A dramatic rescue stole the spotlight during the Roque del Este Regatta 2026 on Saturday, after the crew of the yacht Lucero II abandoned the race to save a sea turtle trapped in plastic waste and discarded fishing gear off the coast of Lanzarote.

The crew, representing the Club Deportivo Nachosails, spotted the distressed turtle while taking part in the annual offshore sailing event. Realising the animal was unable to move freely, they immediately stopped racing and manoeuvred alongside it to carry out the rescue.

Freed from plastic and fishing lines

After several minutes of careful work, the crew managed to remove fishing lines, plastic bags and other discarded fishing equipment wrapped around the turtle.

Once they were satisfied that the animal could swim normally again, it was safely released back into the sea.

The rescue meant Lucero II had to withdraw from the regatta, a decision the crew accepted without hesitation in order to save the turtle.

Praised for putting wildlife first

The Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, which organised the race, praised the crew's actions, saying that protecting the marine environment is one of the core values promoted throughout its sailing events.

The club highlighted the decision to prioritise the welfare of the turtle over the competition result as an example of the respect and responsibility expected from those taking part in the regatta.

The incident also serves as another reminder of the growing threat that plastic pollution and abandoned fishing gear continue to pose to marine wildlife in the Canary Islands, where sea turtles are regularly found injured or entangled in debris.