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