Costa Brava

The Wild Coast

Cliffs, coves, and the
Tramontane wind..

The Costa Brava earned its name – the Wild Coast – honestly. Stretching north of Barcelona to the French border, it is one of the most dramatic coastlines in the Mediterranean: limestone cliffs dropping straight into deep, impossibly blue water; hidden coves reachable only by sea; medieval fishing villages that have been launching boats for a thousand years. Salvador Dalí grew up here and never left – you’ll understand why the moment you clear the breakwater at Arenys and see the coast unfolding ahead.

The Tramontane – the cold, powerful wind that descends from the Pyrenees – is the defining meteorological character of this coast. It can blow 30 knots and kick up a steep chop in under an hour. It also disappears overnight, leaving glassy morning water and extraordinary clarity. Learning to read it, sail in it, and respect it will make you a better sailor than any classroom ever could.

Sant Feliu de Guíxols is a perfectly sheltered bay where dolphins regularly ride the bow wave on approach – common enough that you stop being surprised by Day 3, which feels impossible. Palamós is one of the last working medieval fishing villages on the coast – real fishing families, a real fish market, and the finest gambas de Palamós (local prawns) you will eat in your life, grilled simply with olive oil and salt.

Llafranc is the jewel – a small, almost perfectly formed cove tucked below the Cap de Sant Sebastià lighthouse. You can anchor in the bay on a calm evening and swim from the boat as the lighthouse beam sweeps overhead. It is exactly what the Mediterranean is supposed to look like.

The turnaround is L’Estartit, looking out over the Medes Islands – a marine reserve so rich with life that it’s ranked among the best diving in the western Mediterranean. You don’t need to dive to feel it; the water off the Medes is a colour that doesn’t have a name in English. Day 6 is the return south to Tossa de Mar, the medieval walled town on the cliff – a final night under the walls before the long Friday run home. Day 7 is 38 miles of open water back to Barcelona with the ASA 104 exam completed underway. You arrive certified.

Llafranc · Most Beautiful Cove Dolphins · Sant Feliu Bay · Medes Islands Marine Reserve · Gambas de Palamós · Tramontane Wind – Real Conditions · 106 nm Total · 7 Days

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The itinerary shown is our planned route and gives you a taste of the incredible destinations we aim to visit. Actual ports of call are subject to change based on weather conditions, sea state, and marina availability. The Mediterranean is a dynamic sailing environment and your instructor will always make routing decisions with your safety, comfort, and enjoyment as the priority. Flexibility is part of the adventure — and sometimes the unplanned stops turn out to be the most memorable.

Everything Included

Price does not include flights, travel insurance, or dinners ashore (except one included onboard dinner). ASA textbooks not included – reference copies on the boat and in the office; students should purchase their own before arrival. Min. 2 cabins to run; maximum 6. Rate shown is per student sharing a double cabin. Solo travellers may request a private cabin for an additional €1,200. Contact us to check availability or reserve your spot with a deposit.

Cabins & Accommodation