The Canarian night sky, recognised worldwide for its quality and low light pollution, has become a new tourist attraction thanks to the European project TWINNEDbySTARS. Led by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) through its University Institute TIDES, this initiative seeks to diversify and deseasonalise the nautical and marine tourism offer in the Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira and Martinique.
A crucial step on this path is the launch of a Starlight certification campaign aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region’s maritime sector. The objective is clear: to promote astronomy as a differentiating element with high added value for the tourist experience.
And the first results are already a reality. Keep Sailing has become the first maritime company in the Canary Islands to receive the prestigious Starlight 2025 distinction. Until now, the archipelago had eight certified land destinations, but no company in the nautical sector had achieved this accreditation.
To get a closer look at this pioneering initiative, TWINNEDbySTARS echoes the interview conducted on the radio programme Espejo Canario, where we talked to the protagonists of this milestone: Jaime Lang Lenton, from Keep Sailing, and Xavier Martínez, from Nautic Ocean, a member of the TWINNEDbySTARS consortium.
TWINNEDbySTARS: The Origin of a Brilliant Idea
Xavier Martínez explained in Espejo Canario the origin of the programme: ‘TWINNEDbySTARS, is a European project led by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria through the TIDES Institute. It is made up of a total of 10 partners, representing the outermost regions of Europe’. The initiative arose from the need for collaboration between these regions to identify strengths and develop innovative projects within the framework of the blue economy and digitalisation.
‘In a series of workshops, ideas emerged, and one of them, which from the beginning we sensed would have a long way to go, is this Atlantic Starlight Adventure project,’ Martínez added in the interview.
This idea seeks to capitalise on the exceptional potential of the night skies of the participating Atlantic regions, especially the Canary Islands, to develop a new tourism product. The central idea is to integrate astronomical observation into the existing nautical and marine offer, taking advantage of the low light pollution at sea and the uniqueness of enjoying the sky from a boat. Starlight certification for companies in the maritime sector is a fundamental pillar of Atlantic Starlight Adventure, seeking to guarantee the quality of the experiences and the commitment to the protection of the night sky.
Keep Sailing: Sailing Under a Blanket of Stars
Jaime Lang Lenton, visibly enthusiastic during the conversation at Espejo Canario, shared Keep Sailing’s background and how Starlight certification fits perfectly with its philosophy: ‘Our portfolio of services is broad, from day experiences to sailing club, sailing school and events. We were missing this unique experience of interpreting the sky at night’.
Lang Lenton detailed in the interview Keep Sailing’s commitment to sustainability and respect for the marine environment, values that fully align with the principles of the Starlight Foundation. ‘Most of our boats are sailing boats, prioritising sustainable sailing. Even our transfer vehicles are 100% electric,’ he said.
The Certification Process: A Commitment to the Night Sky
To obtain Starlight certification, Keep Sailing had to demonstrate its commitment to protecting the quality of the starry sky. This included adhering to the La Palma Declaration on the defence of the night sky and the right to starlight, as well as training its staff to offer attractive and conscientious astronomical experiences, as discussed in Espejo Canario.
‘It’s a continuous training,’ Lang Lenton pointed out in the interview. ‘There is an initial training, but on the astronomical side, you don’t stop training. This knowledge of the night sky will allow Keep Sailing to guide its clients through the constellations, myths and astronomical ephemeris from a unique perspective: the sea.
A Unique Opportunity in the Canary Islands
Both Jaime Lang Lenton and Xavier Martínez agreed during the interview in Espejo Canario in highlighting the potential of astronomy as a differential tourist attraction in the Canary Islands. ‘In the Canary Islands it is a unique opportunity thanks to the low light pollution at a short distance from the coast, offering optimal conditions for the observation of stars and constellations’, emphasised Xavier Martínez.
Lang Lenton encouraged other Canarian nautical companies to follow suit: ‘It is absolutely recommendable. It is helping us to diversify and expand our services. We expect a lot of enjoyment and many successes in this new extension,’ he said in the interview.
Next Steps: Astronomy Comes to the Canary Sea
Keep Sailing’s first Starlight experience will take place next Thursday 20th March, with a demonstration on board with the participation of Xavier Martinez. From the following week, the company will be ready to offer these unique astronomical voyages to its clients, as announced in Espejo Canario.
‘I can’t think of a better place to enjoy a total lunar eclipse than on board a catamaran at sea’, exclaimed Martínez during the interview, anticipating the exciting opportunities offered by this new tourist proposal.
With Keep Sailing’s Starlight certification, the TWINNEDbySTARS project takes a firm step towards its goal of enriching the Canary Islands’ tourism offer, uniting the beauty of the ocean with the majesty of the universe. Astronomy from the sea is here to stay, opening up a new range of possibilities for lovers of sailing and the stars in the Canary Islands, as announced in Espejo Canario.