Carloforte to Antibes - recommendations for a scenic route?

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We have just completed the purchase of a lease on a berth in Port Vauban marina in Antibes and our plan is to arrive there some time in early September. We are currently berthed in Carloforte on the SW corner of Sardinia and the obvious thing to do would be to point the boat north and not stop until we got to Antibes. However the SWMBO has decreed that we should see some places along the way that we are unlikely to be passing again so we have a vague plan to split the trip into 2 parts. The first part over 2 weeks starting at the end of July would to be to head up either the west or east side of Sardinia depending on the forecast wind direction, do a bit of the east side of Corsica and then head east to see some of the Tuscan islands and adjacent Italian coastline before leaving the boat somewhere near Pisa or Genoa for 3 weeks. The second part would be 1 week at the end of August to move the boat onward to Antibes. I am aware that the W and NW coasts of Corsica are very well worthwile visiting but since this area is fairly readily accessible from Antibes we thought we'd leave these for another year

Any recommendations for ports/anchorages worth visiting within this broad plan? I am aware that this will be the height of the season and everywhere will be crowded. Any recommendations for secure marinas on the Italian coastline where we could safely leave the boat between the first and second parts of the trip?

 

[jfm]

Congrats on berth

E coast Corsica is nice for the bottom third, and then elba is nice too. The Italian coast between Genoa and Cinque Terre is ok, but not wonderful imho, though Porto Venere and Portofino are lovely ports. Things is, once you are there you are only 4 hours from Antibes so why faff about finding another marina? The second half of your 2 part holiday would be taking the boat from Genoa or nearby to Antibes, which is one morning trip with no-where worth stopping in between that you can't visit on a day trip from Antibes. What you could do is berth the boat in say Maciannggio (sp) at top E coast of Corsica then for second half of your holiday do the NW coast of Corsica, but as you say you can do that anytime.

Truth is that Antibes and nearby (+/-20nm) is one of the nicest spots so you're better getting there asap imho

 

[MapisM]

Truth is that Antibes and nearby (+/-20nm) is one of the nicest spots so you're better getting there asap imho

Mmm... Define "nice".
Antibes is a lovely place indeed, with the marina conveniently located at short walking distance from the center (at least, its southern side docks), and with excellent connections to the UK.
Therefore, I perfectly understand your and several other forumites choice.
But since you also say "+/-20nm", I suppose you are referring to nice surrounding cruising grounds, rather than the village/marina alone. And while the coast surrounding Antibes is definitely nice, I can think of MANY places in the med which are imho much better, in this respect.

Regardless, my understanding is that since M will have plenty of opportunities in the future to explore Antibes surroundings, he's asking how to arrange the transfer in order to see other places along the way which won't be within easy reach from there.
From this viewpoint, his overall route makes sense imho - it's just a matter of deciding which are the spots worth seeing.
For instance, I've also heard frequently that only the southern part of E Corsica is nice, but I've never cruised there.
Maybe you (or anyone else of course) can suggest some specific places?

 

[Nick_H]

Congratulations on the Antibes berth, where in the port are you going to be?

I think it's a reasonable plan. Tuscany and Islands is very nice cruising. Islands of Giglio, Elba, and Capraia are all well worth a visit. On Elba, our favourite spot is Porto Azzurro on E coast with a very safe anchorage just outside the port, and there are also some lovely anchorages on the S coast of the Island. On the mainland the nicest places are on Monte Argentario, Porto Ercole on the S coast, and Santa Stefano on the N coast. Punta Ala further up is useful if the weather blows up, but otherwise pricey and nothing special.

I agree with jfm that the stretch of the Italian coast N of Piombino is not the most exciting, and not many anchorages, but there's just about enough to occupy you for a few days before moving on to Antibes. Porto Venere and Portofino are the highlights, but Rapallo is just about worth a visit, and you could moor in Livorno and taxi into Pisa. In settled weather be sure to anchor off one or more of the Cinque Terra and tender in for lunch.

One issue you may have is the cost of visitor berths in Italy in high season. Maybe there are some cheaper options in the industrial ports, but in any of the leisure ports you'll be paying maybe 4,000 euro or more to leave the boat for 3 weeks, which is more than the cost of fuel to go back there from Antibes!

 

[Nick_H]

Yes, only the southern part of E coast of Corsica is nice, but it is very nice.

At the very southern tip are some islands with nice anchorages

There are then a number of inlets with great anchorages as you head north, the best of which are probably Rondinara and Santa Giulia

Porto Vechio is a nice port, and like many in Corsica the town in split into a port area, and the old town on top of the hill.

There are some more nice anchorages just north of PV, but the coast then flattens out and gets less interesting

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks for replies and pics. I have bought the lease on berth 431 on Mole Sud. I will need to talk to you Antibes guys about local services like boat cleaning and boat fixers but that can wait until later

What you could do is berth the boat in say Maciannggio (sp) at top E coast of Corsica then for second half of your holiday do the NW coast of Corsica, but as you say you can do that anytime.

That sounds like a good idea but where is the nearest international airport with daily flights to London? Bastia only seems to have 1 flight a week

Islands of Giglio, Elba, and Capraia are all well worth a visit

Are the harbours in Giglio or Capraia large enough for a 20m boat? Pilot book suggests not

Porto Azzurro on E coast with a very safe anchorage just outside the port,

Thanks I was hoping it would be. We've visited Portoferrairo on the way down to Sardinia and it was a bunfight even in June so I really wanted to avoid the place in August

Porto Vechio is a nice port

We have anchored in PV overnight before and it has fuel so PV sounds like a good jumping off point for the Tuscan islands

On the mainland the nicest places are on Monte Argentario, Porto Ercole on the S coast, and Santa Stefano on the N coast. P

Thanks thats useful info.

Porto Venere and Portofino are the highlights, but Rapallo is just about worth a visit,

Actually we've cruised the Cinque Terre coast before we set off for Sardinia so I don't feel the need to cruise that area again although Portovenere was really cute. It sounds like we shouldn't venture much further north than say Punta Ala before heading west. I know you say Punta Ala is expensive but I guess it would be a secure place to leave a boat for 3 weeks? Then in the 3rd week we could do the final legs from there via Corsica for a few days, as jfm suggests, to Antibes

 

[MapisM]

Are the harbours in Giglio or Capraia large enough for a 20m boat?
Pilot book suggests not

Capraia is definitely big enough for at least 80' boats, if not more.
And actually, also Giglio can surely handle that size, but the very few spaces along the larger dock are all reserved, either for ferries or tour boats.
And I'm afraid that also in Capraia, in the very peak of the season, finding a berth could prove a mission impossible.
Otoh, the Argentario Peninsula has larger marinas (Porto Santo Stefano on the N side and Porto Ercole/Cala Galera on the E side), and from there both Giglio and the lovely Giannutri are just a few NM away.

 

[EME]

We have just completed the purchase of a lease on a berth in Port Vauban marina in Antibes and our plan is to arrive there some time in early September.

Welcome Home .. surprised it took SWMBO so long (on this matter!) to prove you wrong! (for leaving in the first place.) Since you were last based here I would suggest that our group/shared 'local knowledge' on the who, what and where has improved immeasurably. Although as always with SoF always new people to use etc., CNPV ( the yard) have a relationship with ABYS ( Ferretti) but you undoubtedly know that.

That sounds like a good idea but where is the nearest international airport with daily flights to London? Bastia only seems to have 1 flight a week

Fly to Nice and then back -- like a bus service on both routes ..

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Welcome Home .. surprised it took SWMBO so long (on this matter!) to prove you wrong! (for leaving in the first place.)

Well its own taken 13yrs, EME. I'm a slow learner

Since you were last based here I would suggest that our group/shared 'local knowledge' on the who, what and where has improved immeasurably.

I'm looking forward to that. We got royally shafted in La Nap by one or two locals so I need my faith in French tradesmen to be restored

Fly to Nice and then back -- like a bus service on both routes ..

Ah OK never thought of that!

 

[jfm]

... where in the port are you going to be?

It's 4th or 5th on left as you enter Mole sud Nick. Where Little Gems, the Leopard 24m fly, used to be; next door to squadron 78 hard top Hande

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

It's 4th or 5th on left as you enter Mole sud Nick. Where Little Gems, the Leopard 24m fly, used to be; next door to squadron 78 hard top Hande

Correct

 

[Hurricane]

Correct

Just clear of that big thing at the end that stirs up the water - IIRC

 

[jfm]

Just clear of that big thing at the end that stirs up the water - IIRC

Big thing? It's but a glorified egg whisk Hurricane

 

[jfm]

CNPV ( the yard) have a relationship with ABYS ( Ferretti) .

Yup, a relationship where they pool their individual exceptional knowledge on how to charge high prices so as to get a 2+2=5 synergy benefit of charging even higher prices :encouragement:

 

[Hurricane]

Big thing? It's but a glorified egg whisk Hurricane

Just re-read my post and, sorry, it does sound a bit negative - it wasn't meant to.

When we were in Antibes, we berthed in the second berth on the left up Mole Sud and that was clear of the "Egg Whisk".
I probably remember it being bigger than it actually is.
It wasn't a problem for us getting in and out of our berth so it definitely shouldn't be a problem to Mike's berth.
That was what I was trying to say when I made the post just before going to bed.
Sorry, it came out all wrong.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Yup, a relationship where they pool their individual exceptional knowledge on how to charge high prices so as to get a 2+2=5 synergy benefit of charging even higher prices :encouragement:

This is why I'm really going to need your local knowledge when I get there!

 

[Forty_Two]

Currently riding out wind in Punta Ala. €80 per night for our registered length of 12.11m. Space no prob for our size, they do have an alongside quai for longer folk which has space at the moment.

 

[Nick_H]

It was 200 euro a night for us about 3 years ago, 17m loa. Maybe they've dropped their prices

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

It was 200 euro a night for us about 3 years ago, 17m loa. Maybe they've dropped their prices

A positive bargain compared to Porto Rotondo

 

[Forty_Two]

Pisa was cheap, €52 in June & €62 in July with 10% discount after 5 days & 20% off after 10 days. Loads of room for all lenghts.

Most expensive so far was San Vincenzzo at €110. Still, got Elba to come next week that should easily top that.