Sample passage brief
Sample passage brief: South Sardinia to Denia
This is a sample. The brief is real, from one of our deliveries, and on this page it serves as an example of how the Seven Seas office supports the skipper on passage. It was sent on 6 June 2026 to the skipper of a sailing yacht leaving Cagliari for Denia in Spain. We removed the names. The warnings were valid in June 2026 only, so please do not use them for navigation.
During a delivery our office follows the yacht on the tracking page and tells the skipper what lies ahead: navigational warnings, drifting hazards, military exercises, the weather and notes on the port of arrival. A sailing yacht rarely follows the straight line. She tacks and goes where the wind lets her, so the brief covers the whole area she may cross.
The brief is only one part of it. Behind every skipper there is a real back office: we book the marinas, find a workshop when something breaks, arrange a Yanmar or Volvo Penta service when the engine needs it, and check flights and connections to the nearest airport for the crew.
SAMPLE. Real brief from one of our deliveries, June 2026. Not for navigation.
Passage Brief: South Sardinia to Denia (WGS-84)
This brief summarizes active navigational warnings, hazards, and tactical considerations for your upcoming transit.
1. Departure Hazards: Teulada & South Sardinia
Capo Teulada Military Zone: The military firing range remains highly restricted. Anchoring, diving, and fishing are permanently prohibited due to confirmed Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) on the seabed. Only direct transit is permitted when the range is inactive. GPS jamming/interference is possible in this sector.
2. Balearic Sea Floating Hazards (Crucial Update)
Keep a sharp lookout for two major drifting hazards directly affecting or near your route:
A. Drifting Dead Whale (Cetáceos Baleares SE) An 8-meter-long dead whale has been reported drifting southeast of Vilanova i la Geltrú.
Initial Reported Position: 41°08.30'N, 001°49.00'E on June 3, 2026, at 11:14 UTC.
Latest Reported Position: 41°00.00'N, 001°53.50'E on June 5, 2026, at 16:02 UTC.
Tactical Note: The whale is drifting south/southwest. Monitor its path closely as it may intersect your direct route.
B. Drifting Fishing Vessel (Pesquero a la deriva) A disabled fishing cutter is drifting out of control in the Palos sector, southeast of Cabo de Gata.
Reported Position: 36°25.77'N, 001°26.8'W on June 5, 2026, at 17:40 UTC.
Tactical Note: Give a wide berth and maintain a sharp radar watch if transiting south of the Balearic Islands.
3. Active Military Firing Exercises (June 7 to 9)
Tiro Largo Alcance (Cabrera Zone, Warning NR-1513/2026):
Area: A 10 NM radius circle centered on position 38°20.00'N, 000°45.00'E (approx. 60 NM East of Alicante).
Time: Active June 7 to June 9, 2026, daily from 06:00 to 18:00 UTC.
Action: This zone sits directly on your rhumb line. You must plan a detour (preferably to the north, passing closer to Ibiza/Formentera) to completely clear this 10 NM radius during active hours.
4. Ibiza & Valencia Approach Warnings
Ibiza (Cala Jondal Submarine Cables): The protection zone for telecommunication cables near 38°51.40'N, 001°18.75'E has been re-established with 5 yellow special mark light buoys. Anchoring in this vicinity is strictly prohibited to avoid structural damage to cables.
Valencia ODAS Buoys Relocated (Warning NR-1485/2026): Three ODAS scientific buoys have been established in new positions:
ODAS 25585-a: 39°14.449'N, 000°14.533'W
ODAS 25585-b: 39°15.914'N, 000°14.743'W
ODAS 25585-d: 39°16.962'N, 000°15.913'W
Valencia Port Entry: A new starboard light-beacon has been established on the north leaf of the lifting bridge at 39°27.66'N, 000°19.15'W.
5. Weather & Navigation Outlook (METAREA III)
Wind: Dominant Easterly to Northeasterly flow across the Balearic Sea, averaging 3 to 5 Bft. Expect local accelerations up to 6 Bft near major Sardinian capes.
Sea State: Generally slight to moderate, with waves averaging 1.0 to 1.5 meters, tending to decrease as you head west. Excellent downwind sailing conditions for the passage.
6. Denia
Port & Shipyard Construction Works: Major redevelopment is underway. The Real Club Náutico de Dénia is executing a €3.5 million port-to-city reurbanization project. Simultaneously, the Port Dénia Shipyard is carrying out a €7.5 million expansion. While the shipyard's new dry dock and 620-tonne travel lift are fully operational, expect localized construction activity, diving support vessels, and workboat traffic.
Moored Hazard (Los Olivillos): The decommissioned dredge Los Olivillos remains abandoned and moored along a highly visible stretch of the port's waterfront. Local authorities have highlighted its critical state and the risk of sinking, so maintain a safe berth from this vessel when maneuvering inside.
Depths at the Entrance: Although dredging completed in 2025 restored depths to 7 meters at the entrance (bocana) and 5 meters in the inner basin, silting can still occur, particularly after strong easterly winds. Ensure you monitor your echo sounder closely and contact the marina on VHF Ch 9 for real-time draft clearance prior to entry.
Strong Local Currents: Exercise caution on your coastal approach just south of the harbor entrance. Strong localized currents near Cova Tallada have recently caused hazardous conditions, requiring active rescues by the local Salvamar rescue boat.
What the skipper gets from it
Why Navionics on a phone is not enough
Many skippers think that with Navionics on their phone they have everything they need. It is a very good chart. But it will not tell you about a dead whale drifting across the Balearic Sea, a fishing boat adrift without power, a buoy that has been moved or a live firing exercise on your route.
For that you still need a current almanac and pilot, such as the Reeds Nautical Almanac, a VHF on watch for the navigational warnings, and someone ashore who reads the notices and passes on what matters for your passage. That is what this brief is for.
Positions and times for every hazard, so the crew can plot them before they meet them. A clear action for each one, marked in red, so nothing gets lost in a long message read on a small screen at night. And the local knowledge nobody finds in a pilot book: an abandoned dredge in the harbour, silting after easterly winds, a current that keeps the local rescue boat busy.
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