Delivery of a new or second-hand boat
Yards and dealers often deliver on the Atlantic coast. We take delivery of the boat at the yard, carry out the technical handover and deliver it to your home port in the Mediterranean.
Atlantic → Mediterranean via Gibraltar
La Rochelle to Marseille boat delivery: your boat delivered to the Mediterranean
Are you buying a sailboat, catamaran or motorboat on the Atlantic coast? Our Capitaine 200 skipper brings it down through the Bay of Biscay, Portugal and Gibraltar to Marseille, in about two weeks.
From6,840€
- 1,710 miles
- Capitaine 200 skipper included
- Live GPS tracking
The route
La Rochelle to Marseille delivery: the route on an animated map
Choose your departure port on the Atlantic: the route is drawn, the boat sails and the price of the La Rochelle to Marseille delivery is displayed, skipper included.
La Rochelle → Marseille
- Distance
- 1,710 miles
- Time at sea
- ≈ 14 days
from6,840€
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 from La Rochelle to Marseille
A clear, displayed price per mile, Capitaine 200 skipper included.
| Route | Distance | Time at sea | Prices include taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Rochelle → Marseille | 1,710 miles | ≈ 14 days | 6,840€ |
| Les Sables-d'Olonne → Marseille | 1,692 miles | ≈ 14 days | 6,768€ |
| La Trinité-sur-Mer → Marseille | 1,671 miles | ≈ 14 days | 6,684€ |
| Lisbon → Marseille | 1,014 miles | ≈ 8 days | 4,056€ |
Second crew member, optional€250 per day, recommended for night watches over two weeks at sea.
Crew meals€30 per day per person on board.
Actual costsFuel, harbour fees at stopovers and the skipper’s outward journey, on receipts, with no mark-up.
The delivery price is calculated per nautical mile covered: €4 per mile, professional skipper included. For a La Rochelle to Marseille delivery, that comes to €6,840. You see immediately what the passage costs, with no opaque package or surprise on arrival.
Options are chosen in the delivery simulator, which details each line: second crew member, meals, preparation day if the boat is not ready, the skipper’s return. The final price is confirmed by a written quote, and we are open to discussion for a new boat delivered by a yard or a delivery combined with a season under management.
The crossing
La Rochelle – Marseille boat delivery, leg by leg
About 1,700 miles through the Atlantic and the Mediterranean: here is how the passage south works.
| Leg | Distance | Time at sea (sailboat) |
|---|---|---|
| La Rochelle → A Coruña (Bay of Biscay) | ≈ 330 miles | ≈ 2 to 3 days |
| A Coruña → Lisbon | ≈ 320 miles | ≈ 2 to 3 days |
| Lisbon → Gibraltar | ≈ 290 miles | ≈ 2 days |
| Gibraltar → Marseille | ≈ 690 miles | ≈ 5 to 6 days |
The Bay of Biscay, the first real crossing
Leaving La Rochelle, the route cuts across the Bay of Biscay towards Cape Finisterre. It is the most exposed part of the delivery: a long westerly swell, successive depressions out of season and few shelters on the north coast of Spain. The skipper waits for a stable two to three-day window, checks Météo-France marine bulletins and only leaves with a comfortable margin.
The Portuguese coast, carried by the Portuguese trades
Past Cape Finisterre, the prevailing northerly wind, which sailors call the Portuguese trades in summer, pushes the boat south. The run down the coast is often fast and pleasant. We follow the recommendations of the Spanish and Portuguese authorities on areas of interaction with orcas and adapt the route, closer to the coast or further offshore, depending on recent reports.
The Strait of Gibraltar, a passage to prepare
The strait concentrates dense commercial traffic, tidal currents and a funnelled wind, the levanter or the poniente. The passage is timed according to the tides and the weather, with a possible technical stop in Gibraltar or Cádiz to refuel and let a gale pass.
Up the Spanish coast to Marseille
In the Mediterranean, the route follows the Andalusian coast, Cabo de Gata, then Cartagena, before crossing towards the Balearics or heading up towards the Gulf of Lion. The last leg is played out with the mistral and the tramontane: the skipper chooses the slot to arrive in Marseille in good conditions. Charts and SHOM notices to mariners are kept up to date on board.
The alternative via the canals
Some boats can reach the Mediterranean via the Garonne and the Canal du Midi, mast down. This route avoids Gibraltar but imposes limits on draught, air draught and beam, as well as many locks. We study it case by case and tell you whether it is more relevant than the sea route for your boat.
Preparation
A delivery prepared from start to finish
Technical check before departure
Engine, rigging, sails, power, electronics, bilge pumps and safety equipment are checked before sailing. Points to address are reported to you with photos.
Offshore safety equipment
For a two-week passage, the boat must have offshore safety equipment: liferaft, distress beacon, DSC VHF, harnesses and tethers.
Daily tracking and report
A live tracking link, a daily update with photos, then a handover report with any reservations to raise with the yard for a new boat.
A La Rochelle to Marseille delivery cannot be improvised: it is a two-week offshore passage, with nights at sea and areas of heavy traffic. Preparation starts as soon as you book: we send you a list of points to check and, if the boat is not ready when the skipper arrives, a preparation day is offered to provision it, check the safety equipment and sort out the final details.
- Fuel and water tanks full
- Recent oil change and filters
- Sails and rigging checked
- Batteries and charging checked
- Safety equipment up to date
- Charts and instruments working
Compare
Delivery by sea or road transport?
To bring a boat back from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, there are two solutions: delivery by sea, with a skipper on board, or road transport on a trailer or boat carrier. The right choice depends on the size of the boat, its condition and your schedule.
Delivery by sea
The boat reaches Marseille under its own power. It is the most economical solution for a sailboat over ten metres: no unstepping the mast, no crane at either end, no oversized load convoy. The passage also becomes a genuine sea trial: the skipper tests the boat on all points of sail and gives you a full report on its behaviour, its equipment and the points to improve.
Road transport
It suits small craft, light motorboats or sailboats with a lifting keel that fit within road dimensions. Beyond 2.55 metres in beam, transport becomes an oversized load, with a pilot car, prefectoral permits and delays. On top of that come unstepping the mast, craning at departure and arrival, then restepping.
Our advice
For a cruising sailboat or catamaran, the La Rochelle to Marseille delivery by sea is almost always the simplest and cheapest solution. We help you compare the two options if your boat is borderline.
Formalities
Documents and insurance for your delivery
To carry out the delivery, we need the boat’s documents and suitable insurance. Nothing complicated, but it is best to sort it out a few days before departure.
The boat’s documents
- The francisation deed or registration document, with the owner’s contact details.
- For a new boat, the certificate of conformity issued by the yard and, if needed, the temporary registration.
- The list of safety equipment and its service dates (liferaft, beacon, fire extinguishers).
Insurance during the delivery
Most all-risks policies cover navigation with a professional skipper, provided the sailing area is covered as far as the Mediterranean. Tell your insurer the date and the itinerary: we send you 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 Marseille, 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
Taking delivery at the yard or port
Handover, safety checklist, provisioning and inspection of the boat in La Rochelle or on the Atlantic coast.
- 3
Passage via Gibraltar
Bay of Biscay, Portugal, the Strait of Gibraltar then the Spanish coast, with technical stops depending on the weather.
- 4
Delivery to Marseille
Arrival at your home port, delivery report: engine hours, consumption, technical observations.
In pictures
The delivery in pictures
FAQ
La Rochelle to Marseille delivery: your questions
How much does a La Rochelle to Marseille delivery cost?
The La Rochelle to Marseille delivery comes to €6,840 for 1,710 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 travel) are added according to your choices: the online simulator details them in 30 seconds.
How long does the delivery from La Rochelle to Marseille take?
Allow about two weeks: 11 to 15 days depending on the speed of the boat, the weather in the Bay of Biscay and conditions in the Strait of Gibraltar. For a sailboat at 6 knots, the simulator estimates 14 days with a 15% weather margin.
What route does a boat delivery from La Rochelle to Marseille follow?
The classic route crosses the Bay of Biscay to Cape Finisterre, follows the coast of Portugal, passes through the Strait of Gibraltar and then heads up the Spanish coast to the Gulf of Lion. Technical stops are possible in A Coruña, Lisbon, Gibraltar or Cartagena.
What is the best time for the delivery?
From May to September, when the Bay of Biscay offers the most reliable weather windows. A winter delivery is still possible, but it requires more flexibility on the departure date.
Should I take a second crew member?
It is not compulsory and the price shown does not include it. On a two-week passage with night sailing, we recommend it for watches and safety: it is offered as an option at €250 per day.
Can we go via the canals rather than Gibraltar?
For some boats, the inland route via the Garonne and the Canal du Midi, mast down, is possible. It depends on the boat’s draught, air draught and beam: we tell you whether it is relevant for yours.
Do you take delivery of a new boat at the yard?
Yes. We carry out the acceptance and handover at the yard, then note any reservations during the delivery, so you can raise them with the builder or seller.
Do you also deliver from Marseille to La Rochelle?
Yes, delivery works in both directions, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic as well as from the Atlantic to Marseille, and also from Les Sables-d’Olonne, southern Brittany or Lisbon.
What documents do I need to provide?
The francisation deed or registration document, an insurance certificate covering navigation with a professional skipper, and for a new boat the certificate of conformity. The boat must have offshore safety equipment.
Is it cheaper than transport by lorry?
For a cruising sailboat or catamaran, yes in most cases: no unstepping the mast, no craning and no oversized load convoy. Road transport remains relevant for small craft that fit within road dimensions.
Where does the boat arrive in the Mediterranean?
In Marseille by default, at Port Corbières or in the port of your choice. The delivery can also end in Port-Camargue, Sète, Toulon, on the Côte d’Azur or in Corsica: the simulator recalculates the distance and the price.
Which boats do you deliver?
Monohull sailboats, catamarans and motorboats, from 5 to 30 metres, with a professional skipper holding the Capitaine 200 and covered by professional liability insurance.
Quick reply, no commitment
Is your boat waiting in La Rochelle?
Let’s talk about the boat, the handover date and your arrival port.
Set the right course from the start!
