The Overnight Passage · Serra de Tramontana · ASA 101-103-104
The Barcelona-to-Mallorca passage is Red Sky’s longest sailing week and the one that teaches offshore sailing: a ninety-nautical-mile open-water crossing of the Balearic Sea with an overnight watch rotation, celestial basics, and the kind of self-reliant small-boat sailing that is the whole point of ASA 104. This is the Learn to Sail Vacation for students who want to earn their bareboat charter certification on the real thing, not on a day-sail bay. The week starts at Marina Port Vell in Barcelona and departs on an evening breeze, sailing offshore beneath the stars with sunrise over Mallorca’s Serra de Tramontana the next morning.
Mallorca’s north coast is the second half of the week — a UNESCO-listed landscape of limestone mountains dropping straight into the Mediterranean, where secluded coves alternate with the handful of all-weather harbors that make this coast a textbook ASA 103 cruising ground. The Serra de Tramontana rises nearly 1,500 metres from the sea; the swell wraps around Cap Formentor; and the week works westward along the coast past Port de Sóller (the main provisioning harbor, horseshoe-shaped under the mountains, with the Sóller tram running to the orange-grove valley), Sa Calobra (where the Torrent de Pareis gorge meets the sea beneath cliffs nearly 200 meters high), Cala Deià (where the poet Robert Graves lived, wrote, and is buried in the village churchyard), Valldemossa (where Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838), and Port d’Andratx. Dinners along the coast are Mallorcan — grilled fish with a Mallorquin white at a seaside taberna in Deià, pa amb oli with sobrasada and local olive oil, ensaïmada with coffee in a Palma market.
The schedule runs the route in both directions, with the overnight passage either the opening or the closing leg of the week:
• Week 1 (Barcelona → Mallorca): outbound overnight passage on Day 1, coastal cruising on the Tramontana coast the rest of the week.
• Week 2 (Mallorca → Barcelona): coastal cruising at the start, returning overnight passage at the end.
• Both weeks as a fourteen-day course: the overnight passage sailed twice.
Students at the helm through the night watches with the Mestral or Garbí on the beam get the offshore-sailing experience that no amount of day-sailing can substitute. The week closes with the final ASA 104 docking exam under Mediterranean marina conditions. Students leave with ASA 101 (Basic Keelboat), ASA 103 (Coastal Cruising), and ASA 104 (Bareboat Chartering) certifications earned on real offshore sailing in the Balearic Sea.
This learn-to-sail vacation with Red Sky Sailing Barcelona covers the certifications:
¤ ASA 101 | KEELBOAT SAILING 1
¤ ASA 103 | COASTAL CRUISING
¤ ASA 104 | BAREBOAT CRUISING
July 3–9, 2027 | Outbound Sailing Adventure
Arrive in Barcelona and meet your instructor and fellow sailors at Marina Port Vell or Port Olimpic. Settle aboard your Beneteau 37 LE, complete your safety orientation, and prepare for the week ahead. Depart Barcelona in the evening for an unforgettable 90-nautical-mile overnight offshore passage toward Mallorca, sailing beneath the stars across the Mediterranean.
Watch the sunrise over Mallorca’s dramatic Serra de Tramuntana mountains as you complete your offshore crossing. Arrive in Port de Sóller, a beautiful horseshoe-shaped harbor surrounded by towering limestone peaks. Explore the waterfront or ride the historic wooden tram into Sóller, a charming town famous for its orange groves, traditional architecture, and locally made ice cream.
Sail along Mallorca’s breathtaking UNESCO-listed Serra de Tramuntana coastline, where rugged limestone cliffs rise dramatically from the Mediterranean. Continue toward Sa Calobra, a spectacular anchorage at the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis gorge. Swim in crystal-clear waters, explore the natural tunnel leading into the gorge, and enjoy the unforgettable scenery of cliffs rising nearly 200 meters above the sea.
Continue along Mallorca’s stunning northwest coastline toward Cala Deià, a picturesque cove beneath the historic village where poet and novelist Robert Graves lived and wrote. Anchor in the sheltered waters before exploring the village’s charming stone streets and scenic hillside paths. Enjoy fresh grilled seafood and local Mallorcan wine at Ca’s Patró March or relax in the village square beneath ancient olive trees.
Sail southwest along Mallorca’s dramatic coastline, passing Valldemossa, where Frédéric Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838, and the beautiful terraced vineyards of Banyalbufar. Continue through the scenic Dragonera Channel, passing the uninhabited island of Sa Dragonera. Arrive in Port d’Andratx, a picturesque harbor nestled within a deep natural inlet, and enjoy an evening exploring the waterfront.
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Port d’Andratx before setting sail for Palma de Mallorca. Continue developing your ASA 104 skills with hands-on navigation, boat handling, and passage planning as you sail along Mallorca’s scenic coastline. Arrive in Palma for your final evening aboard.
End week 1 in Mallorca.
July 10–16, 2027 | Return Sailing Adventure
Arrive at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) and make your way to the marina to meet your instructor and fellow sailors. Settle aboard your Beneteau 37 LE, complete your safety orientation, and prepare for the week ahead. Spend the evening exploring Palma’s historic old town, visiting the magnificent La Seu Cathedral, and enjoying traditional Mallorcan cuisine.
Set sail along Mallorca’s beautiful southwestern coastline toward Port d’Andratx, a picturesque harbor surrounded by rugged hills and Mediterranean scenery. Navigate past the dramatic island of Sa Dragonera and enjoy views of the coastline as you begin developing your sailing and navigation skills. Spend the evening exploring the harbor’s charming waterfront restaurants and cafés.
Continue north along the UNESCO-listed Serra de Tramuntana coastline, passing the terraced vineyards of Banyalbufar and the historic village of Valldemossa. Arrive at Cala Deià, a beautiful cove beneath the hillside village once home to poet Robert Graves. Enjoy an afternoon exploring the village, swimming in the Mediterranean, or dining at a seaside restaurant overlooking the water.
Sail along Mallorca’s dramatic northwest coast toward Sa Calobra, one of the island’s most spectacular natural anchorages. Admire towering limestone cliffs rising nearly 200 meters above the sea and explore the Torrent de Pareis gorge. Practice essential sailing and seamanship skills before enjoying an afternoon surrounded by breathtaking Mediterranean scenery.
Continue cruising along the Serra de Tramuntana coastline toward Port de Sóller, a picturesque horseshoe-shaped harbor surrounded by mountains. Explore the waterfront or ride the historic wooden tram into Sóller to discover its charming streets, orange groves, and local specialties. Spend the evening preparing for your upcoming offshore passage back to Barcelona.
Depart Mallorca for an exciting 90-nautical-mile offshore passage across the Mediterranean toward Barcelona. Put your sailing, navigation, and seamanship skills into practice while experiencing night sailing, watchkeeping, and offshore passage planning. Enjoy the unforgettable experience of sailing beneath the stars as you make your way toward the Catalan coast.
Complete your offshore crossing and arrive at Marina Port Vell or Port Olimpic in Barcelona. Celebrate your sailing accomplishments and ASA certifications earned during the voyage before saying farewell to your instructor and fellow sailors. Disembark and enjoy the opportunity to explore Barcelona or begin your journey home.
Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example. However, it is important to note that the actual itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
