Gran Canaria Island

Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the Canary Archipelago after Tenerife and Fuerteventura. The area of the island is 1560,1 sq. km. The coastline is 130 nautical miles long. The closest islands in the archipelago are Tenerife 32 miles to the north-west and Fuerteventura 47 miles to the east. To the Moroccan coast of Africa is in 115 miles from Gran Canaria .

Like all of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is an island of volcanic origin. Gran Canaria has a rounded shape with a diameter of about 24 miles. The coastline is fairly smooth and there are not many enclosed bays which yachts can use as natural shelters from bad weather. But there are plenty of yacht marinas and fishports, especially on the east and south coasts of the island.

The island's main port and capital (and the second capital of the Canary archipelago) is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The marinas of Las Palmos are the base for several bareboat charter companies that offer bareboat yachts for rent. Yachts for crew charter are also available at the Las Palmas marinas.

Gran Canaria is the starting point of the annual ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers). Hundreds of yachts depart across the Atlantic to the Caribbean at the end November.