Chris H
Well-Known Member
All information welcome, we are thinking of going for 4/5 days, ports, anchorage’s….do’s….dont’s………
Corsica
- Thread starter Chris H
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Clancy Moped
Well-Known Member
Book in advance and don't take fuel on in Calvi unless it's from a tanker.
Edit: Dont even think about it on 15 August (Quinze Aout)
Edit: Dont even think about it on 15 August (Quinze Aout)
Hooligan
Well-Known Member
JFM did a video which I think he reposted on Forum Cruises. Worth watching. Corsica is absolutely fabulous. Key highlights - Bonofaccio, Girolata, Ajaccio - we funnily enough we’re there on Aug 15 th and if I recall they paraded an effigy of Napoleon around but I may have had a few too many beers by then, Propriano and finally a must do Saint Florent. If you have time go to Capraia which is not far from top of Corsica. Really worth a trip. You can visit the local vineyards and the port is really fantastic. Obviously you are West Coast so that can play a part but we got lucky and loved it. If you go to Calvi then get there early and grab a buoy. Have fun.
Clancy Moped
Well-Known Member
Try the Donkey sausage.
Portofino
Well-Known Member
Great place to anchor off , so stock up with provisions + water .
Calvi was ok for fuel for me ( 2x) .Good place to aim for .Marina or anchor works .
Then it’s make your mind up time .Either continue on the W coast S get a bit remote the feeling compared with regular SoF , or just hop along the N coast head for Elba .
Elba is more beautiful and loadsa safe marinas + anchorages .
Oh you will be mixing it with ships = shipping lanes a plenty .
Calvi was ok for fuel for me ( 2x) .Good place to aim for .Marina or anchor works .
Then it’s make your mind up time .Either continue on the W coast S get a bit remote the feeling compared with regular SoF , or just hop along the N coast head for Elba .
Elba is more beautiful and loadsa safe marinas + anchorages .
Oh you will be mixing it with ships = shipping lanes a plenty .
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Its a long time ago, but JFM introduced us to Corsica.
Calvi is probably your best place to start.
When we were there the marina was nice.
It is possible to anchor just outside - we did for a few hours before entering.
This is Calvi in 2011
Our visit was limited but JFM suggested a favourite place where you really MUST visit - Girolata
In the middle of nowhere
Boats are "moored" fore and aft to buoys and you tender ashore.
This is the place where JFM has taken his boat right into the small pontoons on the beach.
On shore there is a restaurant.
Most people visit this place hiking - all the provisions come in by sea.
A truly magical place.
Here are some photos of Girolata
I've got loads of photos round that area.
Going further south - past Ajacco we found a delightful little bay "Campomoro" - I think it is called.
At that time, there was an excellent beach restaurant.
Here's a pic
Then, of course there is Bonifacio
Further south, we discovered another fantastic place but you probably won;t have the time to get into the Bonifacio straits.
But enjoy - it is a stunning island.
Calvi is probably your best place to start.
When we were there the marina was nice.
It is possible to anchor just outside - we did for a few hours before entering.
This is Calvi in 2011
Our visit was limited but JFM suggested a favourite place where you really MUST visit - Girolata
In the middle of nowhere
Boats are "moored" fore and aft to buoys and you tender ashore.
This is the place where JFM has taken his boat right into the small pontoons on the beach.
On shore there is a restaurant.
Most people visit this place hiking - all the provisions come in by sea.
A truly magical place.
Here are some photos of Girolata
I've got loads of photos round that area.
Going further south - past Ajacco we found a delightful little bay "Campomoro" - I think it is called.
At that time, there was an excellent beach restaurant.
Here's a pic
Then, of course there is Bonifacio
Further south, we discovered another fantastic place but you probably won;t have the time to get into the Bonifacio straits.
But enjoy - it is a stunning island.
Clancy Moped
Well-Known Member
If your feeling flush or it's a special occasion in Calvi, Hôtel de luxe 5 étoiles à Calvi en Corse
DavidJ
Well-Known Member
Very windy around Bonifacio but well worth a visit and sheltered once you are in. We tipped (read bribed) some lads who found us a space but be prepared to raft up.
Chris H
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys, we prefer to spend as much time as possible on anchor, I know it can get windy at times, if needed, is it easy to get a berth or are there good sheltered anchorage’s.
Hooligan
Well-Known Member
In my experience in 2019 we tried to book ahead with very little luck. So I just would call a couple of days ahead and always found a place. However I suspect that in a storm this will not be the case. The W coast of Corsica is quite exposed. I am sure there are safe places to go but you need to be careful. For example many boats anchor in the bay outside Saint Florent marina and it looks rather nice. But a storm blew up a few years ago and it became carnage. There is a video knocking around - a few boats lost. Like you I prefer to anchor and we got really lucky and had settled weather every day for 10 days. I would not do the West coast personally in dodgy weather. I didn’t think many of the anchorages would be entirely comfortable. But just my view. I do think the W Coast of Corsica is absolutely stunning. Great boating. Just keep an eye on weather.
colhel
Well-Known Member
A friend's offered us use of they're holiday home in Corsica, I don't know where it is on the Island but we may well take up they're offer.
Clancy Moped
Well-Known Member
DAW
Well-Known Member
If you want to plan your itinerary and stay in marinas you can try to book ahead using the Magellan eResa website (www.resaportcorse.com). Its usually OK for short stays, but difficult to put together a longer trip with any certainty as some of the marinas will only confirm 1-2 days ahead once they know berth availability. As others have said, it's much better to plan to stay at anchor. There are some beautiful places on both east and west coasts, but the west is by far the most scenic with many more secluded anchorages, some with beaches only accessible by boat.
Conditions around Corsica and Sardinia can be very challenging if a strong mistral builds, sending winds and swell across the Mediterranean to pile up against the west coast. However, the forecasts on Predictwind and other apps are generally reliable and give plenty of notice. My advice would be to always have a "Plan B" that does not rely on finding a berth in a marina. If the conditions deteriorate, everyone else will be trying to do the same thing. There are some anchorages which offer reasonable protection, you can head round to the eastern side, or if you've come from SoF or Italy, make a run for home.
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ashtead
Well-Known Member
My recollection of anchoring near Bonifacio was of tangled anchors which seemed to be so commonplace there was a diver who made a useful income out of untangling . I’m sure in the town marina is fine and lovely restaurants to enjoy so worth the dinghy trip and anchoring drama . Crossing from Sardinia was somewhat bouncy though
PowerYachtBlog
Well-Known Member
My suggestion is also to try to be in a harbour when a Thunderstorm or heavy rain is forecasted, which can lead to this
The same is off note to all Med in this time of the year. As a thunderstorm with the hot seas has the habit of creating havoc for some hours.
Although probably this year is a bit less bad, as the sea is a degrees or two cooler, even if we had ten days of record heat, this year was cooler to last year and the one before it.
The same is off note to all Med in this time of the year. As a thunderstorm with the hot seas has the habit of creating havoc for some hours.
Although probably this year is a bit less bad, as the sea is a degrees or two cooler, even if we had ten days of record heat, this year was cooler to last year and the one before it.
silverdee
Well-Known Member
Just got back from 10 days there . Did Calvi-Girolata -Ajaccio (twice) -Orzu , beautiful bay S of Ajaccio - Bonifacio and Back. Beautiful ,on anchor bar 2 nights in Ajaccio (port Tino Rossi).
Bonifacio v hard to book marina at short notice (in August) but Tino Rossi nearly always fits us in. useful bay for anchoring just N of Bonifacio- we always end up there and Rib to port.
If stuck for water fill up or berth Port De Pianotolli Caldarello always has berths - the bay is boring compared to other sites(and v v poor holding for anchor) but quiet.
Girolata and nearby caves (near Cap Rossu) a must visit.
Bonifacio v hard to book marina at short notice (in August) but Tino Rossi nearly always fits us in. useful bay for anchoring just N of Bonifacio- we always end up there and Rib to port.
If stuck for water fill up or berth Port De Pianotolli Caldarello always has berths - the bay is boring compared to other sites(and v v poor holding for anchor) but quiet.
Girolata and nearby caves (near Cap Rossu) a must visit.
BartW
Well-Known Member
Interesting !
we were supposet to go to Corse this summer, but posponed until next year,
we are also used to spend half of the nights on anker, but curently in South Sardegna its easy to book a place only one day, or even on the same day,.. when wind prediction becomes bad.
But Afaik, Corse is very busy (like sof) and you need to book berths "months " in advance,
we can do that for certain dates with guests changes, but am really in doubt how todo it for the rest of the trip,
we will stay most probably 2..3 weeks in Corse,
so follwing this thread with interest for our planning next year.
we were supposet to go to Corse this summer, but posponed until next year,
we are also used to spend half of the nights on anker, but curently in South Sardegna its easy to book a place only one day, or even on the same day,.. when wind prediction becomes bad.
But Afaik, Corse is very busy (like sof) and you need to book berths "months " in advance,
we can do that for certain dates with guests changes, but am really in doubt how todo it for the rest of the trip,
we will stay most probably 2..3 weeks in Corse,
so follwing this thread with interest for our planning next year.