Spanish Sailing likes to think that it is not just another sailing charter with a skipper. In fact, they like to think that they are the best value for sailing trips in Catalunya because of their commitment to budget prices, to keeping group numbers low, and to keeping the quality of the boat and the onboard hospitality above the norm!
In keeping with our policy to test everything in Barcelona, except warm cava and folk dancing, we sent our crew of landlubbers to board the good ship “Sloopy” in Tarragona to find out if Spanish Sailing really could live up to their claim.
The conclusion was a big Thumbs Up!
Spanish Sailing is a quality boat, good food and has a great on board atmosphere. If you are looking for sailing trips from day trips to weekends to training courses, then Spanish Sailing is probably the best value skippered charter service around the waters of Catalunya!
Spanish Sailing was founded by Malcolm Hughes in 2005. That was when Malcolm decided that it was time for a big change in his life and when he swapped his car steering wheel for a steering wheel on “Sloopy”, a yacht based in the marina at Tarragona.
Malcolm chose Tarragona because it is an ideal base. Smaller than Barcelona, marina prices are lower making the sailing trips more affordable. The location is practical for both customers with Barcelona airport just an hour away and 10 minutes to the airport of Reus
Now instead of being stuck in a traffic jam or squashed in an airline seat, Malcolm can usually be found happily stuck somewhere along the beautiful Costa Dorada/Costa Brava coast anywhere from the Ebro Delta to Barcelona and the Costa Brava!
“Aaaaaaaaaaaa-nother hard day at the office!” as Malcolm likes to put it!
Skipper Malcolm likes his new office better!
The office is “Sloopy,” a fully MCA approved spacious 37’ Jeanneau sailing boat with 2 comfortable double guest cabins below deck each with hot and cold running water. She also has a large saloon and comfortable dining area.
Now in his third season, the captain’s log of “Sloopy” can already attest to a steady stream of very satisfied guests from all over the world.
Some have just been along for a lazy family holiday, others are close to buying their own boats and want to ‘practise‘ at being captain with an expert nearby.
Others want to learn to sail and have varying levels of experience already.
Many have never experienced the joy of a day’s sailing on the Med before and this is one of the things that Malcolm is most pleased with. Full order books aside, it feels good to be putting a quality sailing experience within reach of almost everyone!
With a day trip cost per person as low as 60 euros each, it really is something everyone can enjoy, even on a modest Spanish salary.
Low prices does not mean low service or packed groups however. Malcolm makes sure that the group numbers are kept low and that customers do not have to share with other groups. You will have the boat to yourself, even for groups of just 2 or 3 people. Spanish Sailing also makes sure guests eat and drink well. Things like high quality bedding and towels are a given. No sleeping on settees or sharing bunks with bags of wet sails!
Another reason customers are satisfied is the high level of safety. Skipper Malcolm is a commercially qualified Yachtmaster with many years’ experience.
He is also an authorized sailing instructor. And you won’t get lost at sea either, because he used to build the advanced electronic navigation systems that are installed on board “Sloopy.”
The boat itself is fully certified under the UK MCA code of practice. Not all sailing charter companies meet this standard as compliance is expensive and far reaching, but for Spanish Sailing safety is a top priority.
Everyone on board, young or old, can have a go at steering the Sloopy - even into the busy port of Barcelona!
Although Malcolm is a highly capable sailing skipper, he is also a friendly and sociable host and more than happy to relinquish the helm to let guests have a go at steering the boat, while he entertains the rest of the party with tales of his travels around the world and adventures on the high seas.
Even though he can be in the middle of a fine seafaring yarn, you can be sure he always keeps an eye on the course we are on. Sometimes he might just pause in his story to advise the person at the wheel that with a slight adjustment, we will not sail into a rather formidable oil tanker today either!
The most popular trips are probably the day sailing trips and weekend sailing trips. The day trips are usually holiday makers staying in the Catalonia area or permanent residents.
On a day trip you will sail all day and perhaps drop anchor in a cove. In the summer you can then enjoy diving, swimming and snorkelling in the clear Mediterranean waters before enjoying lunch on board.
The day trips can also be special celebratory day trips with additional treats. And Malcolm also does corporate sailing trips in Barcelona as incentive or rewards.. There’s no better place for team building than on board a sailing boat in a fresh breeze.
Spanish Sailing often have weekend trips and week-long charters. And in the cooler months Malcolm now offers many different training sailing courses of many levels right up to gaining a recognised qualification that is accepted all over the world.
While Malcolm is a master of the seas, he admits that he is still struggling with mastering the Spanish language except for the necessary nautical terms, so if he has international groups on board, he can call on crew members who speak Spanish and Catalan.
Finally, as we always do, we asked if Spanish Sailing is a “green” company. Malcolm says that in general that Spanish Sailing is very environmentally conscious and happily seems to attract “green” customers too.
Everyone on board is very conscious of what goes into the sea. Other customers have made a deliberate choice to come by train or car rather than fly. And in general the world of sailing revolves around living a balanced life in harmony with nature and based on wind power.
Spanish Sailing often have weekend trips and week-long charters. And in the cooler months Malcolm now offers many different 
