Italy, north-east Sardinia and the Strait of Bonifacio
The Sardinian fleet sits on the north-east coast between Olbia and Palau: from Portisco, Cannigione or Olbia the La Maddalena archipelago is 15 NM away and the south of Corsica a morning's sail, in water as clear as the Caribbean and with more wind than Croatia.
YACHT TYPES
Catamarans 40 to 50 ft are the majority at Portisco and Cannigione, made for the anchorages; sailing yachts 40 to 50 ft; motor yachts and crewed yachts for the Costa Smeralda.
A typical week from Portisco
Saturday to Saturday, and the loop goes clockwise so that the Bonifacio crossing comes mid-week with a forecast you have watched for three days.
Day 1, Portisco to Cala di Volpe or Porto Cervo (8 NM). A short first leg along the Costa Smeralda: anchor in Cala di Volpe, or Liscia di Vacca off Porto Cervo if a look at the marina and the piazzetta is on the list.
Day 2, to Caprera (15 NM). Into the La Maddalena national park: Cala Coticcio for the swim, Porto Palma for the night, both on buoys or under the park's anchoring rules.
Day 3, to Spargi and La Maddalena (8 NM). Cala Corsara on Spargi at lunch, then Cala Gavetta in La Maddalena town for the evening and the provisioning.
Day 4, to Bonifacio, Corsica (12 NM). Across the strait to the calanque harbour under the limestone town; berths are dear in August and the anchorage outside is exposed, so book the marina.
Day 5, to the Lavezzi islands and Santa Teresa Gallura (14 NM). Lavezzi at lunch (reserve, buoys, no anchoring on the seagrass), then back to Sardinia at Santa Teresa or the anchorage of Porto Pozzo.
Day 6, to Budelli, Santa Maria and Palau (18 NM). The pink beach of Budelli is off limits, the lagoon between Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria is not; night at Palau or in the bay of Porto Pollo.
Day 7, to Portisco (20 NM). Down the Gulf of Arzachena and the Costa Smeralda, back by 5 pm.
Two weeks add the east coast towards Tavolara, Cala Gonone and the Golfo di Orosei, or a one-way to Ajaccio. Both Sardinia loops are in our Sardinia itineraries.
Practical points for a Sardinian charter
Licences and park permits
Italian rules accept a national sailing licence or the ICC plus a VHF certificate; the operator files the crew list. The La Maddalena national park sells a daily permit online, priced by boat length (roughly 20 to 60 euros a day for charter sizes), with zones where you must use buoys and coves closed to anchoring on the Posidonia; the Lavezzi reserve on the French side has its own buoys.
Wind and sea
The Strait of Bonifacio accelerates the Mistral from the west to 25 to 35 knots for one to three days at a time; check the Bonifacio forecast before crossing and keep a day in hand. On normal days the north-east coast gets a thermal breeze of 12 to 20 knots after noon and calm mornings. Anchorages facing north-west are the ones to leave when the Mistral is announced.
Moorings and fees
Portisco, Cannigione and Palau charge 80 to 200 euros a night for a 45 ft catamaran in July and August, Porto Cervo and Bonifacio two to three times that; the park buoys are covered by the permit or cost a few tens of euros; anchorages outside the park are free. Fuel is expensive and the return top-up is at the base.
Getting there
Olbia airport is 20 minutes from Portisco and Cala dei Sardi, 35 from Cannigione, 10 from Marina di Olbia; ferries from Livorno, Genoa and Civitavecchia land in Olbia and Golfo Aranci. Provisioning: supermarkets in Olbia and Arzachena, deliveries to Portisco on request.
Can we sail to Corsica?
Yes: Bonifacio is 12 NM from La Maddalena and most operators allow it as long as the crew list says so. The Lavezzi and Cavallo islands are the reward; the strait is the price.
Catamaran or monohull?
Catamaran for the anchorages, the shallow coves and a family; monohull if you want to sail the Bonifacio wind properly and pay less in the marinas.
Is August a mistake?
Prices double, Porto Cervo berths are 500 euros and up, park buoys are taken by mid-morning. June and September give the same water with half the boats.
What does Seeksail need to advise us?
Dates, cabins, licence held, skipper or not, Corsica or not, and we shortlist three yachts from Portisco, Cannigione or Olbia with a recommendation.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
More destination-specific guides are being prepared.
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