Sailing in Corsica, Sardinia & Sicily: Mediterranean Chartering
Exploring Mediterranean chartering? Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily are three of the most captivating islands in the Mediterranean, each offering distinct landscapes, rich cultures, and excellent cruising opportunities for a charter holiday writes Sue Pelling.
Corsica is known for its dramatic mountainous terrain and rugged coastline, offering a blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Its proximity to Sardinia (just 9nm apart) makes it an ideal starting point for a cruising adventure in the western Mediterranean. Corsica is a blend of French and Italian influences, with charming coastal villages, crystal-clear waters, and stunning beaches. The island’s interior is a haven for hikers and nature lovers, with deep gorges, lush forests, and towering peaks like Monte Cinto.
Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, is famous for its beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and wild, rugged landscapes. The island has a rich history dating back to the Phoenicians, Romans, and even earlier, with numerous archaeological sites scattered throughout. Sardinia is also renowned for its excellent sailing conditions, offering sheltered bays, dramatic cliffs, and idyllic islands like La Maddalena Archipelago. With Corsica so close, Sardinia also benefits from a similar Mediterranean charm but with a distinct Italian flavour.
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, located just off the southern tip of Italy, takes in three sea areas (Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian). It is therefore a land of ancient history, dramatic landscapes, and a vibrant mix of cultures. Its location however, means the northwest winds can be strong sometimes reaching 25+kts, so it’s a great place if you want to expand your sailing skill. An exciting aspect of cruising in this region is the visibility of active volcanoes like Mount Etna and Stromboli. Watching the eruptions from the deck of your yacht, especially at night, can be a mesmerizing experience. Stromboli, in particular, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, providing a dynamic and ever-changing landscape if you want to explore the Aeolian Islands.
The relatively short distances between these islands – especially Corsica and Sardinia – make for easy and scenic cruising. Although the waters around these islands are typically calm and clear, and ideal for yacht charters, there are some areas in places like the Strait of Bonifacio between north Sardinia and Corsica, the Aeolian Islands, and in the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the mainland that are known for big winds, so always check with your charter agent who should be able to offer more detailed advice on conditions.
There are numerous yacht charter companies and agents covering this particular area, with companies like Dream Yacht Worldwide, Nautilus Yachting, Plain Sailing, and Seafarer Sailing offering charters in all three. If you are interested in a flotilla holiday in this area, Tubber is well worth investigating because this company has a selection of package routes in all areas. On the Sardinia flotilla you can discover the dazzling Costa Smeralda and Maddalena archipelago starting from the base in Cannigione, Sardinia, all the way to Corsica. The company’s week long flotilla in Sicily gives you the opportunity to explore Portorosa and the surrounding area, and sailing from one volcanic island to another in company.
Sailing Holidays offers a two-week charter holiday sailing around Sardinia and Corsica starting from Portiisco (Sardinia), just a short journey from Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport. As with all its charters, Sailing Holiday offers a comprehensive itinerary and useful sailing guide to ensure you get the best from your holiday.
Sunsail offers charter in Sicily from its Portorosa base, as well as the Aeolian Islands. This company also has a base for bareboat or skippered charter in Sardinia on a Sun Odyssey 319 from Cannigione into the Gulf of Arzachena. This cruise, with its fun-packed, yet cultural itinerary will ensure you see the best of what Sardinia and its glamorous coastline has to offer including recommended lunch stops at places like Cala Corlotto to the west of La Maddalena where you can anchor, sunbathe and swim in the most beautiful crystal clear water.
If you are looking for a by-the-cabin charter, which is an ideal way to holiday if you are travelling solo, or are totally new to sailing/want to gain experience under the supervision of experienced crew members, then Sailsquare could be a good choice. This company has a huge range of options on a selection of different monohulls and multihulls, and what’s included in the price is clearly explained on its website.
For bareboat charter in particular, there are plenty of independent yacht charter agents who cover the area including samboat, the globesailor and helm.yt. Most of the websites are extremely informative and some even offer an option to sign up a skipper. The globesailor is a good example of yacht charter agent that also offers a by-the-cabin charter package.
As with all sailing holidays where ‘complete packages’ are advertised, ensure you check what’s actually included because most companies don’t, for example, include flights or transfers. And when you are in a shared yacht situation such as by-the-cabin, there will more than likely be extra funds required (often fixed rate) to cover food and drink onboard, fuel, mooring fees and other costs.
More on Chartering
- Five Chartering Mistakes to Avoid: Become a Yacht Charter Expert
- Caribbean Charter Guide: Warm Tradewinds and Tropical Islands
- Sustainable Yacht Charters: Finding Responsible Companies
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