For centuries sailors have stopped at the "Canaries" to stock up on provisions, stretch their legs and prepare for onward ocean passages to the Cape of Good Hope, South America or the Caribbean. During the years, they have also become more and more the winter sailing ground of choice for many of Europe's larger sailing ships. There is very little shipping to avoid, glorious blue seas, exciting acceleration zones with high winds off the mountains and flat calms below black or red coloured volcanic cliffs.