Since the 1992 Olympic Games and the increasing profile of the Barcelona World Race, sailing in and around Barcelona has undergone something of a resurgence in the last twenty years or so and has opened up the city to the sea. It may come as a surprise to some that sailing is the sport which has given Spain the most Olympic medals. Barcelona boasts two yacht clubs – the Real Club Nautico and the Real Club Maritimo – and four well equipped marinas – Port Olimpic, Port Forum, Marina Badalona and Port Vell – the latter of which is in the process of being re-modeled to accommodate SuperYachts up to 160m.
For many the attraction of Barcelona as a sailing base lies in its climate. Compared to other sailing bases, you can get onto the water practically the whole year round. This, in addition to low rents in the winter months means that the likes of the Catalan capital remain attractive to boat owners outside high season. “Barcelona was a well kept secret as a locatin to keep your boat all year,” explains John Audabran of Barcelona Private Yacht Services “Prior to creating my own Company I used to head the Marketing department of Marina Port Vell and over the years a large community of sailors from many parts of the world decided to live onboard in the old port. Lots of couples from the UK moved there – they even created their own radio station. The saying was ‘with more than 300 days of sunshine why go back to rainy England to be cold and miserable’. It’s also a lot cheaper to live here”
Sailing from Barcelona offers many possibilities. For those who fancy a day-trip, you can sail south of Barcelona to the vibrant town of Sitges and its long sandy beaches. If you are feeling more adventurous, sail further south to historic Tarragona or even Valencia, but allow at least a week for your trip. Sailing north you can discover the breathtaking bays and coves of the Costa Brava with its numerous stop-off points including AiguaBlava, Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc, L’Estartit, the bay of Roses and the stunning town of Cadaques on the Cap de Creus Peninsula “A trip up to the Costa brava will take a good 18 hours of sailing time,” warns John Audabran “but who needs to rush? A four day trip would be better.”
The Balearics is also a popular destination. The sun-kissed ancient Mediterranean Port of Palma provides an excellent base for discovering the Balearic capital. If you have a week or more to spare, you can discover Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera…
If you are thinking of registering a sailing boat, you’ll need to do so if the vessel spends more than half the year in Spanish waters. The majority of the Maritime Authorities are able to register (or re-register) vessels. The cost of registration includes a matriculation tax of 12 percent of the vessel’s value. “To charter a yacht in Spain the boat needs to be commercially registered and paperwork indicating that the VAT was paid on the hull,” explains Audabran. “Then a lengthy process of bureaucracy begins with the application for a Charter permit”
A sailing permit (titulo de recreo) is not needed to sail the likes of motor boats of up to 4 metres in length and power less than 10Kw, sailing boats up to 5 metres in length, kayaks and canoes. All other vessels, however, can only be handled by a person holding the appropriate licence. Failure to have a licence may result in the vessel being confiscated or a hefty fine, so it is advisable to do your homework before setting sail…
Check out some Lucas Fox luxury properties close to the Barcelona’s Marinas below
Duplex apartment in Villa Olimpica with stunning sea views
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If you are interested in chartering a yacht please you can contact John Audabran of Barcelona Private Yacht Services on +34 606118242 or via email audabran@bpys.es