When sailing in Sardinia you are spoilt for choice with stunning cruising grounds. The landscape is gorgeous, the food delicious and the people exceptionally friendly. No wonder this island is so popular with stars and celebrities. The Costa Smeralda and the Maddalena Archipelago are amongst the most sought-after charter areas in the world. Come and spend a sailing holiday in style!
What makes a yacht charter in Sardinia so popular?
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Its convenient location in the middle of the Mediterranean and the mild climate make it a top sailing destination. In addition, it has beautiful landscape with steep cliffs and red rocks along with simple, NFT Monkey authentic culture and cuisine.
Fortunately, Sardinia is very easy to get to. It has three airports – Cagliari in the South, Alghero in the Northwest and Olbia in the Northeast. The main ports are Cagliari, Olbia and Porto Torres. There are ferry connections to Corsica and Sicily as well as the Spanish, French and Italian mainland.
The coastline offers many safe anchorages due to deep bays with upstream islands. There are nearly no tides. Summers are long, hot and dry but temperatures are usually moderated by a westerly sea breeze. Due to the prevailing winds good sailing skills are required.
The island is characterized by a wonderful blend of chic ports like Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo with unspoilt and largely uninhabited cruising grounds as for instance the Maddalena Islands. charteracatamaraninthebvi
Some relevant info for a bareboat charter in Sardinia:
Location: Centre of the Mediterranean Sea; 200 km from the Italian mainland
Capital: Cagliari
Total length of coastline: 1,849 km
Total surface area: 24,090 km²
Highest point: Punta La Marmora, 1,834 m
Population: ca. 1,663,000
Country code: +39
Climate: Mild, Mediterranean
Which main charter destinations and marinas are there in Sardinia?
Generally, in Sardinia you find many natural harbours for anchoring. The North is busier and offers better infrastructure. The South, on the other hand, is more authentic, unspoilt and quiet. Sardinia lies only 12 km from Bonifacio in Corsica, so it´s possible to combine northern Sardinia and Corsica for a sailing holiday.
The exclusive Costa Smeralda on the north side constitutes a highly popular tourist destination and an attraction for the international jet set with white sandy beaches, golf courses, luxury hotels and private jet as well as helicopter services. Particularly famous is Porto Cervo Marina – a superyacht harbour that is very protected and has great infrastructure and 720 berths for boats up to 100 m length. Also on the Costa Smeralda is the Marina dell´Orso with 305 moorings for yachts up to 35 m. You encounter numerous other ports around the area and the island, for example Alghero with its nice old town, Cagliari, Cannigione, La Maddalena, Olbia, Palau and Portisco.
The Maddalena archipelago just off the Emerald Coast features 7 major islands on the northern tip of Sardinia in the Straights of Bonifacio. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and a national park with a myriad of coves and bays, crystal-clear waters as well as breath-taking, perfectly preserved nature. Seek out the wonderful pink beach of Spiaggia Rosa, for example. Only three of the islands are inhabited, bostonhaikusociety and it´s therefore a largely unspoilt marine reserve.
Further over to the East lies the fjord-like gulf of Cannigione. Sailing into the long inlet you can enjoy the view of the rocky and scenic backdrop and a charming port and quiet resort town at the end. Not far at all is the equally protected and popular Cala di Volpe with its wide bay and good shelter. More to the South you can head to the port towns of Olbia and Portisco where you have good shopping facilities and infrastructure.
The Gulf of Orosei on the east coast and the national park of the same name form a big bay with numerous caves and gorgeous aquamarine waters. There you find many sublime beaches like the Cala Gonone, Cala Goloritze or Cala Fuili and the gorgeous Grotte del Bue Marino, a 5 km cave with impressive stalactites/stalagmites and Neolithic wall carvings. Continue south along the coast of the province Oligastra and discover even more fantastic long white sandy beaches with amazing water like Cea Beach and others.
