Sardinia.... talk to me

[MapisM]

Good choice, you'll like both the marina and the town.
And I'm telling this based on first hand experience, having spent months living aboard there in the recent past.
In fact, I will be back again in a couple of weeks.
If there's anything you would like me to ask/check/whatever, feel free to PM me.

 

[Cspirit]

So I've had some pricing back and in general marinas in Alghero are about 20% more expensive on an annual basis compared to our only Cagliari choice Portus Karalis. We are fine regarding airport links and both areas have some beautiful anchorages for us to explore. So.... What are the pros and cons of these 2 areas?

Thanks again

The town of Alghero is beautiful but the marina suffers from swell and in the inevitable winter strong winds you will need to check into a hotel because the boat will be untenable. Don't ask how I know.

 

[dune16]

The town of Alghero is beautiful but the marina suffers from swell and in the inevitable winter strong winds you will need to check into a hotel because the boat will be untenable. Don't ask how I know.

Yes. I'd heard about this so thanks for confirming. We've decided on Cagliari now

 

[pcatterall]

We visited the office at Port Karalis in Cagliari and were going to take a long booking but found that the shower block was only open during office hours. Finished at del Sol which was fine.

 

[dune16]

We visited the office at Port Karalis in Cagliari and were going to take a long booking but found that the shower block was only open during office hours. Finished at del Sol which was fine.

Yes, I've heard they're very small but we only ever use the showers on the boat anyway

 

[MapisM]

Yup, the WC & showers facilities are very small indeed, in proportion to the marina capacity.
But that's consistent with the very low demand for these service, because most boats are only parked there, and never used for living aboard.
BTW, I'm not aware of any time limitation: the access is through a keypad code, and I would have thought it's accessible 24/7, but I never actually used it at night...

 

[dune16]

So had the boat lifted for af, engine service, polish etc. Getting her set for the trip to Sardinia. We have booked a annual berth at Portus Karalis arriving in May. We will go from Denia to Menorca and leave her there for a few weeks and then come back for the crossing to Sardinia in May. I cannot wait to get back on the water and while my partner is a little nervous (she's not done a passage longer than 10 hours so far) I'm super excited ? any tips for the Menorca to Sardinia (we plan to go to a marina on Carloforte before going to Cagliari)?

Thanks

 

[Ningaloo]

So had the boat lifted for af, engine service, polish etc. Getting her set for the trip to Sardinia. We have booked a annual berth at Portus Karalis arriving in May. We will go from Denia to Menorca and leave her there for a few weeks and then come back for the crossing to Sardinia in May. I cannot wait to get back on the water and while my partner is a little nervous (she's not done a passage longer than 10 hours so far) I'm super excited ? any tips for the Menorca to Sardinia (we plan to go to a marina on Carloforte before going to Cagliari

I sailed from Menorca to Alghero then around to North and East coasts to make my way to Cagliari where we have lifted out for the winter.
Alghero is a must see, but I guess if you are staying in Sardinia for a year you will see most of it!
I'd plan your landfall in Sardinia based on the wind direction forecast for your passage. We just about made Alghero on a single tack but we were close to the wind most of the way.
In late September we encountered a couple of bad squalls, one of which just off Alghero, came up very quickly and gusted to 54kts. We got our sails down but another boat lost their mast.
Carloforte has several marinas and there are some sheltered anchorages between there and Cagliari.

 

[MapisM]

any tips for the Menorca to Sardinia (we plan to go to a marina on Carloforte before going to Cagliari)?

Mahon-Carloforte is the most popular route for crossing from Menorca to Sardinia, while for going back Alghero-Mahon is normally preferable.
This is just because Mistral is the prevailing wind in that area - which is also the reason why for circumnavigating Sardinia it's usually better to go CCW.
All subject to weather forecast, obviously!
Either ways, the distance is just shy of 200 Nm, so no difference there.
But of course, for reaching Cagliari, the overall distance is much shorter if you head to Carloforte first.

BTW, I should be back in Carloforte on my boat by May.
Besides, occasionally I will also be in Cagliari/Portus Karalis, before then.
Feel free to get in touch for anything!

 

[dune16]

Mahon-Carloforte is the most popular route for crossing from Menorca to Sardinia, while for going back Alghero-Mahon is normally preferable.
This is just because Mistral is the prevailing wind in that area - which is also the reason why for circumnavigating Sardinia it's usually better to go CCW.
All subject to weather forecast, obviously!
Either ways, the distance is just shy of 200 Nm, so no difference there.
But of course, for reaching Cagliari, the overall distance is much shorter if you head to Carloforte first.

BTW, I should be back in Carloforte on my boat by May.
Besides, occasionally I will also be in Cagliari/Portus Karalis, before then.
Feel free to get in touch for anything!

I'm sure I'll have questions. Many thanks, I appreciate it.

Simon

 

[Ningaloo]

Mahon-Carloforte is the most popular route for crossing from Menorca to Sardinia, while for going back Alghero-Mahon is normally preferable.
This is just because Mistral is the prevailing wind in that area - which is also the reason why for circumnavigating Sardinia it's usually better to go CCW.

Last night (it was late and I might have had a G&T) I was trying to recall why we headed to Alghero. Now I remember that I had a crew change arranged for Olbia and this seemed the best option.
I will be back at Cagliari in May and really looking forward to more exploring around Sardinia and Sicily.

 

[MapisM]

I had a crew change arranged for Olbia and this seemed the best option.

Yep, if Olbia is the final destination it definitely makes sense, weather permitting, to head straight to N Sardinia.
BTW, if you don't mind missing Alghero (which is nice, actually), you could also point straight to Stintino, which is right along the route to Olbia.

Of course, what I said to dune16 ref. getting in touch if there's anything I can help with still stands!

 

[Clancy Moped]

Yep, if Olbia is the final destination it definitely makes sense, weather permitting, to head straight to N Sardinia.
BTW, if you don't mind missing Alghero (which is nice, actually), you could also point straight to Stintino, which is right along the route to Olbia.

Of course, what I said to dune16 ref. getting in touch if there's anything I can help with still stands!

I don't reckon I would fancy the Fornelli Passage after a long all nighter, but Stintino is nice.

 

[dune16]

Do any of you have any recommendations for gelcoat repairers servicing the Cagliari area? I have some light gelcoat cracks around the anchor locker and have struggled to find any repairers in or around Denia to sort it. Thanks