Topping up on sunshine before winter sets in! From Palma de Mallorca we sail via the protected Cabrera National Park, the dream islands of Formentera and Ibiza, and along the sun-drenched Costa Blanca to Cartagena. This voyage is relaxed island-hopping through the Balearics combined with a delightful coastal tour along the Spanish mainland. Short daily legs, plenty of alternative harbours and two built-in buffer days make this voyage safe and relaxed even in October – because autumn weather can be changeable, but here the sun still shines more than anywhere else.
Enjoy the golden Mediterranean autumn with pleasant temperatures, quiet bays without summer crowds, and that special atmosphere when the light softens and the colours become more intense. We sail together, learn from one another and enjoy the freedom on the water.
Galini, our Hanse 575, is a true bluewater yacht – built for living and travelling at sea. We sail with warm-hearted people, explore the world together and experience genuine boatlife: sun, wind, salt water, little adventures and the feeling of really discovering something together as a crew. Galini is at home on the sea and usually far from her home port of Poros. You will be part of life on board. Not everything will always go according to plan – sometimes something breaks or the weather changes our course – but that is precisely what makes it real. We are also very happy to show you the technology on board, and you can join in with everything – navigating, steering, cooking, right through to the technical side. Not a cruise, but lived community, real experiences and the magic of the sea.
We decide our stops in harbours and anchorages together. We are a crew that plans the route according to preferences, wind and weather.
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. In autumn the Balearics are significantly quieter than in summer – fewer boats, free mooring buoys at Cabrera and a particularly relaxed atmosphere on Formentera and Ibiza. The crossings between the islands and to the mainland (60–80 nautical miles each) are easy to plan but require attention in October: the so-called Gota Fría – violent cold-air outbreaks – can bring strong winds and rain at short notice. That is why two buffer days are planned in, so we can wait for the right weather window. Along the Costa Blanca (Dénia to Cartagena), safe harbours lie every 10–15 nautical miles – perfect for flexible sailing in changeable weather. The journey to Palma de Mallorca is straightforward from anywhere thanks to the large international airport. From the final port of Cartagena, you can reach Murcia-Corvera International Airport (RMU) in about 40 minutes, or Alicante Airport (ALC) in about 90 minutes – both with good connections to German-speaking countries.
Our adventure begins on Saturday in Palma de Mallorca – boarding, getting to know each other and a 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, and overnight mooring buoys must be reserved in advance. From the castle above the natural harbour you get 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. When the weather is suitable, we sail across the open sea to Formentera and Espalmador – wonderfully quiet in October, with Caribbean water almost to ourselves. From Ibiza, whose UNESCO old town of Dalt Vila unfolds its particular charm without summer tourists, we cross to the mainland at Dénia – the UNESCO city of gastronomy, famous for its red prawns and the best paella in Spain. This is where our second buffer day lies: a perfect place to wait out the weather for the coastal stretch over 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 October weather. In Cartagena, one of the Mediterranean's most historic harbours, our voyage ends. Which harbours and bays we call at exactly and how long we stay is decided – as with real sailing – by wind, weather and the crew together.
For anyone collecting miles towards their next sailing certificate: since we cross open water on this voyage, a good number of sea miles go into the logbook. Of course, we will issue you 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 genuine crew discovering new horizons together. We are not a classic charter company that runs the same tour every week. Instead, we sail together, experience real boatlife and embrace the adventure that the sea has in store for us.
Step aboard a superbly equipped, lovingly maintained boat and enjoy something special: with us nothing is off the peg. Every voyage is unique – sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned, always full of surprises. Unplanned experiences are just as much a part of it as relaxed days on deck.
Do you want more than just to sail along? Together we take care of the technology on board, and you can pitch in yourself if you like. You can turn a holiday trip into a true experience on a long-distance yacht and become part of life at sea.
Our trips combine holiday, adventure, mindfulness and real boat life. Become part of our crew and experience a special time on Galini – authentic, community-oriented and full of a spirit of adventure.
Our beautiful GALINI is a very fast, large and comfortable yacht. She spent the winter in the Caribbean and crosses 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), multi media, 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 tender with outboard motor. An abundance of safety and navigation equipment and much more – in short, everything needed to travel self-sufficiently without having to call at a supply port. A yacht that meets the highest standards of safety, design and comfort.
The sailing characteristics are also outstanding! The Hanse was designed by Volvo Ocean Racers and is the fastest yacht in her class. The joy of sailing is guaranteed!
October in the western Mediterranean: the air remains pleasantly warm at 20–25°C, and the water is 22–23°C – fine for swimming and noticeably warmer than at home. The autumn sun is lower in the sky and bathes the coastlines in a particularly warm light. The Balearics are dominated by northerly to north-easterly winds of force 2–4, interrupted by calm days. Along the Costa Blanca, thermal breezes and occasional poniente (westerly) prevail. In October one must expect occasional bad-weather phases – the notorious Gota Fría can briefly bring strong south-easterly winds and rain. The two buffer days are planned precisely for this, and the dense succession 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 Mediterranean autumn.
Anyone can, if they want, help with sailing, take the helm now and then, or simply enjoy the beautiful nature and the day. In addition, everyone is jointly responsible for the crew's well-being. This means that everyone takes their turn preparing breakfast or looking after dinner. Usually the hobby cooks on board quickly emerge, and those who are not so into cooking simply stand back and do the washing up. When berthing and casting off, everyone generally lends a hand according to their abilities and after instruction from the skipper. The boat must be kept clean by the crew members during the voyage. The final cleaning, however, is carried out by the marina staff.
All crew members (except the skipper) pay an amount agreed together into the kitty. During the voyage, this kitty covers all joint costs incurred (e.g. diesel, harbour fees, deposit insurance, transit log, tourist tax, national and nature park fees, service pack for the provided bed linen, final cleaning, gas, marina fee for the first and last night in harbour, etc.). In keeping with old seafaring tradition, the crew also covers the skipper's food during the voyage.
Berth charter is the best opportunity for anyone who wants to get to know sailing life. Prior knowledge or your own sailing experience is not necessary. Perhaps you have already gained sailing experience and completed sailing training and want to deepen it? – Then the skipper will give you the opportunity to try things out for yourself and help you gain future confidence. The crew can help shape the course of the voyage and their wishes will be heard, subject to safety and weather. On such a trip you meet like-minded people, can make new pleasant acquaintances, and have an experienced skipper at your side who takes care of all nautical matters. The cabins on the yacht are mostly different, but very similarly equipped. The berths are allocated by the skipper taking crew wishes into account. 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 GALINI we test various products that provide a great sailing experience while putting less strain on the environment. At the same time, she is on a journey to explore the world. Her base is on Poros, Greece. Most of the time, however, she is on a long voyage. Our small team of skippers looks forward to sharing a real sailing experience with you!
