This report by Diana and Alex of s/v Enki II – submitted December 26th, 2014

In early November, when reports from Gran Canaria and Tenerife were of no space to be had anywhere until after the departure of the ARC, there were berths at Marina Lanzarote at around half the daily rate of Puerto Calero, 9 miles further south. 10% discount if you pay upfront for 15 days, more for longer periods.

Marina Lanzarote opened officially mid-October 2014 – so it’s early days. People very keen to please. The Atlantic Odyssey rally started from there on Nov 17, and word will slowly get out that this is a good alternative to the busier marinas further south and east.

Downsides are that there’s no fuel pontoon operational yet, and perhaps too few marineros checking the pontoons. Gates left unlocked all the time we’ve been here. However, all staff we’ve dealt with have been unfailingly helpful and friendly, office staff speaks several languages apiece. English is widely understood. The welcome is warm and efficient.

Lanzarote is a windy island. The marina is well sheltered though swell from the southeast sends in a surge – but manageable. Finger pontoons, water, and electricity included in the daily rate, wifi free, varies greatly in speed but best we’ve yet found in a Spanish marina. Laundry small but the machines are good. Reports that showers are not yet reliably hot, but the toilet and shower block clean and spacious. The big hard stand is empty, huge travel lift only recently commissioned.

We had new sails sent to the marina from Sweden by UPS. All imports to the Canaries now attract a 7% local tax, which appears to be non-refundable for yachts in transit (we couldn’t get anywhere with that). More in the nature of a customs charge, it seems. To import goods, it helps smooth the path if you have a C.I.F number for tax purposes – the marina office manager offered for us to use their C.I.F number and address. Sails arrived within a week. Tax needed to be paid however in cash on delivery.

We can highly recommend a couple of tradespeople.

Marco Menozzi, from Arno Elettronica (an Italian ex-pat, as the name suggests), is an experienced electronics and electrical technician, very thorough and knowledgeable, fair prices and with a personal service model, we can’t fault. Speaks English. +34 678 807 803.

Henning Krutzkamp, from Waterline Yacht Services, an engineer by trade with a lot of yachting experience in Europe which he’s transferred to the Canaries. Is also the Seldon and Sparcraft agent. Was installing a watermaker on one boat, a generator on another while we were here, and of course rig checks.

The marina is about 10 mins walk from Arrecife downtown. Don’t miss the Saturday morning fresh produce market by the church. The marina supermarket is more of a convenience store. No ATM machine on site yet, but some good cafes, many shops still to open.

Diana and Alex

s/v Enki II

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