Since 1987, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority has managed five sports marinas located in port areas and granted under administrative concession. Santa Cruz Marina is located at Los Llanos commercial dock and another, Tenerife Sports Marina, at the fish dock in Santa Cruz Port. In La Gomera, the marina is located in San Sebastián Port and construction is currently underway on marinas in La Palma and La Estaca (El Hierro).
To date sports marinas dependent on Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority provide a total number of 790 berths.
The layout and location of mooring for smaller crafts in the ports of La Palma, La Gomera and La Estaca are practically identical and are sited at the shallow end of the dock where large vessels cannot easily manoeuvre.
This is one of the benefits of creating sports marinas in commercial ports as they are always positioned in areas that are either obsolete or, for reasons of depth or layout, cannot be used for strictly port-related activities.
Additionally, sports marinas create new jobs and attract tourists with high purchasing power, thereby promoting the sector and building links between the port and the city.
In fact, the sports quays managed by the port authority are practically fully occupied from September to December when transoceanic regattas are held, functioning as a base port for 30% to 50% of all participating vessels.
MA