Training Barcelona, Spain RYA MCA

Barcelona Sailing School (Blue Oyster Sailing)

RYA- and MCA-accredited sailing and superyacht training in Barcelona, offering STCW safety certification, Yachtmaster programmes, VHF SRC, powerboat courses and professional deckhand packages on the western Mediterranean coast.

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About Barcelona Sailing School (Blue Oyster Sailing)

Barcelona Sailing School, trading as Blue Oyster Sailing, is an RYA- and MCA-accredited training centre based in Barcelona. The school delivers a comprehensive suite of professional maritime courses designed to take crew from first steps to commercial qualification, all within one of Europe's most vibrant sailing destinations on the western Mediterranean coast.

The school's STCW 10 programme runs on a fortnightly cycle — courses start every other Monday — covering all four mandatory MCA modules, including sea-based survival training. Alongside STCW, the school delivers the full RYA progression pathway from Day Skipper theory through Coastal Skipper to Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean, plus a one-day VHF SRC radio course and dedicated RYA Powerboat Level 2 training for superyacht tender drivers.

For those entering the professional superyacht industry, the school's Pro Deck Hand packages bundle VHF/SRC, Powerboat Level 2 and STCW 10 into a single cohesive programme — or alternatively the RYA Competent Crew plus STCW 10 combination — enabling graduates to crew commercially on yachts and powerboats from day one.

RYA Recognised Training Centre MCA Accredited

Courses at Barcelona Sailing School

STCW Basic Safety Training
Starts every other Monday

Four mandatory MCA STCW 10 modules — Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety and Social Responsibility — with sea-based survival training included.

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RYA Powerboat / Tender
Superyacht tender focus

RYA Powerboat Level 1 and Level 2 courses aimed at superyacht tender drivers, delivering the practical powerboat handling skills required for professional yacht crew.

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RYA Shorebased — Day Skipper / Coastal / Yachtmaster Theory
Full progression pathway

RYA shorebased theory supporting the full progression pathway from Day Skipper through Coastal Skipper to Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Ocean.

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Yachtmaster / OOW
Offshore & Ocean

RYA Yachtmaster training including Offshore and Fast Track Yachtmaster programmes, with progression from Competent Crew and Day Skipper to Yachtmaster Coastal and Ocean, with STCW 10 endorsements available.

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GMDSS / VHF SRC
1 day

One-day RYA/MCA Short Range Certificate (SRC) VHF radio course, also bundled into the Pro Deck Hand package. A mandatory qualification for anyone operating VHF radio at sea.

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Deckhand / Superyacht Intro Packages
Pro Deck Hand bundles

Pro Deck Hand packages combining VHF/SRC, Powerboat Level 2 and STCW 10 — or the RYA/MCA Competent Crew plus STCW 10 route — designed to get you crew-ready to work professionally on yachts and powerboats.

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Prices and dates are indicative — confirm directly with Barcelona Sailing School before booking.

Where to Stay Near Barcelona

Hotel
Grand Hotel Central

A 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, a 5-minute walk from Barcelona Cathedral and Las Ramblas, with a rooftop infinity pool and skyline views.

In the city centre, walking distance to major maritime and cultural landmarks · From approximately €350 per night
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Boutique Guesthouse / Hostel
Casa Gracia Barcelona

A stylish boutique property on Passeig de Gràcia offering private and shared rooms plus apartments, close to Gaudí's La Pedrera and well-connected by metro.

On Passeig de Gràcia, approximately 300 m from La Pedrera · Private rooms from around €50–€100 per night
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Serviced Apartment
Cosmo Apartments Marina – Auditori

Modern, fully equipped serviced apartments near the marina and Port Olímpic, with wooden floors, open-plan kitchens, and proximity to Barceloneta beach — well suited to maritime course attendees.

Adjacent to Port Olímpic and marina area, approximately 3 km from city centre · Mid-range; check cosmoapart.com for current pricing
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Getting to Barcelona

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By Air

Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) sits approximately 15 km south-west of the city centre. Aerobus shuttle: 35 min to Plaça de Catalunya, €10.25. Train from Terminal 2: 20 min to Barcelona-Sants, €4.50. Taxi: 20–40 min depending on traffic, €35–€45. Metro L9 South: approx 40 min, €4.60.

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By Rail

Barcelona Sants is the main intercity station, located in the west of the city approximately 3 km from the Gothic Quarter. Served by Renfe (AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity) and SNCF cross-border TGV services from France. High-speed AVE services connect to Madrid (~2.5 hrs), Seville, Málaga and Girona. International TGV services run to Paris via Perpignan. Metro lines 3 and 5 serve the station for onward travel within Barcelona.

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By Ferry

The Port of Barcelona (Terminal Ferry Barceloneta and international terminals) is a major Mediterranean hub. Operators including Baleària, Grimaldi Lines, GNV and Trasmediterrànea serve the Balearic Islands (Mallorca ~7.5 hrs, Ibiza ~8 hrs, Menorca ~4 hrs), plus Genoa, Civitavecchia, Tangier, Nador and Algiers.

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By Car

Barcelona is served by the AP-7 (coastal motorway from France and Valencia), the A-2 (from Madrid and Zaragoza), and the C-32/C-31 from the south. Follow signs for 'Centre Urbà' or specific districts on arrival. Street parking in central Barcelona is very limited. Underground car parks (BSM-operated) are widely available but can cost €25–€35 per day.

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Barcelona is one of Spain's best-connected cities. El Prat Airport (BCN) is 15 km from the city centre with multiple fast transfer options. Barcelona Sants is the main intercity rail hub. The Port of Barcelona is a major Mediterranean ferry port with routes to the Balearic Islands, Italy, and North Africa. Driving into central Barcelona is straightforward via the AP-7 motorway, though urban parking is limited and expensive.

Important: Course dates, availability and prices shown on this page are indicative only and were gathered from providers' public websites. Always confirm current dates, availability and pricing directly with the training provider before making any booking or payment. All bookings are made directly with the provider — YachtSync is not a party to any booking and accepts no responsibility for date changes, cancellations, pricing errors or any other changes made by providers. Course information is for guidance only; verify requirements with the relevant authority (MCA, RYA, STCW) before enrolling.

Course guides for courses offered here