MACACO AND MAEÑA 9 TAKE THE LEAD IN THE CÉSAR MANRIQUE TROPHY
Arrecife, 14 August 2026.
The 15th César Manrique Cruiser Trophy got underway yesterday, Thursday, with the presentation of the regatta and the skippers’ meeting held at the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife (RCNA), before the competition began today in the waters off Arrecife.
The first day of racing took place off El Reducto beach, with two races contested in challenging wind conditions – a 20-knot north-easterly – which put the 13 participating boats to the test.
In the overall standings, ‘Macaco’, skippered by Lucio Pérez Aranaz, takes the lead with four points, after securing a first and a second place. The boat from the Real Club Náutico de Tenerife leads ‘Maeña 9’, skippered by Andrés Martín Monje Batista, on a tiebreaker; the latter has emerged as one of the day’s standout performers.
Maeña 9 is competing in Group 4 alongside longer boats, a fact that makes its performance all the more impressive. The Tenerife-based boat had a perfect day, securing two first-place finishes, and leads its division with just two points. In the overall standings, it lies second, level on points with Macaco.
Alejandro Morales Quintana’s Teguise Lanzarote Sailing Paradise also shone, putting in a superb performance in the first race. However, an off-the-line start (OCS) prevented him from turning that performance into a good result. The boat from the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife bounced back in the second race with a victory, although the OCS in the first race leaves it fourth in its group.
Augusto Escolar’s ‘Cachito’ occupies third place overall with seven points, whilst Antonio L. Hernández Manchado’s ‘Sorcery’ is fourth with 12. In Group 4, Pedro J. Rodríguez’s ‘Manitu’ sits behind ‘Maeña 9’ with four points.
The competition will continue tomorrow, Saturday, with the decisive day of the 15th César Manrique Trophy, which forms part of the Canary Islands High-Level Circuit calendar. The regatta is organised by the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife and Calero Marinas, with Marina Lanzarote as the host port, and combines sporting activity with a significant social element for the participating crews.
The Trophy is sponsored by the Lanzarote Island Council, through its Tourism and Sport departments, Arrecife Town Council and the Arrecife Town Council’s Sports Department, and with the collaboration of Cicar, Balearia and Hotel Miramar.
