Airton Cozzolino wins Strapless Freestyle Kitesurf Title
The Cape Verdean Kitesurfer, Airton Cozzolino, won the 2017 Kitesurf Strapless Freestyle Event – part of the 2017 Windsurfing and Kiteboarding World Cup held at Playa de Sotavento at the end of July and beginning of August. The Kitesurfer from Cape Verde has now won three consecutive events in the championship: Tarifa, Dakhla and Fuerteventura. Fellow Capeverdean, Mitu Monteiro, came second while reigning world-champion, Matchu Lopes, was third.
Two Arrests after Morro Jable Harbour Crash
An elderly woman was injured in Morro Jable Harbour on the 21st of August when a car crashed into a concrete public bench where she had been sitting. The woman managed to save two children from serious injury by moving them away from the bench at the last moment as the car hurtled towards them at high speed. The concrete bench was completely destroyed and the car itself ended up partly in the sea. The driver of the car did not have a licence and it appears that she was receiving a ‘lesson’ from the other occupant of the vehicle. The two were later arrested for the offences of causing injury through imprudence and driving without a license.
Large numbers of Water Birds Found Dead
A large number of water birds were found dead at the Los Molinos Reservoir near Tefia on the 20th of August. 22 Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea), 30 Coots (Fulica atra), 3 Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) were amongst the dead birds. Hedgehogs, Lizards and Geckos were also found dead in the water. The cause of the deaths is not yet known, though a similar event took place three months ago at a golf course in Caleta de Fuste.
Podomorphs Vandalised
The Podomorphs (ancient foot-shaped carvings) that adorn Tindaya Mountain have suffered new acts of vandalism. In one case, the vandals scratched the letters ‘LOVE’ over the ancient carvings, in another case they scratched new feet into the rock while in another they re-scratched the outlines of existing ones. The pre-conquest archaeological site has suffered significant damage over the years, including attempts to steal complete panels, with the most recent attempt in 2011, when thieves had to abandon a 60kg panel at the base of the mountain after a bungled robbery. That prompted the Cabildo to prohibit access to the mountain. However, despite the ban, there is little or no control, and many people climb the mountain illegally.
Million Euro Winner
A Bonoloto entry sold at the La Milagrosa office in Corralejo for a single euro won the €1,006,310 prize on the 18th of August. The entry was filled in by hand (i.e. not auto-generated), though the identity of the winner has not been revealed.