This is the first post of our “Sailing Directory” by our friend Hiroshi.  Each time we will cover a specific subject or geographical area of Sardinia. Let’s talk about marinas in south Sardinia.

“I normally sail with a monohull with 2 mt draft, so some information may not be suitable to those who have a deeper boat, but it will be ok if you are the lucky owner of a catamaran.

There are 9 accessible marinas from S.Pietro Island (SW) to Porto Corallo (SE) that I briefly want tell you about.

-Porto di Carloforte
It is a pretty big harbour that assures the connection between Sardinia main island and the small island of S.Pietro, of which Carloforte is the only town.
Inside the harbour there are different pontoons, managed by different companies. Restrooms and showers are quite poor though.
It is a must to visit Carloforte, so do plan at least a night stop in this marina and be prepared to some water movement during the night. This is due to the ferries’ traffic. If you can, try to avoid the very busy month of August.

-Marina di Calasetta
It is a good  and cheaper alternative to Carloforte. You will not suffer any traffic related water movement during the night as ferries do not come close to it. The marina is also smaller and you will find a really friendly atmosphere together with clean and big restrooms with showers. Nearby the marina’s office there is a cheap but excellent restaurant where you can have a nice dinner. You can still reach Carloforte in only 15 minutes by ferry.

-Porto di Teulada
A very big marina but almost nothing around it. The staff are very helpful and normally will assist you with anything you may need. Facilities are pretty poor though and there is no gas station! If you need diesel ask the guy at the marina and he will kindly get it for you the day after. I normally tip him for this service.
Nearby the marina (5minutes walk) there is a camp site with a bar – pizzeria and a small shop similar to an off license where you can get some food and groceries.
If you wish to have a meal inland, you will be pleased to know that some restaurants offer transfers from and to the marina for dinner…so you can drink all the mirto you want!
-Marina del Sole
Sailing East, the first decent marina is in Cagliari. Do skip the previous ones as they are not deep enough.The Marina del Sole is inside Cagliari’s harbour and it is the cheapest one. Don’t expect any cool facility, there is just a restroom and a shower but if your boat needs some fixing, they can deal with it. There are many English and Germans that permanently live in Cagliari so you may meet some old friends
It is also close to Cagliari therefore if you have a bike you can enjoy our main city.

-Marina di S.Elmo
It is very close to the Marina del Sole so you could mistake them.
This one is much more expensive though and offers better facilities such as washing machines and bigger (but not too much) showers. As the previous marina, it is close to the city.

-Marina Piccola
A small marina and one of the favorite places for a night walk in the city during the summer season.
You may want to pick this as you can easily anchor outside the harbour in really clean waters and have a good swim. It is served by restaurants, a good sandy beach and excellent ice creams bars.
Unfortunately the restrooms and showers are not at the same standard.
Pay attention at your draft, the entrance is about 1.90 – 2.00 mt. max

-Marina di Capitana
Without any doubt, the nicest marina in the area. It offers many facilities including a restaurant, a hotel with wellness and clean showers. Unfortunately there is not any village or town nearby so your nightlife will simply consist in a having a beer at the marina’s bar.

-Marina di Villasimius
It’s a big and well served one located inside the protected area of Villasimius. You will find good facilities but if you want to have a shower you will have to get a coin at the Marina’s office.
Extremely busy in July (week-ends) and August (everyday) you will have to reach the marina not later than 5.30 pm if you want to be sure to get a place.
A small tip: if there is not wind during the night and you want to use your anchor, there is a safe and wonderful anchorage point right in front of the port main entrance (2.50 mt draft max), where you can stay ’till 8.30 am when the police will ask you to move away.

-Porto Corallo
Go there just if you have no other choice as there is nothing around. Facilities are really poor and it makes sense to stop only if you need a break during your trip.”

Hiroshi

Thanks Hiroshi for all this info!! – Manu

As usual, at the end of this post some useful info and a link for driving directions, but now I would like to begin from the end of the story: at the end of our sailing weekend, my sister and her boyfriend, who is an experienced sailorman, asked me if everything was all right, it didn’t look like I had fun. The truth is that I was speechless and a bit sad that the amazing experience was over. Thanks again guys, I really did have fun!

Now then.. we started from Cagliari and drove for one and a half hours to Portovesme where we met a third couple and caught a ferry to Carloforte, a small town in the island of San Pietro, 45 minutes from Sardinia. We also board our car and the trip was quite comfortable. On arrival, we unloaded the car and parked it nearby the harbour, easy peasy! Man that boat was something…

It was already quite late so we had a pizza and few beers on the boat and went to sleep.
The morning after the real fun started, we sailed for most of the morning and the views of Carloforte and Sardinia’s south west coast were just there, like a precious frame for a priceless painting, my sea. We stopped just on a side of Pan di Zucchero, a stunning huge surfacing rock in front of the Masua bay, and stayed there swimming and diving and snorkeling and …. I think you got it.

After lunch, we pointed towards a small bay in S. Peter island, very slowly this time because apparently we took a dangerous way were rocks are there just for you to hit them! It didn’t matter the longer you could enjoy those views, the better. In the bay we dropped the anchor and prepared to have dinner. Guys we actually cooked on the boat. Pasta with shellfish, white wine (Vermentino) and everything. Then the night..stars, moon, chats with friends, finishing the bottle, Manuela very close and staying silent… no word is enough.

In the early morning, we reached the beach with a small rubber dinghy. Nobody there, just desert. We had breakfast there. When people started to arrive we paddled back to our boat. Later some more friends arrived (two of them swimming their lungs out!!) and we spent the rest of the day having fun. In the evening we went back to Carloforte and returned the boat where we hired it.

Having the opportunity, the time and somebody that has got a license ..sailing is an experience I want to repeat.

Luca

Useful info:

At the end it was not so expensive, if I don’t remember wrong, we spent more or less 150 € each for the whole weekend (plus food).

Cooking in a boat is good fun at night, but bring plenty of easy stuff to make sandwiches, and fruits and drinks.

Suncream protection, when you are on a boat there is not escape from the sun, and from 12 to 4pm in Sardinia you can burn.

Take your snorkeling equipment, is real fun there’s another world down there.

Take some time to visit the village, Carloforte has a very peculiar history (may be in another post!)

and here are your directions!