Sailors from 15 countries have already registered for the Laser Europa Cup and the Regata de Carnaval Ciudad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, running from 13 to 15 February in the harbour of Gran Canaria’s capital city.

Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria is organising both events, which bring its Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme to a close. The Club is backed by Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Hall, Gran Canaria Cabildo, the Spanish, Canary Islands and Gran Canaria sailing federations, and EurILCA.

This year is the first time the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has hosted a Laser Europa Cup event. Run by EurILCA (European Region of International Laser Class Association), the Europa Cup is a series of 23 regattas at 23 venues throughout Europe.

For this inaugural race of Europa Cup 2015, the Club will be welcoming EurILCA chairman, Jean Luc Michon.

Sailors who’ve already entered include top names in the class, such as Norwegians Line Flem Host and Celine Herud, Hungary’s María Erdi and Holland’s Dewi Couvert, as well as local figures Martina Reino and Joel Rodríguez, current ISAF Laser Radial youth world champions.

In Laser Standard, the men’s Olympic category, the duel between Mallorca’s Joan Cardona and Gran Canaria’s Joel Rodríguez will be interesting. Both sailors are hoping to secure the only place on the Spanish Olympic team reserved for a youth sailor in the Laser class.

The country with most EurILCA members is Italy (750). Spain has 271 members and France has 474.

Points in the Laser class will count for both events running from 12 to 15 February at RCNGC: the Europa Cup and the Regata de Carnaval. The Carnival race will also include 2.4Rm (Paralympic class), catamarans and 420.

Translated from Spanish by Jane McGrath