Italy Yacht Charter Destinations @ Catamaran Italy Charter @ Sailing Italy
Taly is home to some of the best sailing grounds in the Mediterranean, as evidenced by the large number of boats that are kept in the area. The lack of natural harbors located along the coast and the limited number of places in the marinas can make it really challenging to find a berth during the summer months on the Italian coast. The islands of Sardinia and Sicily tend to enjoy more wind than the Bay of Naples and the Riviera (check the weather), but, in general, there is a lot less during the summer months than other times of the year, and yachts tend to have to motor more here than elsewhere in the Mediterranean. The Italians’ love affair with speed explains the high numbers of motor boats relative to sailing boats in the area. But when the sun shines and there is a warm, steady breeze, most yachtsmen would feel that the wait had been worth it. The variety of scenery, the fabulous climate, the beautifully clear water, and Italian food and wine certainly go some way toward making up for the lack of wind! Our yachts are in many yacht charter centers in the key sailing areas of Italy. Italian regulations state that skippers wishing to sail on a catamaran for charter in Italy more than six miles offshore in Italian waters need to hold an International Certificate of Competence (ICC). They also need to be able to produce the registration document for the boat and a valid insurance certificate. There is no lifeboat service in Italy, and emergencies are dealt with by the Guardia Costiera.
Most people refer to the whole sailing area as the Mediterranean Sea, but Italian waters are actually divided into several different areas: the North Adriatic Sea, the Central Adriatic Sea, the South Adriatic Sea, the Sardinian Sea, the Strait of Sardinia, the Strait of Sicily, the Ligurian Sea, the North Tyrrhenian Sea, the Central Tyrrhenian Sea, the South Tyrrhenian Sea, the North Ionian Sea, and the South Ionian Sea.
North Adriatic
The coastline of the north Adriatic is flatter and less interesting than other areas of Italy, mainly made up of mile after mile of sandy beaches that are not so interesting for catamaran charter sailing in Italy. However, there are many interesting places to visit, such as Venice, Trieste, Ravenna, and Rimini. The proximity to the northern coastline and islands of Croatia make this area very popular for catamaran charter cruising.
Central Adriatic
There is little of interest for the cruising yachtsman in this area of the Adriatic for catamaran charters. There are a few notable harbors such as San Giorgio, San Benedetto del Tronto, Pescara, and Ortona, but most of the cruising interest is either further north or to the south of the Italian coast.
South Adriatic
The heel of Italy stretches from the port of Otranto up to the Gargano Peninsula. This area is probably the most interesting in the Italian Adriatic for catamaran charters, as the coastline becomes very flat and the sea very shallow inshore as you travel north Italy. Also, from here, it is only a day’s sail to the island of Corfu in Greece and the fabulous sailing waters of Greece. The Tremeti Islands, off the northern coast of the Gargano Peninsula, are very beautiful, totally unspoiled, and perfect for catamaran charters in Italy. There are no marina facilities there, and it is only safe to anchor in settled weather. The harbors of Otranto, Vieste, Bari, Brindisi, and Manfredonia all have marina facilities.
Sicily
Sicily is an attractive cruising ground for Catamaran Charter Sailing Italy, particularly along the northern and eastern coasts. It has a number of well established marinas, although they can be very expensive in the summer months. We have also bases on Sicily, so we can offer you catamaran services from there. There are anchorages at Cefalu and either side of Palermo. At the western end, San Vito lo Capo also has a comfortable marina and anchorage, which can be very useful in a maestrale. Off the western end of Sicily lie the Egadi Islands, which provide some spectacularly clear water and secure anchorages. There is a marina at Favignana. The cities of Trapani and Marsala are attractive destinations, but further to the south, the facilities diminish somewhat. The area is slowly being developed, but some care should be taken when passing through this area. The eastern side of Sicily has some beautiful cities and interesting sailing destinations, in particular: Siracusa, Catania, and Taormina are well worth a visit. The marina at Riposto provides ringside seats for any fireworks shows that Mount Etna chooses to put on! A trip through the Straits of Messina is made more interesting by the presence of whirlpools at certain states of the tide! Although not dangerous to cruising yachts, they look a little threatening and can affect the steering at times.
The Ionian
The Ionian coast makes up the instep of the Italian boot.” There are few harbors suitable for catamaran sailing in Italy, but there are marinas at Crotone, Taranto, and Gallipoli. At Sibari, there is an inland development of holiday homes and a large number of marina berths, so you come with the catamaran.
The Italian Riviera
The Italian Riviera stretches along most of the coastline of Liguria, either side of the port of Genoa in Italy. The region that runs from Genoa to the border with France in the west is called the ‘Riviera di Ponente, and it’s a fantastic location to charter a catamaran.
La Spezia
There are plenty of comfortable harbors in this area for chartering a catamaran sailing Italy, notably San Remo, Imperia, Loano, and Savonna, but few anchorages if any. The port of Genoa has several yacht harbors, so you can come with a catamaran. From here to Cinque Terre, and the natural harbor of La Spezia in the east, there is a region called the ‘Riviera di Levante’. There are a large number of comfortable harbors where you can stop with a catamaran in this area too, but like most of Italy, it gets very busy in the summer, and some effort needs to be made to secure a berth for the night where we can also help you. There are a few anchorages available, notably in Sestri Levante and inside the harbor of La Spezia. In the Golfo Tigullio (Golfo Marconi), the harbors of Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, and Rapallo are very popular with the rich and famous, and space is hard to find during the season. Come and be one of them with our luxury catamaran.
The Tuscan Islands & Argentario
Of all the places to sail in Italian waters, the Tuscan Islands are probably the most appealing, and they are probably one of the most popular areas for yacht charter. It has something for everyone. The islands of Capraia, Elba, Giglio, and Giannutri are all accessible to yachts and provide a number of attractive harbors and plenty of anchorages, some even secluded in bad weather. On the mainland south of Livorno, the harbors of Cala di Medici, Punta Ala, and on the Argentario promontory, Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Ercole, and Cala Galera, are all relatively large and comfortable, and any one of them would provide a fabulous base for exploring the area.
The Pontine Islands
The Pontine Islands are a favorite sailing destination in Italy. They are conveniently placed for both Rome and Naples, and with six islands to choose from, there is plenty of variety to enjoy. The two largest islands, Ponza and Ventotene, have attractive towns to explore. The others, Palmarola, Zannone, Gavi, and Santo Stefano, are smaller but provide some very attractive anchorages. In bad weather, care needs to be taken as they are a little exposed.
The Bay of Naples
It is not hard to see the appeal of the Bay of Naples for sailors on our catamarans sailing Italy on charter. On the northern end, the islands of Ischia and Procida are both very accommodating to our catamarans sailing Italy, with several well equipped marinas and a number of beautiful anchorages suitable in settled weather. In the center, the famous outline of Mount Vesuvius dominates the skyline, with a number of marinas, including one of ours, lining the coastline around Naples, some more attractive than others! On the southern end, the Island of Capri lies serenely off the Sorrento Peninsula. Its harbor is famously expensive, but there is an anchorage to the side of it and a number of spectacular bays suitable for anchoring in settled weather. To the north of the bay, yachts can visit the beautiful Pontine Islands, and to the south, the Amalfi Coast beckons.
Sorrento Peninsular
This area is renowned for its beauty and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Italy. On the northern side, the town of Sorrento sits serenely on a hill overlooking the bay of Naples, and on the southern side, the towns of Positano, Ravallo, Amalfi, and Salerno gaze southward, framed by one of the most famous backdrops in the world. From a sailing point of view, its shortcomings are compensated by the extraordinary scenery. Sorrento has marina facilities, as do Amalfi, Maiori, and Salerno. Catamarans can anchor off the seafront at Positano in settled weather.
