Costa Brava
Day 1 - Barcelona - Join the boat in Port' Olympic. The marina is surrounded by good restaurants but some distance from the centre of Barcelona.
Day 2 - Port' Olympic - Tossa de Mar - 40 miles. Head NE. An important and very attractive anchorage. It is exposed to winds from the NE to SE and should be avoided if there are strong winds from this direction. The anchorage dates back to Roman times who called it Turissa. There are many interesting places to visit including a Roman villa, the Old Town, and a fine Baroque church. Like all of the Costa Brava there is a good deal of development but the rocky coast and local building regulations have prevented the extremes that can be seen further South. There are numerous attractive calas to the north, particularly Cala Bona.
Day 3 - Tossa de Mar - Palamos - 15 miles. Palamos is a fairly large town and has two marinas, one within the fishing harbour at the northern end of the bay, and another round the corner to the North. Both are very busy and booking ahead is recommended. It is famous locally for its fishing fleet and for the prawns that they fish. You can also anchor in the bay or consider going to nearby Calella de Palafrugell, a smaller and prettier anchorage. There are also other beaches and calas on the way that are worth investigating.
Day 4 - Palamos - L'Estartit - 20 miles. L'Estartit is situated at the far end of Pals Bay and has one of the areas best marinas. Just offshore are the Islas Medes, an underwater nature park, rich in diverse marine life and corals. You can take a glass-bottomed boat trip round them. The nearby town of Torroella with its leafy avenues and narrow streets is worth a visit, as are the medieval towns of Pals and Peratallada. The anchorages of Aiguablava and Sa Tuna, between Palamos and L'Estartit, offer some protection and are wonderfully scenic.
Day 5 - L'Estartit - Llafranc - 10 miles. Head SE back down the coast. Llafranc is one of the prettiest little towns along the coast. The marina is nearly always full and the beautiful bay offers little in the way of protection from almost any wind. However if the weather permits this is well worth a stop. The Hotel Llafranc and the Hotel Levant both have excellent beach side restaurants and there is a charming square beside the Llafranc where you can have a drink and tapas overlooking the lovely bay.
Day 6 - Llafranc - Blanes - 25 miles. The harbour is shared by yachts and fishing boats. It is busy in the summer and it is wise to book ahead. The town and surrounding area is pleasant. Visit the botanical garden, the 14th century church and the ruined palace. The view from Castillo de San Juan, on the hill behind the harbour, is worth the climb. To the W of the harbour is a fine sandy beach.
Day 7 - Blanes - Port' Olympic - 25 miles.
Day 8 - Disembark at Port' Olympic, Barcelona
