La Rochelle
to Barcelona
A 1,600 nm coastal voyage threading the Atlantic shore of Iberia, through the Balearics, and into Barcelona. Two night-passages — the rest is day-hops and island anchoring.
The Voyage at a Glance
Leaving La Rochelle July 15, exploring the Balearics in September, arriving Barcelona September 8th. The prevailing "Portuguese Trades" at your back for the Atlantic leg. After Biscay, every leg is a comfortable day-sail until the final overnight crossing to Barcelona.
| Leg | Distance | Style | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay of Biscay | ~350 nm | 60 hr continuous | Watch the weather window closely |
| Galicia & Rías | ~150 nm | Day hops | Fjord-like bays, turquoise anchorages |
| Portuguese Coast | ~450 nm | Day hops (6–10 hrs) | The Nortada — 15–25 kts on the beam |
| Algarve → Strait | ~200 nm | Day hops (6–8 hrs) | Current flows into the Med — ride it |
| Spanish Med | ~300 nm | Day hops (8–12 hrs) | Can be motor-heavy if Levante blows |
| Balearics → Barcelona | ~300 nm | Day hops + 1 overnight | Island circuit then 130 nm crossing to Barcelona |
Full Route on OpenSeaMap
Real nautical chart with sea marks, depth contours, and buoys. Click waypoints for details. Switch between chart styles in the top-right corner.
The Biscay Crossing
Your one mandatory multi-night passage. In July, the "Biscay High" usually provides settled weather. Aim to leave on the tail end of a high-pressure system for flat seas and N/NW winds. View on map →
Europe's largest Atlantic marina. Excellent chandleries, fuel dock, and supermarkets. Provision thoroughly — next proper resupply is A Coruña.
Welcoming marina. Tower of Hercules — world's oldest working Roman lighthouse (UNESCO). Recover and feast on Galician pulpo á feira and percebes.
The Rías & Atlantic Galicia
Round Cabo Finisterre into the Rías Baixas — deep, fjord-like bays with white sand and turquoise water. The catamaran's shallow draft makes this paradise. View on map →
Anchor in 5 m of crystal-clear water. Protected fjord-like bays with sandy bottoms. Barely another soul midweek.
Historic "first port" — where the Pinta arrived. Yacht club inside a medieval castle. Walkable to cobbled streets and seafood restaurants.
The Portuguese Coast
The "downhill" run. The Nortada blows 15–25 kts every afternoon. Set a reefed main and gennaker — the Elba 45 reels off 180–200 nm days. View on map →
Marina in Matosinhos. Easy bus into Porto for Port wine tasting. No swell inside the breakwater.
Beautifully maintained. 30-min train to Lisbon. Call ahead for catamaran berth.
Strategic overnight. Castle views. Check swell forecast — exposed to SW.
After rounding Cabo de São Vicente the swell vanishes and the water warms. Golden cliffs, Ponta da Piedade sea caves.
Gibraltar Strait & Alborán Sea
Round Cape St. Vincent, ride the current through the Strait. Watch for orcas and time the tides carefully. View on map →
Oldest continuously inhabited city in W. Europe. 15-min to old town. Tapas at Mercado Central, sunset from Playa de la Caleta.
Essential for duty-free fuel. Wait here if Levante is blowing — never exit the Strait against a strong easterly.
Short Costa del Sol hop. Glamorous marina, good provisioning for the Med push.
Mediterranean Push to Majorca
Coast-hopping the Spanish Med before the open crossing. Can be tough if the Levante blows — the Elba 45 motors efficiently at 7+ knots. View on map →
Deep natural harbour. Roman Theatre 5-min walk. Marina in the heart of the city.
Charming Costa Blanca towns. Last mainland provisioning and fuel.
Depart 0600. Only ~55 nm to Ibiza — arrive by 1500. Want light or westerly winds.
Anchor at S'Espalmador for Caribbean-blue water. Three days of Balearic paradise.
Cathedral rising above the harbour wall — one of sailing's great arrivals. World-class facility. Base camp for the Balearic island circuit. Book well in advance for August.
Balearic Islands & Barcelona
A week-long circuit of the Balearic archipelago — Cabrera's national park, Majorca's dramatic east coast, and Menorca's legendary turquoise calas — before the final overnight crossing to Barcelona. View on map →
Read our Welcome Aboard guide — everything you need to know before stepping on the boat.
Connecting Flights
Direct flights (~2h 25m) available on multiple airlines:
Direct flights (~3h 05m) — limited nonstop options:
A pristine national park archipelago south of Majorca. Crystal-clear water over seagrass. No marina — mooring buoys only, permit required.
Porto Colom has a deep natural harbour with traditional Mallorcan boathouses. Cala Mondragó is a nature reserve with pristine sandy beaches.
Sweeping bay with turquoise shallows. The Elba 45 can tuck in close to the beach in 2m of water. Cap de Formentor's pine-clad cliffs are spectacular.
A stunning narrow, cliff-walled inlet lined with restaurants. Beware the "rissaga" phenomenon — check weather before entering.
Menorca's legendary south coast — impossibly turquoise coves cut into white limestone. Anchor in 5m of sand. The highlight of the Balearics.
One of the world's great natural harbours — 5 km long and deep-sheltered in all conditions. Provision well — next stop Barcelona after overnight crossing.
The final leg — 130 nm overnight from Mahón, heading northwest. Sail past the W Hotel and into Port Vell beneath Montjuïc — one of the Med's most dramatic urban arrivals. Welcome to Barcelona.
Safety & Strategy
Orca Interactions
Active zone Cádiz → Finisterre (Jul–Oct). Check GTOA tracking.
- Stay <20 m or >200 m depth
- If approached: stop, drop sails, disengage autopilot
- Consider rudder deflectors for Elba 45
Strait of Gibraltar
Never fight the tide.
- Levante vs flood = dangerous standing waves
- Wait in Gibraltar until conditions align
- Tide tables →
Reservations
August–September = peak. Book ahead:
- Palma (Real Club Náutic) — 3–4 weeks
- Ibiza (Marina Eivissa) — 3–4 weeks
- Cabrera — apply 2+ weeks at balearsnatura.com
- Barcelona (Port Vell) — 1 week
Fuel Strategy
Elba 45: ~600 L, ~350–400 nm range.
- La Rochelle — full before Biscay
- Cascais — good prices
- Gibraltar — duty-free
- Jávea — full before Balearics