By Patrick Koune
To the north of the Costa Brava, where the reliefs of Cap de Creus plunge abruptly into the Mediterranean, the sea still imposes its rhythm on men. Ports live at daybreak and boats are not simply objects of pleasure; they continue a deeply rooted maritime culture. It is in this raw and luminous environment that was born Girbau Boatsa Catalan shipyard that cultivates a unique vision of Mediterranean yachting.
Far from standardized industrial production, Girbau Boats boasts an artisanal approach to shipbuilding. Each boat is designed as an almost unique piece, built slowly, with a logic of detail and mastery of gesture. Founded in 2008 by Ramon Girbaupassionate about the sea and nautical carpentry, the site developed around a simple idea: to reinterpret the spirit of traditional Catalan boats with contemporary lines and current technologies.
Inspiration is immediately perceptible. The silhouettes of Girbau models are reminiscent of ancient Catalan llaüts and Mediterranean gozzi: generous hulls, soft bows, protective volumes and decks designed for outdoor living. But behind this timeless aesthetic lies a modern approach to comfort and navigation.
In the workshops of Castelló d’Empúries, near the marinas and coves of EmpordÃ, the shipyard maintains direct control over the entire manufacturing process. Lamination, upholstery, carpentry, finishes: everything is carried out with particular attention paid to the coherence of the final boat. This deliberately limited production allows the manufacturer to maintain an almost tailor-made relationship with each owner.
The know-how of Girbau Boats lies precisely in this ability to reconcile tradition and modernity without ever falling into decorative nostalgia. The warm woodwork and Mediterranean lines coexist with contemporary technical materials, more resistant and easier to maintain. The site uses high-end synthetic materials capable of retaining the classic aesthetic of wood while meeting current requirements for durability and maintenance.
This philosophy is found in each of the models in the range. THE G27 Open embodies refined Mediterranean navigation, focused on swimming, anchorages and day trips. THE G28 Cabin and the G31 introduce more versatility and comfort for extended coastal cruises. As for the G38the shipyard’s true flagship, it perfectly sums up the Girbau universe: large exterior spaces, fluid circulation between cockpit and sea, and a permanent feeling of relaxed sailing. The manufacturer also sums up the spirit of the model with an almost obvious phrase: “For those who don’t want to go home yet.”
On board, everything seems designed to extend the Mediterranean experience. The rear beaches become floating terraces at anchor. Sun loungers look towards the rocky coast of the Costa Brava. Cockpits promote conviviality more than technological demonstration. At Girbau, luxury is not measured solely by materials or power; it lies in the relationship with time, the sea and the elegant simplicity of peaceful navigation.
This approach undoubtedly explains why the shipyard still maintains a valuable form of confidentiality in the European nautical world today. The manufacturer is not looking for mass production. On the contrary, it cultivates a profoundly Mediterranean identity, almost local, where each boat seems to have been designed to skirt the coves of the Costa Brava, drop anchor facing the Medes Islands…
In a nautical industry often dominated by standardization and technological escalation, Girbau Boats ultimately reminds us that a boat can still tell the story of a territory. That of a maritime Catalonia where craftsmanship, the sea and design continue to dialogue with rare coherence.
The flagship models of Girbau Boats
At Girbau Boats, each model seems to have been designed around the same principle: enjoying time at sea. Far from demonstrative and over-motorized units, the Catalan shipyard favors boats where navigation comfort, circulation on board and relationship with the landscape Mediterranean become central. The current range is therefore structured around four emblematic models, each embodying a different vision of coastal cruising.
Le G27 Open
L’essence du day boat méditerranéen
The G27 Open is probably the model that most faithfully sums up the DNA of the shipyard. Inspired by the traditional boats of the Costa Brava, it displays sober and timeless lines, with an elegant hull designed for coastal navigation and long days at anchor.
Just over 8.5 meters long, the G27 Open focuses above all on exterior friendliness. The vast front sunbathing area, the modular aft seats and the fluid circulation around the cockpit create a surprising feeling of space for this category of boat. The model can accommodate up to nine passengers while maintaining a very intimate atmosphere.
Below deck, Girbau maintains its artisanal approach with warm finishes and a cabin capable of accommodating three people. The site combines noble woods, premium upholstery and high-end synthetic materials in order to maintain the traditional Mediterranean aesthetic while simplifying maintenance.
Powered by a 230 or 250 horsepower Yanmar, the G27 favors smooth and silent navigation rather than raw performance. Its cruising speed of around 18 knots corresponds perfectly to the contemplative spirit of the boat: following the coves of the Costa Brava, dropping anchor in a cove or slowly reaching a port at sunset.
The G28 Cabins
The compact cruiser designed for escape
With the G28 Cabin, Girbau is evolving its philosophy towards a more versatile use of Mediterranean cruising. The model retains the classic elegance of the yard but introduces a more protective cabin, suitable for extended navigations and multi-day escapades.
The approach remains very oriented towards the comfort of outdoor living. The cockpit open to the sea, the swimming platforms and the large seats invite more to relaxation than to nautical demonstrations. Inside, the cabin offers a particularly careful level of finish for this size of boat, with a real search for an atmosphere closer to a floating boutique hotel than a simple day cruiser.
The G28 particularly appeals to owners looking for a boat capable of alternating day trips and mini-cruises between the Costa Brava, the Balearic Islands or the Côte d’Azur.
The G31
The Mediterranean cruise in its most elegant version
More mature and more statutory, the G31 represents a particularly successful balance between nautical tradition and contemporary yachting. Girbau also presents it with a revealing formula: “It should be this easy to escape”. This model gains in volume without losing the finesse of the Mediterranean lines which characterize the site. The proportions remain harmonious, with contained freeboard.
The G31 further develops the idea of a habitable boat designed for living outdoors. The cockpit becomes a real living room open to the sea, while the interior spaces gain in refinement and autonomy for longer cruises. This model particularly attracts a clientele sensitive to design, looking for a boat with a timeless style rather than a unit with overly demonstrative nautical codes.
The G38
Le flagship qui réinterprète le gozzo contemporain
The G38 is today the flagship of the Catalan shipyard. With its 12 meters, it transposes the artisanal universe of Girbau into a more premium and more ambitious dimension.
The boat incorporates all the aesthetic markers of the site: soft bow, open cockpit, fluid circulation and permanent relationship with the outside world. But the G38 also introduces a more luxurious approach to Mediterranean cruising with generous volumes, extensive customization and highly crafted living spaces.
The aft cockpit here becomes a real floating terrace. The modularity of the spaces allows the boat to be transformed according to its uses: coastal navigation, reception at anchor, family cruise or long weekend. The interior design maintains this artisanal warmth characteristic of Girbau, with natural materials, sober finishes and a constant search for natural light.
The G38 is not designed as an ostentatious yacht. It is aimed more at owners attached to a certain discreet Mediterranean elegance, where luxury resides in the quality of the materials, the fluidity of the spaces and the smoothness of navigation.
The Girbau Boats range has a rare coherence in today’s nautical world. Each model seems designed not to impress at the dock, but to fully experience the Mediterranean: its coves, its ports, its lights and this slower, almost contemplative relationship with the sea.
