The 2024 circuit kicks off with the 44 Cup Calero Marinas, which will take place in Puerto Calero.
The first event of the 44Cup in 2024 will be held in Lanzarote from February 28th to March 3rd, offering RC44 owners and crews the opportunity to enjoy the climate and the unique lunar landscape of Lanzarote as a backdrop. Puerto Calero hosted last year’s 44Cup grand final, where Hugues Lepic’s Aleph Racing took the victory. The Calero family has maintained a long association with the 44Cup, and this year will once again be part of this prestigious competition with their own boat.
The boats have been preparing to return to the water in Arrecife, in the technical area set up at Puerto Naos. The teams have taken advantage of the excellent winter conditions in Lanzarote to tune up their boats before starting the season. In recent days, they have been working hard on assembling their boats. After completing extensive maintenance and adjustment tasks on all materials, the boats have returned to the sea. Once in Puerto Calero, the pre-season training program will begin.
The 16th season of the 44Cup will kick off with the participation of Aleph Racing, Team Nika, Charisma, Peninsula Racing, Ceeref Powered by Hrastnik 1860, Team Aqua, Artemis, Black Star Sailing Team, as well as the inclusion of the local team Calero Sailing Team.
Lanzarote is known for its northeast trade winds, ideal for sailing, with an average speed of around 12 knots in early March. After Lanzarote, the 44Cup will head towards the Spanish peninsula, specifically to Baiona, in the autonomous region of Galicia, for the first time in the event’s history. Baiona, located in the Ría de Vigo, is historically significant for being the place where “La Pinta” docked with news about the discovery of the ‘New World’.
The 44Cup will then depart from Spain to Marstrand, Sweden, for its summer event in the scenic Marstrand fjord. The 2024 World Championship will be held on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland for the first time, recommended by Christian Zuerrer for its ideal conditions. Finally, the event will wrap up in November in the British Virgin Islands, with races taking place in the Sir Francis Drake Channel between Tortola and neighboring islands, and the Royal BVI Yacht Club playing host amidst the balmy November weather.
The 44 Cup Calero Marinas is proudly sponsored by the Government of the Canary Islands, the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism within the Next Generation EU Funds, through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, Canary Islands Latitude of Life, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Turismo Lanzarote, Lanzarote European Sport Destination, Yaiza City Council and its Sports area, and with the collaboration of the Cicar group and the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife.