There are plenty of ways to learn how to sail.
Most of them keep you on a boat.
Barcelona Sailing Week does the opposite.
This is a sailing experience designed for people who want both the confidence and certifications to skipper a yacht and the freedom to experience one of Europe’s most dynamic cities. You’ll spend your days on the water building real skills, and your evenings ashore living in Barcelona the way it was meant to be lived.
Every morning begins at Port Olímpic.
Coffee in hand, you’ll step aboard a modern 35–45 foot cruising yacht alongside a small group of just 4–6 students. After a focused morning briefing — covering navigation, sail trim, boat systems, or seamanship you’ll cast off into the steady Mediterranean breeze.
From there, the learning becomes real.
You’ll rotate through the helm, trim sails, practice docking, run man-overboard drills, and begin to understand not just how to sail but how to think like a skipper.
By late afternoon, you’re back at the dock.
And then something unusual happens for a sailing program:
You step off the boat… and into Barcelona.
Evenings are entirely yours:
This is not a bubble. It’s not isolation.
It’s sailing woven into a city.
Take a look at Red Sky Sailing Barcelona to earn your ASA certifications
Midweek, the experience shifts.
On Wednesday, you’ll depart Barcelona for a true coastal passage — 18 nautical miles south along the dramatic Garraf limestone cliffs.
Your destination: Sitges.
Aiguadolç Marina welcomes you into one of Catalonia’s most beautiful seaside towns, where whitewashed streets, a Baroque church overlooking the waterfront, and a laid-back coastal energy create a completely different rhythm from Barcelona.
You’ll dock, head ashore for dinner, and spend the night aboard.
The next morning, it’s coffee in the cockpit before setting sail back to Barcelona — this time with a deeper understanding of navigation, passage planning, and crew management.
For many sailors, this is the moment everything clicks.
This isn’t a passive experience. It’s structured, hands-on training designed to build real competence on the water.
Over seven days, you’ll complete:
By the end of the week, you won’t just understand sailing — you’ll be prepared to charter a yacht.
You’ll also receive:
You’ll train aboard modern, fully equipped 35–45 foot monohull yachts — the same type of boats you’ll charter in destinations around the world.
Each vessel includes:
Breakfast and light lunches are prepared aboard daily, keeping you fueled for full days on the water. One evening during the week, you’ll also enjoy a dinner under the stars as part of the liveaboard experience.
Instruction is led by Michael LaMaina, founder of Red Sky Sailing Barcelona.
With a background that spans from competitive sailing at the United States Merchant Marine Academy to commanding a 958-foot container ship as a USCG Master Unlimited Captain, Michael brings a level of experience that’s rare in recreational sailing education.
Just as important, he knows these waters.
Having made Barcelona home in 2010, he’s spent years sailing the Mediterranean coastline — understanding its winds, passages, and character in a way that only comes from time on the water.
Barcelona Sailing Week is designed for:
You don’t need prior sailing experience just the willingness to learn and participate.
Included:
Not Included:
Because it gives you something most sailing destinations can’t:
Balance.
You’re not removed from the world, you’re stepping into it.
You’ll leave not only as a certified sailor, but with a lived experience of Barcelona that goes far beyond sightseeing.
Barcelona Sailing Week is part of the inaugural 2026 season, and availability is intentionally limited to keep the experience personal and high quality.
If you’re ready to earn your certifications and experience a city the right way, this is your moment.
To learn more or reserve your spot, contact Red Sky Sailing Barcelona
Seven days. Three certifications. One unforgettable city.
