West Coast of Corsica Part 1.

Broker Cordy gives an insight into her time working onboard Megayachts

One of my favorite places to cruise when I worked onboard mega yachts (Giga yachts weren’t around then!) was the stunning West coastline of Corsica. I was fortunate to work for a wonderful English family who adored this area, so it is where we spent the majority of the summer. On a displacement yacht cruising at around 12knots, the journey from Cannes to St Florent is around 10 hours which can normally be achieved overnight. So, if you are on the French Riviera and fancy something a little different, why not enjoy a wonderful dinner on board anchored at the Iles des Lerins, Cannes, and then start your journey after this. Be sure to ask the crew to wake you up at dawn to dolphin watch! One of the most amazing experiences at sea.

Arriving in St Florent is stunning, this pretty little fishing port has a host of local restaurants and bars huddled around the marina. Restaurant de l’Europe and Le Grill are perfect places to sit in the sun and watch the world go by!

Having relaxed in the sun, head one street back to the old town full of independent shops selling local charcuterie and souvenirs. Keep heading up and you will reach the citadel, steps from the citadel car park lead down to a small beach. The stunning cathedral de Nebbio is found on the other side of the town on the Chemin de la Cathedrale and is most definitely worth a visit.

For the more energetic persons amongst your group, Le Roya Beach can be found to the southeast of the town offering water sports including windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, jet skis and scuba diving! There really is something for everyone!

Heading west from St Florent is the beautiful town of Calvi. Coming into port you have an incredible view of the citadel, once docked, it is definitely worth climbing up the cobbled streets for breathtaking panoramic views of your surroundings. There are some great restaurants up here as well as the voguish Chez Tao bar!

Once you have soaked up the incredible views, wander around the shops through the old cobbled streets of the town. The marché de l’Orée des Pins is full of local charcuterie, grapes, cheeses, and amazing pastries!

Around the corner, further West from Calvi is possibly the most beautiful spot in the Med! Girolata is a fortified bay at the south of the Scandola Nature Reserve. The setting is spectacular, with the village perched on the peninsula and surrounded by the sea and the famous red rock mountains of this area.  This bay is a wonderful place to anchor and swim ashore to the beautiful beach.

Further south in the Scandola National Park is the bay of Porto where you can find a pretty little village and see more of the stunning Calanques de Piana rock formations.

Having enjoyed the National Park, further south again you will find Ajaccio, famous for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte! You can visit the Maison Bonaparte, now a national museum, the ancestral home of the Bonaparte family, to discover more about his life. Ajaccio’s charming old town is a great place to amble and enjoy the beautiful architectural features and stunning landmarks such as the Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption.

The pretty port of Ajaccio is adorned with bars and restaurants serving seafood and pizzas. The perfect place to soak up the atmosphere and admire the view!

Contact Cordy at Boatbookings to plan your Corsican adventure and please keep reading the blog for part 2 of the West Coast of Corsica!

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Harmonious Hanse

Hanse was founded in 1993, when it launched its first boat, the Hanse 291, which caused a stir because of its racing prowess. It is now one of the top 5 worldwide manufactures of sailing yachts and is based in Griefswold, Germany.

Hanse Yachts are built with quality materials and furnished beautifully. No expense is spared when creating a Hanse. Their epoxy hulls are built with vacuum-composite technology which produces significantly greater stiffness with 20% less weight. Making her a durable, but light performance cruising yacht.

Hanse Sailing Yachts are known for their quality, comfort, speed, easy sailing, and family-friendly design. They feature self-tacking jibs, fully battened mainsails, and a single-line reefing system that help make sailing a stress-free experience.

Once you have experienced the quality of a Hanse Yacht, you will not want to sail anything else! Why not do a Hanse Yacht Charter in some of the most popular sailing destinations in the world? Check out the range of Hanse’s in Croatia or Greece!

One of Boatbookings most favourite Hanse Yachts has just became available in Croatia! The Hanse 575 is an innovative yacht which is not only aesthetically beautiful to look at but also easy to handle. Hanse has designed the Easy Sailing Concept, a thoughtful design dedicated to the importance of stress-free sailing.

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An insight into Cruising the Croatian Coastline.

Dubrovnik

Aesthetically, Croatia is an incredible mix of Soviet and Mediterranean architecture. The impressively built iconic Soviet buildings can still be seen today in the larger towns. In contrast with the harsh architecture, the coastline offers a more Mediterranean, sailing vibe. Along the borders between land and sea are filled with fishing huts, ports, small cafes, and medieval architecture. There is a cathedral in Trogir which was built in the 13th century and stands proudly over the Dalmatian coast. It is an iconic landmark for the historic town of Trogir.

Don`t be fooled by the medieval style of the towns, the Croatians and tourists love to party! With restaurants and bars opening late you`ll be hard pressed not to find a spot to watch the sunset. Want to be part of the action? Why not check out some of our yachts based in the most famous ports in Croatia? We have an extensive collection of Hanses’, Bali catamarans, Bavarias, Dufours and many many more!

If partying to the early hours is not your idea of fun, then head north along the coastline to the quite islands around Šibenik. In this beautiful corner of Croatia, you are encompassed by various National Parks all within sailing distance of Split. The great thing about Croatia is that you can enjoy this country by both land and water. You really do get the best of both worlds with this charter.

Due to the versatility and accessibility, Croatia is increasing in popularity year by year with it becoming one of the hot spots for summer vacations. This does mean that yachts get booked up very quickly! To avoid disappointment why not enquire with us and see what is available?

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ITALIAN APERITIVO

This Italian word known all over the world is an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage that is generally consumed between 5pm and 8pm. Nowadays people do not associate the Aperitivo to a beverage, but the word is used to describe the action of gathering with friends before dinner to have a drink and some snacks.

Drinks and cocktails are what generally characterizes an Aperitivo.

Elisa

The Aperitivo was born in Turin, Italy more than 200 years ago. The official drink of the region is the Vermut, an aromatized white wine that became the symbol of Turin. Initially, people who were affected by lack of appetite used to drink it before dinner because it helped to stimulate the appetite. Over the coming years, this became a tradition and people started gathering in the early evening to have a drink. The Vermut can be drunk straight or is now used as a base for many cocktails.

The most typical and popular Italian drinks that are consumed during an aperitivo are Spritz, Negroni, Bellini, wine, and beer.

But let’s go more in the specific of the regions…

FOOD AND DRINKS

The Aperitivo is generally accompanied by food. It is not a proper meal as it is consumed before dinner, but besides drinking, every bar will offer you some snacks! Chips and nuts are the basic food you can have, but you can also decide to have some more sophisticated snacks.

If you go sailing in one of the most popular destinations in Italy, you must stop in one of the bars on the cost and have an Aperitivo like a good Italian!

In Sardinia the bars will probably propose you to taste different cheeses, the most popular is the Pecorino, accompanied by the bread Carasau. These are all typical delicious products produced on the island. Some fresh fruit during a hot day would also be the perfect combination. The white wine Vermentino or the Ichnusa beer are the typical beverages of the island, so it would be worth tasting them. If you are a liquor lover you must try the Mirto, it is a Sardinian liquor obtained from the myrtle plant through the alcoholic maceration of the berries.

In Sicily, traditional food is not known as the lightest, but every dish is unique and absolutely delicious! The passion and the attention on details that it is used to prepare the dishes are fascinating. One of the best-loved Sicilian snacks are the Arancini: fried rice balls stuffed with sauce, peas, cheese or other ingredients. It is a must if you want a traditional Sicilian treat. The Etnabitter is the typical liquor of the region. It is produced with red-orange peel, white wine, honey, almond, and natural herbs. It is used to create many cocktails, so you will be able to taste it in different ways.

In the Amalfi Coast you will be able to taste a mix of different snacks, some of the more elaborated and others more simple, but with an original taste. A typical snack is the small fried mozzarelle, salty cakes stuffed with potatoes and cheese, Chiacchere – fried pizza dough, but you can also find some places that offer you a simple selection of different types of cold cuts, all accompanied by bread or some white focaccia. Limoncello is a lemon liquor typical of the region. From this liquor, it is possible to create different cocktails and one of the most portals in the Amalfi Coast is the Amalfi Breeze which combines the limoncello with the tang of citrus vodka and the sweetness of cranberries.

Nowadays the Aperitivo is a way of gathering with the family or friends, meeting new people, communicating and discovering new places. It is a tradition and is a great way of making good memories.

Fancy enjoying the above? Why not enquire on one of our crewed motor yachts with an exceptional crew who all live and breath the Italian traditions! Get in contact now with one of our Italian experts to understand how you too, can enjoy the best Lemoncello about!


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A bar with a view – Ibiza

Ibiza is truly one of the best destinations in Europe during the summer holidays for many reasons. Food, turquoise blue sea, beaches, sun, restaurants, and people – everything is amazing. Ibiza is an island with a doubled soul: the wild summer, devoted excesses with parties, festivals, and music which made it famous in the last 40 years. Where art and fashion merge with creating an environment where people can feel free to express themselves. On the flip side, there is then the more relaxed and quiet side that takes care of traditions and the uncontaminated nature of the island. Her volcanic soul, coupled with turquoise waters makes for a restful peaceful place – perhaps this is why it used to be a hippy island in the 60’s/70’s/80’s.

Here you can find the best side of both worlds and this perfect mix makes the island unique, fascinating and intriguing. If you decide to go cruising around the island you have to make sure to not miss the three following amazing bar/ restaurants. Perfect to spend some time with your family and friends and make unforgettable memories.

Amante

Located in the stunning Sol d’en Serra bay, this amazing beach restaurant offers lunch, dinner and a beach setting. During the day it is a quiet beach club, while in the evening it is a fine restaurant that offers you a tasty selection of contemporary Mediterranean dishes. The dishes are inspired by the modern Spanish and Italian cuisines and are composed of fresh meat or fish cooked in many different ways. Amante offers also some activities during day and night: Yoga and an open-air cinema.

The best time would definitely be when the sun starts going down. The bar and restaurant organised Aperitivi, with drinks and tapas. One of the main features of this location is the breathtaking view on the whole bay, what a better way to end your day in this unique location accompanied by this stunning view and a glass of wine. 

Sunset Ashram

Cala Conte is one of the most famous coves on the island. It is surrounded by sand dunes, rocky cliffs, and crystalline blue waters. This special gem also has the view that overlooks some small inhabited islands situated right in front, all reachable by boat! There are two main beaches with white sand, where you can relax under the Mediterranean sun.

Right next to the beach there is Sunset Ashram. It is a bar/restaurant where you can to enjoy some great drinks and fresh food. This is also one of the best places where you can enjoy the wonderful Ibizian sunsets. In the evening, the Sunset Ashram hosts various DJs playing during the spectacular sunsets, but it is above all a place where you completely relax, have a drink and watch the sky changing color while the sun disappears on the horizon.

Beachouse

If you want a place where to spend your day with music, food, beach and relaxing, Beachouse is the perfect location. Right next to the famous Ushuaïa Hotel & Club and the Hard Rock Hotel, this stunning beach/restaurant is situated in the most popular beach of Ibiza: Playa d’en Bossa. It is the longest beach on the island where some of the best bars and clubs are situated. House beach is definitely a must if you want to stay close to the “movida”. You can relax during the day by renting sunbeds and parasols and by attending some beach yoga sessions.

Just a few steps by from the Mediterranean sea there is the restaurant that offers lunch and dinner with typical, fragrant Spanish Paella or any fish based dishes. Thanks to the extensive menu of food and drinks you will be spoiled of choice! In the evening and during the night the atmosphere changes. Beachouse always hosts the famous international DJ’s and organizes the best parties. It is definitely a summer dream!

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