41:06.44N 01:15.16E

16 August 2011

Early departure, at least attempted early departure.  We needed fuel so we stopped at the fuel dock.  The front office told me that it opens at 08:00.  No one in sight.  Called the marina staff on the radio and they said he comes at 08:30 which he did.  So not too bad of a delay.  400 liters at 1.34 Euro per liter.  Cheapest fuel in a long time so worth the wait.

We left at 09:00 for Barcelona 80 nautical miles to the south.  Quiet trip, all motoring and we got there in 11 hours.  Along the way the Costa Bravo is fantastic.  Cliffs, coves, small islands, clear water and some extraordinary homes.  Not much development so it retains much of its natural beauty.  Good place for day anchoring if you have time.  Some natural reserve areas have mooring buoys to prevent anchoring and damage to the bottom life.

Entering Barcelona things change.  The harbor is very busy with ferries, cargo and cruise ships coming and going.  This is the biggest and busiest harbor we have entered.  The marina of course is all the way into the harbor right next to the old town.  Good spot for a berth.  We waited outside until the Barcelona Pilot on Channel 14 gave clearance to enter behind one large ocean going ferry from Mallorca and before another chasing it 10 minutes later.

The marina is nearly full but has visitor berths open this time of year as many locals head to other places for the summer.  Good help from the staff who got us berthed just after a 45 meter yacht and before another came in.

Nice place to explore Barcelona for the next several days.

Costa Bravo coast heading toward Barcelona.

First sight when entering the harbor is the W hotel.

Further in the art gets stranger.

At the far end the marina looks normal.

But a big port needs a good office building and Barcelona definitely has one to show off.