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The Legend 'Pedro Texaco'

Caroline Blatter

It is with sadness we share news that the charismatic Pedro Pérez Abrante, a key figure known to so many yachties who passed through Las Palmas over the years, passed away on 8th June 2022, aged 82.
We pass on our sincere condolences to his family and the community of Las Palmas he so loved. 

'Pedro Texaco' 1940 - 2022

Better known as "Pedro Texaco", Pedro ran the Texaco fuel station and dock in the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Marina for a grand total of 46 years - from 1966 to 2012!  

He was a key figure of the Muelle Deportivo to so many yachties, and a particularly good friend and huge part of the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) which Jimmy Cornell started in 1986. World Cruising continues to this day under the leadership of Andrew Bishop.

Muelle Deportivo - ARC 1994

Jimmy Cornell told Noonsite, “Pedro was the heart and soul of the Muelle Deportivo, the small boat harbour inside the large port of Las Palmas. His hospitality and generosity were legendary and he embraced the ARC, its participants and us, as organisers, from the very beginning. He continued to do so for many years until he stopped running the marina’s fuel station, hence his nickname of Pedro Texaco.
Every year on the Sunday preceding the start of the ARC he would put on a huge fiesta. It started with a raucous dinghy race in the port, which was joined by the majority of the ARC participants and culminated in a feast of grilled fish and sangria to which everyone was invited. A wonderful friend, never to be forgotten.”

The infamous Dinghy Race - Las Palmas 1989

He witnessed huge change over his 46 years, instrumental in much of the development of the marina. 

Pedro always went above and beyond - helping yachts and their crew in anyway he could - from docking at his fuel dock, to contacting marine services, medical support, running errands - recommending the best provisions to signing you up for his infamous dinghy race with a cheeky wry smile! 

In 1992, as a thank you, the ARC skippers clubbed together to buy Pedro an air ticket to Saint Lucia so that he could be there to meet them when they arrived.

Pedro collected various awards over the years, named the 'adopted son' of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 2013, and in 2020 one of the port streets was named after him. He was the best old fashioned 'yacht services' agent, on duty 24/7, including Christmas day! 

During his retirement, Pedro remained a solid supporter of the ARC, regularly coming down to the marina and quietly keeping an eye on things! He never spoke any English, but somehow knew exactly what every yachtie needed. 

'Pedro will be sorely missed and some might say that they don’t make them like him anymore'

Our thanks to Noonsite and World Cruising for sharing this news. 

In Pictures