Any tips on cruising N Sardinia/S Corsica in August?

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We are going to be based in Olbia in N Sardinia for the next few months and will be on our boat for 3 weeks in August hoping to explore the many islands and anchorages on the N coast of Sardinia and S coast of Corsica. Obviously we know it is going to be crowded and expensive so we're looking for recommendations for anchorages and places to visit which might be less crowded, places to eat and also for places to avoid. We are aware that to visit the Maddalenas national park, we will have to pay a daily fee to enter. Any specific hints and tips on boating in the national park area?

 

[AndieMac]

?...............and expensive .............

I still haven't got over the shock of the price of the August marina cost from weeks ago Mike!

I hope you and your family enjoy your holiday and can find the time to post some photos of the cruising ground.

 

[desperatelyseeking]

Hi there, i'm just back from 2 weeks in Santa Teresa Di Gallura where we have kept our Cranchi CSL 27, well, we actually keep the boat in Porto Pozzo as it's way cheaper than any marina in Sardinia. It's run by a guy called Mario and he's just redone his bar and now does Pizzas in the evening - it's actually a great place and very sheltered down Conca Verde. Check it out, it's worth it for a cheap and cheerful stopover.
Make sure you cruise over to Lavezzi, between Santa teresa and Bonifacio, it has one of the most stunning anchorages and the beach is great. The marina in Maddelena has a few parking spots that you can use for free for a couple of hours for lunch, not sure what size they let you moor there but might be worth checking with them.

This book has been our bible http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/nautical-almanac-pilot-books/imray/corsica-and-n-sardinia290687.bhtml, seems a lot of money for a book but i think it's well worth it.

Have a great time, one of the best cruising areas in my book. We'll be heading out in mid August, so if you see a Cranchi CSL with a Red Ensign, give us a wave!!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks for the tips. Already got that pilot book and will be studying it in detail. We will look out for you. Likewise keep a look out for a Ferretti with a red ensign on the back called Sumianda

 

[Nick_H]

I posted a thread on this area last year with some info http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...sta-Smeralda-lots-of-pics&highlight=maddalena

Of course the best places to go depend on wind direction, but to pick a few.

In the Maddalena, Porto Palma on I Caprera is a protected bay with nice scenery. Anchoring is officially prohibited, but not enforced, and there are also some mooring buoys. If wind from the N, then Cala di Villamarina on S Stefano is a nice bay, and you can tender into a small quay and walk up the hill to a big statue of Mussolini's father. Not to be missed is the shallows between the 3 islands of Santa Maria, Budelli and Razzoli, best explored by tender having anchored in Cala Lunga or G Marino. JFM reccomended a beach on the NE side of I Spargi, but wind wasn't favourable when we went by. Best to buy permits online beforehand as they're cheaper, and you do need to buy them as they do come round and check each and every day. You don't need a hardcopy though, they're happy to look at an ipad screen.

On the mainland directly opposite the Maddalenas, either side of the headland between Porto Puddo and Liscia is nice, the latter being the better beach. Just W of here is the extremely protected inlet of Porto Pozzo in which you could sit out gale force winds from any direction, as even northerlies don't reach the bottom of the inlet.

Moving down to the Costa Smeralda, if you're there after 1 September then you can go into Porto Cervo for a fraction of the August price. Gulfo Pevero is a nice anchorage, and if you're feeling brave you can pass between the mainland and I Della Roche. There's a nice anchorage on the SW side of Isola Mortorto, just offshore. Cala di Volpe is really picturesque, made famous by the Bond film, but there's constant swell from the Superyacht tenders taking guests into the posh hotel at the end, or collecting provisions. Porto di Cugnana is a useful safe haven as it stands up well to strong winds from any direction. There's a nice anchorage just N of Isola di Figarola, or on the W side of the island itself, though both are a bit exposed if the wind is up. In Golfo di Olbia we found a nice anchorage about half way up, I think it was Porto Porri, but not sure. Punta Spalmatore on Isola Tavolara is very scenic, and it's worth a cruise around the island just because it's so spectacular, although there's nowhere else to anchor.

There were loads of other places I can't remember the names of, and the distances between them are so short that the best way is to cruise around and pick one, but hopefully the above gives a few ideas.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks Nick, just what I needed. I did remember that you'd posted a report and some pics on a cruise to the area but for some reason I couldn't find it. Thats whetted my appetite!

 

[MapisM]

I posted a thread on this area last year with some info http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...sta-Smeralda-lots-of-pics&highlight=maddalena

Thanks for searching it and bringing it up again, it was nice to have another look.

I'm sure someone suggested this already (possibly I also did, can't remember), but imho a sticky thread with a hyperlink list of all cruising threads would be MUCH more interesting than the two stickies that we have at the moment....!
Admins, wadduthink?