About

About Melody

A Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 catamaran and her crew

Melody — Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

The Boat

Melody is a Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 — a modern cruising catamaran designed for long-distance comfort and performance. At 45 feet with a beam of nearly 25 feet, she offers remarkable stability, spacious living areas, and the ability to anchor in shallow waters that monohulls can only dream of.

Type Sailing Catamaran
Builder Fountaine Pajot
Model Elba 45
LOA 13.41 m (44 ft)
Beam 7.42 m (24.3 ft)
Draft 1.15 m (3.8 ft)
Displacement ~12,700 kg
Engines 2 × Yanmar 57 HP
Fuel ~600 L
Water ~600 L + watermaker
Generator Fischer Panda 9-4 PMS
Watermaker Aqua-Base Fiji 105 L/h
Cabins 4 doubles + 2 heads
Sail Area ~100 m²

The Voyage

In summer 2026, Melody is sailing from La Rochelle, France to Barcelona, Spain — a 1,600 nautical mile voyage down the Atlantic coast of Iberia, through the Strait of Gibraltar, across the Spanish Mediterranean, and through the Balearic Islands.

The voyage is divided into six legs over approximately eight weeks, with stops at 22 ports and anchorages along the way. This website documents the journey — from planning and preparation to the daily blog of life at sea.

The Crew

Eric and his partner sail Melody together. With ASA certifications and thousands of miles of offshore experience, the crew brings a mix of technical skill and genuine love for the sea.

This blog is as much a personal journal as it is a practical resource — sharing the realities of long-distance sailing, the beauty of the places visited, and the knowledge gained along the way.