maria
Betancuria Cathedral – the oldest in the Canaries dating from 1410.
The crew of Laridae in Betancuria, the ancient capital of the Canary Islands
The stark beauty of Fuerteventura’s interior
Lunch at Abuelo Alfredo restaurant in Santa Ines
Sarah of Stormbreaker serving the chickpea soup, a local speciality
The crew of Maskali
The wild NW coast of Fuerteventura – better visited by bus than on your own boat
Boarding the ferry for the return trip to Lanzarote
Seventy three of the Barbados 50 participants took part in this excursion organised at the invitation of the Tourism Board (Patronato de Turismo) of Fuerteventura. The unanimous decision: an unforgettable day spent in one of the most attractive islands they had ever visited.
