The Canary Islands’ name is probably came from the Latin term Insula Canaria, meaning Island of the Dogs. It is thought that a dense population of fierce dogs, like the Presa Canario, inhabited the island of Gran Canaria during Roman times.
Prior to European colonisation peoples similar to the Berbers of North Africa populated the islands. They came to be known collectively as the Guanches, although Guanches was originally the name for the indigenous inhabitants of Tenerife.
In 1402, the Spanish conquest of the islands began with an expedition to the island of Lanzarote. From there, they conquered Fuerteventura and Hierro and established a base on the island of La Gomera, but it would be many years before the island was truly conquered. The natives of La Gomera, and of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and La Palma, resisted the Spanish invaders for almost a century.
The Canary Islands were then a source of dispute between Spain and other European powers. The most severe attack took place in 1599 when a Dutch fleet of 74 ships and 12,000 men, attacked the capital, Las Palmas. The Dutch then laid siege to the city, but eventually gave up the siege of Las Palmas and withdrew.
Another notable attack occurred on the 25th July 1797, when a British fleet under the future Admiral Lord Nelson attacked Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The British were repulsed losing almost 400 men. It was in this battle that Nelson lost his right arm.
The rivalry between the elites of the cities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the capital of the islands led to the division of the archipelago into two provinces in 1927. This has not lain to rest the rivalry between the two cities, which continues to this day.
The distinct features of the Canary Islands are their great height in relation to their area. Indeed the Teide volcano on Tenerife is the highest mountain in Spain, and the third largest volcano on Earth. When the prevailing wind, the NE trades, meet the high mountains, moisture is condensed and the windward side of the islands see a good deal of rain. This accounts for the diversity found in the Canary Islands, from pine forests to sand dunes, lush green valleys in the North, to dry and hot desert in the south. According to the position of the islands with respect to the trade winds, the climate can be mild and wet or very dry.
The economy of the Canary Islands is based primarily on tourism; about 10 million visit every year, which makes up 32% of the GDP. Construction accounts for nearly 20% of the GDP and tropical agriculture, primarily bananas and tobacco, are grown for export markets. Tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cochineal, sugarcane, grapes, vines, dates, oranges, lemons, figs, wheat, barley, corn, apricots, peaches and almonds are also grown.
There are several airports throughout the Canary Islands easily reached most major cities of Europe or America. The Canary Islands are an all year round sailing and yacht charter.
On your yacht charter in the Canary Islands you have the opportunity to see whales, dolphins, turtles, and flying fish.
The Canary Island’s geographical position means that there are generally good winds for sailing. The North Easterly trades that once took Columbus to America funnel through the islands creating what are known as wind acceleration zones and this means that even with fairly light prevailing winds there is still enough wind for a great.
Despite its position close to the tropics, the Canaries are not too hot in summer, 21-29°C, pleasantly warm in winter, 15-20°C, and can be regarded as an year round yacht charter area. Gales are infrequent and the islands are not affected by hurricanes.
The seven main islands of the Canary Islands are well spaced out so that it is only a day’s sail between most of them.
The greatest range of facilities for yachts is to be found in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which has a yacht harbour administered by the port authority. Gran Canaria’s south coast has several good marinas at Pasito Blanco, Puerto Rico and Puerto Mogan. There are haul-out facilities at all of them as well as at the fishing harbour Arguineguin. Other harbours include Agaete and Amfi del Mar.
Berthing facilities in the capital of Tenerife have improved dramatically with the opening of Marina Santa Cruz in the very centre of the capital Santa Cruz. A smaller Marina Tenerife operates in the fishing harbour. Outside of Santa Cruz there are good facilities at the marinas at Radazul, Los Gigantes and Puerto Colon. The boatyard at Los Cristianos also has haul-out and repair facilities. There are also harbours at Candelaria and San Miguel.
Lanzarote now has two marinas: Puerto Calero and Marina Rubicon. Both have boatyards and a range of services. There are also harbours at Arrecife and Puerto Carmen
On Fuerteventura there is a small marina with haul-out and some repair facilities as well as fuel at El Castillo and limited repair facilities in the capital Puerto Rosario. Other harbours include Corralejo and Morro.
La Gomera lies 28° North of the equator in the sub tropics, which give the island very agreeable average temperatures of 21 degrees in winter, and 28 degrees in summer. The island still retains it’s Canarian character and unlike it’s larger neighbours does not suffer from mass tourism, even though it is only a short transfer from Tenerife’s main (south) airport.
The centre of San Sebastian, the capital of La Gomera, has changed little since Columbus’s fleet was anchored in the bay. The Count’s tower, the Church Of The Assumption, where the members of the expedition were blessed, along with the Well Of Aguada – where the water that baptised America was drawn, have survived to this day. San Sebastian now has its own marina, located in the northern part of the commercial harbour. There is also a harbour at Vueltas or Valle Gran Rey.
La Palma has a marina and a harbour at Tazacorte.
El Hierro has a marina and there are harbours at La Restinga and Puerto de la Estaca.