Arriving ready for the transatlantic
The boat arrives alongside several days before you. You use this time for provisioning, final adjustments and welcoming your crew.
Before the transatlantic · Marseille → Las Palmas
Boat delivery to the Canaries: your sailboat in Las Palmas before the transatlantic
Setting off across the Atlantic but unable to sail the passage south? Our Capitaine 200 skipper takes your boat from Marseille to the Canaries via Gibraltar in autumn, so it is waiting for you alongside, ready to go.
From5,684€
- 1,421 miles
- Capitaine 200 skipper included
- Live GPS tracking
The route
Boat delivery to the Canaries: the route on an animated map
From Marseille to Las Palmas via the Strait of Gibraltar: follow the passage and the price of the boat delivery to the Canaries, skipper included.
Marseille → Las Palmas
- Distance
- 1,421 miles
- Time at sea
- ≈ 12 days
from5,684€
Capitaine 200 skipper included, €4 per mile. Options and actual costs in the simulator.
See the details in the simulatorPrices
Price of a boat delivery to the Canaries
A clear, displayed price per mile, Capitaine 200 skipper included.
| Route | Distance | Time at sea | Prices include taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marseille → Las Palmas | 1,421 miles | ≈ 12 days | 5,684€ |
| Marseille → Gibraltar | 692 miles | ≈ 6 days | 2,768€ |
| Las Palmas → Marseille (return) | 1,421 miles | ≈ 12 days | 5,684€ |
Second crew member, optional€250 per day, recommended for night watches on an offshore passage.
Crew meals€30 per day per person on board.
Actual costsFuel, harbour fees at stopovers and the skipper’s return flight, on receipts.
The boat delivery to the Canaries is charged per nautical mile, professional skipper included: €4 per mile, i.e. €5,684 from Marseille to Las Palmas. The price is shown upfront, with no opaque package.
The delivery simulator adds the options of your choice and the estimated costs. The price is confirmed by a written quote, and we are open to discussion depending on the boat, the date and the preparation already done.
Countdown
When should you leave Marseille for the Canaries?
- D-30Booking and technical list
- D-20Departure from Marseille
- D-14Passing Gibraltar
- D-8Arrival in Las Palmas
- D-7 to D-1You take over the boat: provisioning, final works
- DYour transatlantic departure
Everything is timed to your transatlantic departure date, D-day. For a departure from Las Palmas at the end of November, with the big rallies such as the ARC, the boat leaves Marseille at the beginning of November at the latest; by leaving at the end of October, you keep a margin for the weather and final works.
This schedule is indicative for a sailboat at 6 knots. We adjust it to your boat, your date and the forecasts, and keep you informed every day during the passage.
The passage
Mediterranean – Canaries boat delivery, leg by leg
About 1,420 miles from Marseille to Las Palmas: here is how the passage works.
| Leg | Distance | Time at sea (sailboat) |
|---|---|---|
| Marseille → Gibraltar | 692 miles | ≈ 6 days |
| Gibraltar → Las Palmas | 737 miles | ≈ 6 days |
| Marseille → Las Palmas | 1,421 miles | ≈ 12 days, weather margin included |
From Marseille to the Strait of Gibraltar
The passage starts by crossing the Gulf of Lion, where the mistral and the tramontane can rise quickly in autumn. The skipper chooses the window based on Météo-France marine bulletins, then heads via the Balearics or along the Spanish coast, towards Cartagena and Cabo de Gata. This first part, of about 690 miles, takes roughly six days.
Passing through the strait
The Strait of Gibraltar concentrates heavy commercial traffic, tidal currents and a funnelled wind, the levanter or the poniente. The passage is made on the right tide, with a possible technical stop in Gibraltar to refuel. We follow the recommendations of the Spanish authorities on areas of interaction with orcas and adapt the route accordingly.
Heading south-west for Las Palmas
After Cape Spartel, the route moves away from the Moroccan coast and heads south-west. The steady northerly following winds at this time of year often accompany the boat all the way to the Canaries. This second part of 737 miles is sailed non-stop, offshore, with a daily update sent to the owner.
Arriving in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas is the historic departure port for transatlantic crossings. In November, the marina is in high demand: we book the berth as early as possible and hand the boat over to you alongside, with a full report on its condition and the points to deal with before departure.
Preparation
Preparing the boat for the transatlantic
A real sea trial
Ten days of offshore sailing reveal everything: leaks, rigging wear, consumption, electrical autonomy. You receive a precise list of points to deal with.
Safety equipment
Liferaft, distress beacon, DSC VHF, harnesses and tethers are checked before leaving Marseille. Anything missing is reported to you immediately.
And the return?
We also bring boats back from the Canaries or the Caribbean to the Mediterranean in spring, on request.
A boat delivery to the Canaries is the best dress rehearsal before a transatlantic. The skipper tests the boat in varied conditions and notes everything that deserves your attention: a tired autopilot, a weakening pump, a sail needing repair. You arrive in Las Palmas with a clear list, not with surprises in the middle of the ocean.
- Autopilot checked
- Rigging and sails checked
- Power generation tested
- Watermaker and fresh water
- Offshore safety equipment up to date
- List of works before the transatlantic
The transatlantic
Why leave from the Canaries for the transatlantic?
The Canaries are the natural starting point for an east-west Atlantic crossing. Further south, the boat reaches the trade wind zone more quickly: the steady north-easterly winds that carry sailboats to the Caribbean in two to three weeks.
The right calendar
The North Atlantic hurricane season officially ends at the end of November. Departures from the Canaries are therefore concentrated between the end of November and January, when the trade winds set in. Taking the boat down in October leaves time to prepare it calmly in Las Palmas.
A port equipped for transatlantic crossings
Every autumn, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria welcomes hundreds of boats about to set off. Chandlers, sail lofts, mechanics and provisioning are well versed in preparing crossings, which makes the final works after the delivery easier.
Saving time and fatigue
Entrusting the passage to a professional skipper saves you two weeks of sailing before you have even set off. You arrive rested, with a boat already tested at sea and a precise list of points to settle, so you can concentrate on the transatlantic itself.
Formalities
Documents and insurance for going to the Canaries
The boat’s documents
- The registration document or francisation deed, with the owner’s contact details.
- The list of safety equipment and its service dates (liferaft, beacon, fire extinguishers).
- The documents for the radio equipment, in particular the ship station licence.
Insurance
Check that your policy covers navigation in the Atlantic as far as the Canaries with a professional skipper, then the transatlantic if you sail it afterwards. We send your insurer our Capitaine 200 qualification and professional liability insurance documents.
Payment
A deposit of 50% of the estimated price secures the skipper’s date, by bank transfer, free of charge. The balance and actual costs are invoiced on arrival in Las Palmas, on receipts.
In four steps
How the delivery works
- 1
Quote and booking
Price per mile calculated in 30 seconds in the simulator. The 50% deposit by bank transfer secures the skipper’s date.
- 2
Check before departure
Safety checklist and list of technical points to deal with before the transatlantic, sent to the owner.
- 3
Tracked passage
Live tracking link and a daily update with photos throughout the passage.
- 4
Delivery in Las Palmas
Boat alongside, delivery report: engine hours, consumption, technical observations.
In pictures
The delivery in pictures
FAQ
Boat delivery to the Canaries: your questions
How much does a boat delivery to the Canaries from Marseille cost?
The boat delivery to the Canaries from Marseille to Las Palmas comes to €5,684 for 1,421 miles, at the rate of €4 per mile, Capitaine 200 professional skipper included. Options (second crew member, crew meals) and actual costs (fuel, ports, skipper’s return) are added according to your choices, detailed in the simulator.
How long does the passage to the Canaries take?
About 10 days at sea for a sailboat at 6 knots, 12 days with the weather margin: roughly 6 days to Gibraltar, then 6 days to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
When should you leave Marseille?
Ideally in October, for arrival in the Canaries at the end of October or beginning of November, before transatlantic departures. The countdown on this page gives you the key dates from your departure day.
Do you prepare the boat for the transatlantic?
We carry out the technical check before departure and send you the list of points to deal with. The works are carried out by your contractors or our partners, on quotation. The passage also serves as a sea trial before the big crossing.
Do you make stopovers during the delivery?
Depending on the weather and the boat’s needs, technical stops are possible in the Balearics, Cartagena, Almería or Gibraltar, for fuel or to wait for a favourable window.
Is the second crew member included in the price?
No, the price shown includes the skipper alone. For an offshore passage of about ten days, we recommend a second crew member for night watches: it is offered as an option at €250 per day.
Do you track the boat during the passage?
Yes: a live tracking link and a daily update with photos, then a delivery report on arrival in Las Palmas.
Can you bring the boat back to the Mediterranean?
Yes, we bring boats back from the Canaries or the Caribbean to the Mediterranean in spring, on request. The simulator also works in the Las Palmas – Marseille direction.
What documents are needed to go to the Canaries?
The boat’s registration document, an insurance certificate covering the Atlantic area as far as the Canaries with a professional skipper, and offshore safety equipment. The Canaries are part of the European Union but have a special tax regime: find out more if the boat is to stay there for a long time.
Can we come aboard during the passage?
Yes, the owner or a crew member can take part in the delivery, depending on space on board. It is an excellent way to get to know the boat before the transatlantic, under the eye of a professional skipper.
Do you also deliver from other Mediterranean ports?
Yes. Departure can be from Port-Camargue, Sète, Toulon, the Côte d’Azur, Corsica or Barcelona: the simulator recalculates the distance and the price per mile for your departure port.
Where is the boat delivered in the Canaries?
In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the departure point for the big transatlantic rallies, or in another port in the archipelago on request: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote or La Gomera.
Quick reply, no commitment
Setting off across the Atlantic this winter?
Give us your departure date: we time the delivery so that the boat is waiting for you in Las Palmas.
Set the right course from the start!
