Top up on sunshine again before winter arrives! From Palma de Mallorca we sail through the protected Cabrera National Park, the dream islands of Formentera and Ibiza, and along the sun-drenched Costa Blanca to Cartagena. This trip is a relaxed island hopping through the Balearic Islands combined with a scenic coastal tour along the Spanish mainland. Short daily stages, many alternative ports and two built-in buffer days make this trip safe and relaxed even in October – because the weather can be changeable in autumn, but the sun still shines here more than anywhere else.
Enjoy the golden autumn in the Mediterranean with pleasant temperatures, quiet bays without summer tourists and the special atmosphere when the light becomes softer and the colours more intense. We sail together, learn from each other and enjoy the freedom on the water.
We decide our stops in ports and anchorages together. We are a crew that plans the route according to preferences, wind and weather.
- • CabreraSpain’s largest maritime national park south of Mallorca: 17 islands, crystal clear water, Blue Grotto and a medieval castle above the natural harbour. Only 50 boats per day are allowed to visit the park – a real privilege.
- • Formentera & EspalmadorCaribbean water, endless beaches and the most relaxed island in the Balearics, wonderfully quiet in October
- • IbizaNot partying, but the UNESCO old town Dalt Vila, Phoenician history and authentic fishing villages in October mode
- • DéniaUNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015, home of the famous Gamba Roja and the best paella in Spain
- • Calpe & Peñón de IfachThe spectacular 332-metre-high limestone rock right by the sea, landmark of the Costa Blanca
- • AlicanteLively port city with the Castillo de Santa Bárbara high above the city
- • CartagenaOne of the oldest natural harbours in the Mediterranean with 3,000 years of history: Carthaginians, Romans, Spanish Armada
Our adventure begins on Saturday in Palma de Mallorca – boarding, getting to know each other and safety briefing in the capital of the Balearics. From Palma we first sail south to the Cabrera Archipelago – Spain’s largest maritime national park. Only 50 boats per day are allowed to enter the protected waters, overnight moorings must be reserved in advance. From the castle above the natural harbour you have a breathtaking view over the archipelago. Cabrera is also our first buffer day: if the weather is not yet right for the 80-nautical-mile leg to Formentera, we enjoy an extra day in the national park. In suitable weather we sail across the open sea to Formentera and Espalmador – wonderfully quiet in October with Caribbean water almost all to ourselves. From Ibiza, whose UNESCO old town Dalt Vila unfolds its special charm without summer tourists, we cross to the mainland to Dénia – the UNESCO city of gastronomy, famous for its red shrimp and the best paella in Spain. Here lies our second buffer day: a perfect place to wait for the weather for the coastal stretch with a glass of wine and fresh Gamba Roja. Along the Costa Blanca we sail via Calpe with its imposing Peñón de Ifach and Alicante to Cartagena. The short legs along the coast with a harbour every 10–15 nautical miles offer maximum flexibility – just right for the October weather. In Cartagena, one of the most historic harbours in the Mediterranean, our voyage ends. Which harbours and coves we exactly call at and how long we stay where is decided – as in real sailing – by the wind, the weather and the crew together.
For anyone collecting miles for their next sailing certificate: as we cross open sea on this voyage, you’ll get a good number of nautical miles in your logbook. Of course, we will issue an official mileage confirmation at the end of the trip.
Our Galini travels the world – and you can be part of it! With us you are not an anonymous guest on a standard route, but part of a real crew exploring new horizons together. We are not a classic charter company that does the same tour every week. Instead, we sail together, experience real boat life and embrace the adventure that the sea holds for us.
Step aboard a well-equipped, lovingly maintained boat and enjoy something special: nothing off-the-shelf here. Each voyage is unique – sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned, always full of surprises. Unplanned experiences are just as much a part of it as relaxing days on deck.
Do you want more than just being a passenger? We take care of the boat’s technology together, and you can lend a hand yourself if you like. You can turn the holiday trip into a real experience on a long-distance cruising yacht and become part of life at sea.
Our voyages combine holiday, experience, mindfulness and real boat life. Become part of our crew and experience a special time on Galini – authentic, communal and full of adventurous spirit.
The Balearics and the Costa Blanca still offer pleasant sailing conditions in October with air temperatures around 20–25°C and water temperatures of 22–23°C. The Balearics are significantly quieter in autumn than in summer – fewer boats, free moorings on Cabrera and a particularly relaxed atmosphere on Formentera and Ibiza. The crossings between the islands and to the mainland (60–80 NM each) are well planable, but require attention in October: the so-called Gota Fría – heavy cold air intrusions – can bring strong winds and rain at short notice. Therefore two buffer days are planned to wait for the right weather window. Along the Costa Blanca (Dénia to Cartagena) there are safe harbours every 10–15 nautical miles – perfect for flexible sailing in changeable weather. Travelling to Palma de Mallorca is easy from anywhere thanks to the large international airport. From the destination harbour Cartagena you can reach the international airport Murcia-Corvera (RMU) in about 40 minutes or Alicante airport (ALC) in about 90 minutes – both with good connections to German-speaking countries.
October in the western Mediterranean: The air is still pleasantly warm at 20–25°C, the water is 22–23°C – swimmable and significantly warmer than at home. The autumn sun is lower and bathes the coasts in a particularly warm light. In the Balearics, predominantly northerly to northeasterly winds blow with 2–4 Bft., interrupted by calm days. Along the Costa Blanca, thermal breezes and occasional Poniente (west wind) prevail. In October, individual bad weather phases must be expected – the notorious Gota Fría can briefly bring strong southeast wind and rain. That is exactly why the two buffer days are planned, and the dense sequence of harbours along the coast offers safe alternatives at any time. Most of the time, however, we can expect bright sunshine and good sailing wind – the golden autumn of the Mediterranean.
Our beautiful GALINI is a very fast, large and comfortable yacht. She spent the winter in the Caribbean and will cross the Atlantic in April/May.
She is a modern Hanse 575 with 4 double cabins and a skipper’s cabin. Each cabin has its own bathroom with electric toilet. Wi-Fi via Starlink (optional), multimedia, generator 220 V / 7 kW, (230 V in all cabins), washing machine, air fryer and coffee machine. She has large solar panels, radar, AIS, a watermaker, hydraulic swim platform and a dinghy with outboard motor. An abundance of safety and navigation equipment and much more, everything you need to be self‑sufficient without having to call at a supply port. A yacht that meets the highest standards for safety, design and comfort.
The sailing characteristics are also outstanding! The Hanse was designed by Vovo Ocean Racers and is the fastest yacht in its class. Sailing fun is guaranteed!
✓ Included services
- Shared sailing trip with experienced skipper
- Berth on the yacht
- Sailing instruction
- Mileage confirmation (on request)
+ Additional costs / boat fund
- Boat fund (harbour fees, meals, diesel, final cleaning etc.): approx. 250 EUR per week/person
- Arrival/Departure
What are the crew’s duties?
Anyone can help with sailing if they want, even take the helm once, or simply enjoy the beautiful nature and the day. Furthermore, everyone is jointly responsible for the crew’s meals. That means everyone takes turns preparing breakfast or handling dinner. Usually, the hobby cooks on board quickly emerge, and those who are not so into cooking simply hold back and do the dishes. When docking and undocking, everyone generally lends a hand according to their abilities and after instructions from the skipper. The boat is to be kept clean by the crew members during the trip. However, the final cleaning is done by the marina staff.
What does the onboard kitty actually mean?
All crew members (except the skipper) pay a jointly agreed amount into the onboard kitty. From this kitty, all common costs incurred during the trip are covered (e.g., diesel, harbor fees, deposit insurance, transit log, tourist tax, national and nature park fees, service pack for provided bed linen, final cleaning, gas, marina fee for the first and last night in port, etc.). According to old seafaring tradition, the skipper is provided with meals by the crew during the trip.
What does cabin charter mean?
Cabin charter is the best option for anyone who wants to experience the sailing life. No prior knowledge or sailing experience is necessary. Perhaps you already have sailing experience, completed sailing training, and want to deepen it? – Then the skipper will give you the opportunity to try yourself out and help you gain future confidence. The crew can help shape the course of the trip, and your wishes will be considered, subject to safety and weather. On such a trip, you meet like-minded people, make new nice acquaintances, and have an experienced skipper at your side who takes care of all nautical matters. The cabins on the yacht are usually equipped with different but very similar cabins. The berths are allocated by the skipper taking into account crew preferences. Whole cabins can be chartered by individuals, couples, or families. Payment is per person, and you don’t have to worry about anything else.
We want to make sailing more sustainable and environmentally friendly. On our GALINI, we test innovative products to combine a great sailing experience with the smallest possible ecological footprint. Our small team of experienced skippers looks forward to experiencing real sailing adventures together with you. Our base is on Poros, Greece – from there we explore the most beautiful cruising areas in the world.
