East coast Corsica?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted User YDKXO
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted User YDKXO

Guest
Next week we are moving our boat from La Spezia on the NW coast of Italy to Olbia in NE Sardinia. An obvious first stopover is Elba but then the route will also take us down the east coast of Corsica. Does anyone know this coastline and are there any harbours worth visiting? What about fuel? Marine diesel currently costs €1.70/litre or more in Italy. Is it likely to be cheaper in Corsica and therefore worth a detour just to fill up?
 
Deleted User said:
Next week we are moving our boat from La Spezia on the NW coast of Italy to Olbia in NE Sardinia. An obvious first stopover is Elba but then the route will also take us down the east coast of Corsica. Does anyone know this coastline and are there any harbours worth visiting? What about fuel? Marine diesel currently costs €1.70/litre or more in Italy. Is it likely to be cheaper in Corsica and therefore worth a detour just to fill up?
Click to expand...
I've done it a few times and NickH did a post with pictures 1-2 years ago. It is sheltered from prevailing westerly but there is little to see. There is a nice enough port up near the top Macinaggio and then there is Bastia itself, both of which I've visited but once is enough imho, and there was an ok anchoring stop at solenzara that Nick posted a nice picture of, and then it gets really nice for the last 1/4. just before the turn into Porto Vecchio, you have san cipriano which is a very nice anchorage and has nude aerobics on the beach at 9am in summer to provide visual entertainment while you have your bacon sarnies, plus there are loads of nice anchorages south of PV including the palombaggia stretch and the beautiful Rondinara and several others. Note the land is low here, so if it is blowing strong westerly you wont find much shelter in Rondinara. There wont be waves of course but the wind will howl through

I have a few pics on p'bucket so will link to them later and it's worth searching for nick's post that covered this

I dunno about fuel prices sorry.
 
Last edited:
I spend a couple of weeks in Solanzara. There are good anchorages close by and the marina isn't too bad either. Town is small, but will have everything you need. The coast south from there to Port Vechio is very pretty.
 
Fuel was around the 1.30 to 1.40 mark as posted by some Italian friends in an Italian forum.

Marinas should also be about 50% cheaper to what most Sardinia of the N and NE offers as prices in the Summer season.

Yes everything is cheaper is Corsica compared to Sardinia, though prices have been going up a bit in the last years due to the Italian exodus happening in the high season.
 
Thanks jfm. I haven't managed to find NickH's thread so lets hope he sees this. But I did find a photo you posted of the Maddalenas. Do you know that area as well? Any recommendations for anchorages/places to visit in the area?
Based on your less than glowing report, it looks like I'll make straight for Porto Vecchio from Elba especially since I've only got 4-5 days to make the trip. Any recommendation where to moor there? What about spending a night in Bonifacio? Never been there but I think its one of your favourites
 
Deleted User said:
Thanks jfm. I haven't managed to find NickH's thread so lets hope he sees this. But I did find a photo you posted of the Maddalenas. Do you know that area as well? Any recommendations for anchorages/places to visit in the area?
Based on your less than glowing report, it looks like I'll make straight for Porto Vecchio from Elba especially since I've only got 4-5 days to make the trip. Any recommendation where to moor there? What about spending a night in Bonifacio? Never been there but I think its one of your favourites
Click to expand...
Ah yes if you are short of time blast striaght down to PV. The marina is ok but also there is a big safe inlet on the right (north) halfway down the entrnace channel where you can anchor safely. I've also anchored overnight in the bay immediately north of the entrance to the channel that lads to PV - called cipriano. I'd also very strongly recommend bonifacio. It's on that list of 10 harbours every skipper must sail into in his life so would be a shame not to Mikle. The entrance is quite stunning, with great quayside resturnats and bars once you're inside. Book on resaportscorse.com or some www similar to that. Also anchor in Lavezzi, west side, if it is not windy - that's a beautiful place too and requires a sharp lookout for just-submerged rocks (easy on a 30 footer but not so easy in 63 or more and you rarely see anything beyond 70 feet in there.

Lavezzi
Lavezziwtender.jpg

Lavezzidistant.jpg

IMG_1916.jpg



Bonifacio
IMG_2299.jpg

IMG_2317.jpg

IMG_2321.jpg
 
Last edited:
Deleted User said:
An obvious first stopover is Elba but then the route will also take us down the east coast of Corsica.
Click to expand...
M, just a thought: after Elba, which is definitely worth visiting (and possibly spending a few days), one alternative route might be further SE along IT mainland, up to Argentario peninsula. I would suggest Porto Santo Stefano, which is a very nice and lively village, and time permitting also Cala Galera/Porto Ercole, on the SE side of the peninsula.
On top of that, Giglio and Giannutri islands are within easy reach from there, and both well worth seeing while you are in that area, particularly if you are thinking to move back to the Adriatic next year.
Btw, there are some great dives around these islands, just in case you would have anyone onboard interested in that.

From that area, you might head straight to Olbia (roughly a hundred NM, IIRC).
The Maddalena archipelago and the southern part of Corsica are also a must of course, but if you are staying in Olbia for a while, that will be your top cruising area anyway, while the Tuscan islands would be far away from Olbia...

Anyway, just a thought, as I said.
Whatever you'll decide, fair winds, and don't forget to post some pics! :)
 
jfm said:
BTW mike, the antibes posse is planning Madellenas and NE Sardinia for 2nd half of august so maybe we'll find you
Click to expand...
Just FYI, this summer for some reason Costa Smeralda is in extremely high demand.
I heard (from operators) that they are very busy already in these days, with stellar bookings for Jul/Aug.
They are literally talking of a return to the good old days...
It might be just because in the last couple of years they experienced a significant demand decrease, something they were not used to in Costa Smeralda.
But I would definitely try to make some reservations, if I were thinking to visit in August.
 
Might be the bit improving of the Italian economy, the less controls of the GDF, and that Croatia is in the EU which equals to it becoming more commercial and a mass tourist place then ever.

While I am in love with Croatia, I think Costa Smeralda has its magic touch up there, pity for the stupid prices.
 
I also can't find the old thread, but I don't think it added anything to jfm's comprehensive summary, all of which I agree with.

I think MapisM makes a good point. If you're going to be based in Olbia for the summer, then Porto Vecchio, Bonifacio, and the Maddalenas are all within easy reach for short cruises, overnighters, or even day trips if you don't mind burning some juice, so it may make more sense to explore the Tuscan Islands and around Monte Argentario, then do the final 100 NM in one go.
 
jfm said:
I'd also very strongly recommend bonifacio.
Click to expand...
Thanks jfm. Presumably Bonifacio is very crowded in August in which case would you recommend we visited on this trip rather than leave it for our hols in August? Any tips for the weather in NE Sardinia? Any particular wind patterns to watch for? Because of the cost of marina moorings we'll be doing a lot of overnight anchoring
 
MapisM said:
Just FYI, this summer for some reason Costa Smeralda is in extremely high demand.
I heard (from operators) that they are very busy already in these days, with stellar bookings for Jul/Aug.
Click to expand...
I had no probs booking Marina di Olbia from July to October about a month ago but the price was very high.
 
jfm said:
BTW mike, the antibes posse is planning Madellenas and NE Sardinia for 2nd half of august so maybe we'll find you
Click to expand...
OK that would be excellent. We will be on the boat from 9th to 31st Aug or thereabouts
 
just been to Port Stefano, very nice, scuba great use Argentario on the the front. Really helpful.

We are in Rome at the moment waiting pickup of guests. We will then head back up north and across to Corsica. I used BWA as agent for Salorenza, Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio. Jennifer at BWA had my bookings confirmed within 2 hours so not sure how busy they are. Happy to use her as she always has a warm welcome on the dock at Bonifacio, she has never failed to get me in there either.

Dont forget if you go into the park they will sting you to anchor I think we paid about 150 per day.... little man in his boat with credit card machine always happy to relieve you of money.

Ive been in Italy for nearly 2 weeks I have to say I really dislike the place. They make Spanish people seem helpful. Two taxis ordered only one turned up 30 minutes late. I think he came from Rome judging by the money on the meter......

Fuel is disgustingly expensive, I paid 1.78 euro a litre...... Good job we cruise slowly.

Still one good thing we can get to Rome by public transport for 1.50 i guess the trains arent running on marine diesel.

Have a good trip.
 
Thanks Lozzer, yup I'm finding the fuel cost in Italy to be a bit of a shock as well, especially after a few years in Croatia where it costs about €1 per litre. Which park are you referring to which stings you for €150? And who is BWA?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top