In Lanzarote, an enclave where the wind never rests and the sea outlines a new setting for adventure every day, sailing is more than just a sport: it is culture, tradition, and a way of life. Here, in this blessed territory for year-round sailing, one of the most outstanding generations of regatta sailors on the national scene has been shaped.
They include Gonzalo Morales, a clear example of how passion and the island’s unique conditions can turn a young enthusiast into a professional recognised far beyond our shores.
I started sailing because of my family. Especially on my father’s side, where there’s always been a strong sailing culture and a lot of enthusiasm.
Gonzalo grew up surrounded by sea. As he recalls, “I come from a very large family, especially on my father’s side, where there has always been a strong sailing culture and a lot of enthusiasm.” His bond with the sport came into being naturally, following in the footsteps of a brother and a cousin, never imagining he would one day be competing on international circuits. “I never thought of doing it professionally; I simply liked competing, I liked improving every day,” he explains. That mix of passion and consistency marked his early years at the Yacht Club and stayed with him as he moved up through the ranks in dinghy sailing, still without professional goals in mind.
But Lanzarote, as a leading nautical destination, offers opportunities few islands in the world can match. And one of them was decisive for his future. In the mid-2000s, a project backed by the Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo (Island Council), and the Calero family invested in creating a professional sailing team that would allow young sailors to take a step that seemed to be reserved for only a select few. “That project was the beginning of a leap from amateur to professional sailing,” Gonzalo remembers. “We were given the opportunity to sail on a European circuit, and it was from there that I really started to dedicate myself to professional sailing.”
The RC 44 project is a source of pride because it puts the name of Lanzarote on the world stage.
That leap was by no means easy. On an island with many sailors but few who manage to turn professional, standing out requires hours of training, dedication, and a great deal of resilience. However, Lanzarote has a secret weapon: the wind. “Generally speaking, Lanzarote is a windy island. As the saying goes, ‘no calm sea ever made a skilled sailor,’” he says. The island’s conditions allow for sailing practically every day, and that translates into more well-rounded sailors. “In many countries, they can’t train all year round. Here, the climate and conditions mean we can devote more hours to sailing.” And in sailing, those hours are pure gold.
Today, Gonzalo is involved in several high-level projects, combining the demands of international competition with his commitment to the disciplines that represent the island’s nautical identity. “At a local level, I sail with a lateen sail team, which I’m very proud of,” he explains. Furthermore, he participates in the J80 regattas in Lanzarote and is intensely active in international projects; from offshore races with a Swedish boat owner, to the J70 circuit – with Spanish, European and world championships – not forgetting his presence in the prestigious RC44 circuit.
The latter, one of the most important professional sailing circuits, maintains a strong connection with Lanzarote. The island not only hosts one of the circuit’s events annually, but is also present with its own boat. “It’s a very difficult project to get off the ground because it requires a lot of work, securing sponsorship, and assembling the team,” Gonzalo explains. But the effort is rewarded: “It’s a source of pride because it puts the name of Lanzarote on the world stage.” And that’s not all: on those boats sail friends, acquaintances and professionals who have grown up in the island’s marinas, proving that Lanzarote has an abundance of talent.
Beyond competition, Gonzalo is also part of the island’s nautical fabric from another perspective: that of business. Together with his brother, he founded a sail loft over a decade ago to serve sailors who put in at Lanzarote, especially those embarking on the crossing to the Americas. “We set it up in 2010, when the new Marina of Lanzarote was being built. We saw there was a need to improve nautical services in the area,” he recalls. Time has proven them right: fifteen years later, the company continues to grow, serving local vessels as well as the thousands of passing sailors who choose Lanzarote as their last stop before the Atlantic.
The boom in international events on the island has further reinforced Lanzarote’s position as a nautical destination. In recent years, world championships, Olympic trials and professional competitions have once again put the island on the global map. According to Gonzalo, this is no coincidence: “Everyone knows Lanzarote for its conditions; they don’t lose a single day of training. Here, 99% of the days can be taken advantage of.” Marina Rubicón, Puerto Calero and Marina Lanzarote have created an ecosystem where Olympic sailors, professional fleets and sailors of all disciplines co-exist, consolidating the island as a centre of excellence.
The future, moreover, looks promising. “Good work is being done in grassroots sailing in Lanzarote,” he asserts. In recent years, world, European and national champions have emerged, and although Gonzalo insists on not obsessing over results, he acknowledges that the passion is still alive. “You shouldn’t worry too much about winning. If you have drive and passion, everything comes naturally.”
And when he travels and is asked about his island, the answer is clear. “It’s hard to find someone in the world of yachting who doesn’t know Lanzarote,” he says. And to the few who don’t know where to place it on the map, he extends a confident invitation: “If they come once, they’ll want to come back.”
Because Lanzarote doesn’t just shape sailors. It shapes stories like Gonzalo’s: born of the wind, carved by the sea, and always driven by the passion to keep sailing.
