Triple decker

A few of these very large catamarans have turned up on the river in recent years,  they seem to be around 50 to 60 feet in length.

 The accommodation and space aboard must be phenomenal, almost as much as the windage. Comparison with the masts of the adjacent yachts which are mostly 35 to 40 footers shows just how high that fly bridge is, great views but not sure I'd want to be up there in a gale.

The pursuit of luxury and technical innovation is understandable, but sometimes there's a feeling that problems and unforeseen consequences are perhaps being designed in.

Barcelona Rowing

Nice to see that coastal and traditional rowing is still active in Barcelona mixing it up with te super yachts in Port Vell.

Below down at Port Olympic same or similar 8 person double ended design, clearly see the traditional  Mediterranean  fishing boat influence,  tucked up in the nautical club compound.

 

Maiden

Maiden, the Whitbread 1989/90 Around the World racer (actually built in 1979) recently launched and looking fantastic, she's been ashore during the winter and presumably ready for some interesting work in the coming season.

 

Barcelona Classics

It was nice to see a few classic boats in Barcelona, below it's probably a bit big but absolutely my kind of yacht with that sweeping sheer line. Probably suffers from lack of accommodation and horrible going astern, but great sea keeping and fantastic looks

Not your average motorboat and worthy of the classic title in fabulous condition, just the thing for popping down the coast or out to the Balearics, could even do duty as Largo's escape boat from the Disco Volante in Thunderball.

Terrible photo and couldn't get any closer, but something very traditional under that cover.

Not a classic at all, but looks like a fast and interesting yacht with lots of protection behind that hard canopy/doghouse.

What's a classic, this type of Med cruiser with bolt on sugar scoop has been around for well over 40 years, so in many ways it is a classic, I might also be somewhat biased by that almost flush deck, so lets agree modern classic.

 

Who needs cleats

Lack of good solid mooring cleats is one of the frequently heard criticisms of some modern and small craft, but it looks like this owner has made some inspired and low cost modifications to secure the stern.

Including liberal use of anti chafe gaffer tape to protect the hull and topsides!

 

Scrubbing pile

 This brought to mind an old Mike Peyton cartoon from Practical Boat Owner, a fin keel yacht is alongside a scrubbing pile and the outgoing tide reveals the base of the pile has been eaten away, presumably by the gribble while the owner looks frantically on.

Best have an reconnaissance check at low water before drying out anywhere.
 

Barcelona - Port Vell

We had a few days away in Barcelona, in part to get away from the inclement February weather and in part because it's really nice place to go. We spent a lot of time just wandering the city, enjoying the food and visiting the university, but before all that this writer had to make bee line for Port Vell and the marina.

 

 

Compared to our last visit in 2017 there seemed to be a fewer super yachts, perhaps due to sanctions imposed in response to the Russia/Ukraine conflict? That said there were a few sizable cabin cruisers like the stand out one above.

 

 

Classic day trip boat above is an old working vessel still in commission and looking very handsome

Another stand out vessel, although for quite different reasons, very practical and lots of interior volume for a down town pad, which probably goes out just as often as some of the other vessels in the marina.

 You know you're on a serious boat when you can look down on the tree tops from the bridge, I'm guessing the annual anti fouling isn't a trivial job to be done between tides, the absence of Med tides making it double difficult.