The Oceanis 48 Trim leaves Kaštela in mid-November for Palermo, Palma de Mallorca and Gibraltar. Three legs of about a week each – join one, join two, or sail the whole run. Sailing day and night, in watches, with an eye on the forecast.
The expedition passages are a return to how NYS started – ten years ago we were taking crews from Split to Tenerife. The Oceanis 48 Trim now leaves Kaštela in mid-November for Palermo, Palma de Mallorca and Gibraltar, and from there north to Largs in Scotland.
Unlike a week in Dalmatia, this is not about fitting in as many marinas as possible. It is about long stretches, watches, planning around the forecast, and a boat that stays on the move between legs. The miles count towards RYA qualification requirements – and they are miles that are hard to collect on an ordinary cruise.
The whole run from Kaštela to Gibraltar takes about three weeks and is split into three legs. Take one, take two, or sail the lot – you pick the leg when you book.
| Leg | Route | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaštela – southern Adriatic – Ionian Sea – Sicily – Palermo | the first long stretches and settling into a watch system |
| 2 | Palermo – Tyrrhenian Sea – Sardinia – Palma de Mallorca | the longest continuous stretch of the run, several days at a time offshore |
| 3 | Palma de Mallorca – the Spanish coast – the Strait of Gibraltar | currents and heavy traffic in the strait, where the Mediterranean ends |
| Skill | What you will learn |
|---|---|
| Long stretches | several days at sea without stopping, organising and rotating watches |
| Planning | weather routing, choosing a window, deciding on an alternative port |
| Night sailing | navigating at night, running the boat in the dark, resting on a watch system |
| Maintenance under way | checking the boat, small repairs and what to do when something breaks far from shore |
| Miles in the logbook | logged miles that count towards RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster requirements |
Gibraltar is not the end of Trim's journey. The second phase heads north to Largs in Scotland and its legs are still being put together. If the Atlantic appeals more than the Mediterranean, tell us – we will come back to you when there are dates.
