Check the schedule for upcoming Costa Daurada dates.
South of Barcelona the coast turns golden – not metaphorically. The Costa Dauradatakes its name from the long stretches of fine, pale sand that run from the Garraf massif all the way to the Ebro Delta.
Just outside Barcelona, the limestone cliffs of Garraf drop into the sea with Gaudí’s Celler Güell perched above – a hunting lodge turned wine cellar most people never see from the land side. A few miles further Sitges opens up: modernista mansions along the seafront, whitewashed lanes, terraces packed until midnight – Barcelona’s glamorous neighbour, best arrived at by sea. Vilanova i la Geltrú is the working port next door – fishing fleet, Sunday mariscos, and real Catalan Carnival in the winter.
The coast runs on. The Romans founded Tarraco in 218 BC and made it the capital of Hispania Citerior; you walk the UNESCO amphitheatre built facing the sea so condemned prisoners could hear the waves before the lions were released. Dinner up there among the ruins lit at night is the kind of meal you describe for years. In Cambrils – arguably the finest seafood port in Spain, where Spanish chefs come tobuy their fish – the auction on the dock happens at sunset and your dinner comes off the same boats. Further south the Delta de l’Ebre spreads flat and strange,flamingos wading in rice-paddy wetlands.
Depending on the week’s weather, your crew’s readiness, and the captain’s call, we push further south – the ports below give the full range from Garraf to L’Ametlla de Mar.
Group destinations by distance from Barcelona.
The captain picks each day based onweather, crew experience, and the forecast.
Easier passages, flexible for mixed experience or weather, or days when the forecast won’t support longer runs south:
Garraf, Port Ginesta, Sitges,Vilanova i la Geltrú
Standard Dorada week with a stable forecast:
Comarruga, Segur de Calafell, Torredembarra (Tamarit Castle), Altafulla, Tarragona (UNESCO Roman ruins)
For experienced crews with a stable high-pressure week; the captain pushes further south depending on crew, weather, and the forecast:
Salou, Cambrils (seafood port), L’Hospitalet de l’Infant, L’Ampolla (Ebro Delta approach), L’Ametlla deMar
Fuel, marina fees & all on-water costs included
Your own berth aboard from Day 1 through final morning · Private cabin upgrade available
Daily breakfast and light lunches prepared aboard · One dinner served at anchor under the stars · Additional dinners ashore at your own pace
ASA logbooks and all certification fees included · Reference copies of textbooks available aboard and in the office — students should purchase their own before arrival
ASA 101, 103 & 104 submitted digitally
ASA-certified, English-speaking, living aboard
Each with its own berths, storage, and ventilation. One cabin is reserved for the instructor.
Minimum 2 cabins to run. Contact us to check availability.
Not sure which option suits you? Drop us a message – we’ll walk you through the group and find the right fit.
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. Contact us to check availability or reserve your spot with a deposit.
The IPC is required to charter in Greece, Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. We walk you through the application the moment your ASA 104 is signed off.
Most students receive their IPC within two weeks. Bring a passport-style photo on your phone — it’s the one thing people forget.
At the end of your course we generate your professional sailing resume — the document charter companies require alongside your certifications.
It lists your ASA certifications, courses completed with dates, vessel types sailed, nautical miles logged, and waters sailed. A clean, professional PDF you can present to any charter company in the world on the day you finish your course.
Before you arrive we strongly recommend purchasing your ASA textbook and reading it before your course begins. Students who arrive having read it pass their written exam first time. Textbooks are not included in the course fee.
ASA 101 – Sailing Made Easy
ASA 103 — Coastal Cruising Made Easy
ASA 104 — Bareboat Cruising Made Easy
Digital versions of all textbooks are available instantly on Apple Books and Google Play.
We also recommend completing the free ASA Online Intro to Sailing course (30 minutes) before arriving.