The winter months can be long and tedious but with daily flights to the Caribbean, chasing the sun has never been so easy. A favourite destination for the Boatbookings team is the British Virgin Islands. With line of sight navigation and short sailing distances between each island, this is the perfect place to relax and unwind.
Offering year round sunshine and steeped in history, the Bahamas is one of our favourite charter spots. Follow in the steps of Christopher Columbus who first made landfall in the New World here, pirates who used the islands as a haven in the 1600s and where British loyalists made their homes following the American Revolution. With 29 islands, 661 cays and nearly 2400 islets surrounded by clear turquoise water, it is a sailor’s paradise. Located just 100 miles off the Florida coast and a two hour flight from New York you can find yourself relaxing on a warm teak deck in record time.
The second largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is a European paradise. Located closer to Africa than to Italy, the turquoise sea and white sandy beaches of Sardinia rival anything you would see further afield. Add to this the local cooking of hearty pastas and pungent cheeses such as pecorino and smoked ricotta washed down with the local wines, and you have yourself the ideal charter destination.
Begin your Sardinia yacht charter from Portisco, a short taxi ride from Olbia airport, and immerse yourself in the Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast. This coastal resort is renowned as the playground of the rich and famous since the Aga Khan made it his playground in the 1960s. Sail north to La Maddelena National Park, scattered with islands and sandy beaches, including the famous spiaggia rosa, with pink sands, where peaceful anchorages await, or head for Corsica and the harbour town of Bonifacio for some French flair.
If you’re a fan of bareboat sailing, set sail aboard the Jeanneau 57 which accommodates up to 12 guests in 5 cabins.
In order to whet your appetite we have come up with the following one week itinerary in Sardinia.
Starting in Portisco, head towards Tavolara (12 nautical miles). Anchor in the bay of Spalmatore with its beautiful beach and fantastic view. In the evening, head ashore to dine at the restaurant “Re di Tavolara”.
Day 2, from Tavolara to Isola Caprera (21 nautical miles). The island is part of the Maddalena Archipelago and home to the House of Garibaldi (which is now a museum).
On the third day, sail to Bonifacio (18 nautical miles). The beautiful harbour of Bonifacio is a sight in itself with its split limestone cliffs, as well as the baguettes and crepes of France which await!
Leaving Bonifacio, head to Isola Budeli (11 nautical miles). Part of the Maddalena Archipelago and famous for the spiaggia rosa.
Set sail to Isola Spargi (3 nautical miles). This part of the route offers many small bays with stunning transparent waters.
Explore the island with the same name as the archipelago, La Maddalena (3 nautical miles). The main town in the islands offers all kinds of shops and restaurants for your perusal.
Leave La Maddalena in the direction of Pervero (9 nautical miles). A stunning bay just behind Porto Cervo marina where you will find two sandy beaches against a backdrop of green hills dotted with the villas of the Costa Smeralda.
Finish your journey by sailing back to Portisco (5 nautical miles), when it is time to head home!
Do you want a taste of this sailing experience? Contact Boatbookings today in order to start planning your summer sailing!
The Caribbean island of St. Lucia is one of the jewels of the Windward Islands. With its endless banana plantations, picturesque hamlets and stunning harbours it is a constant reminder of an older Caribbean before tourism really took off.
One of our guests, Andy, recently returned from a week of idyllic sailing, and could not wait to share his experience!
When we got off the plane in Vieux Fort, St Lucia, I immediately noticed the wind. At first I was a little concerned; it was strong and as most of my sailing takes place on the Great Lakes in Canada, the Ocean seemed a bit daunting. We immediately departed to the boat in Rodney Bay, which meant that we got to see some of St Lucia before we boarded. It is a truly beautiful Island with high and low winding roads through rolling banana plantations and old volcanic mountains covered with lush plant life.
Having just read Mark Twain’s “Innocents Abroad,” a classic account of tourism in Turkey, we’re now very excited about the thought of heading to the Turkish coast this summer.
Lying opposite the Greek island of Kos and jutting out into the Aegean, the waters off the Bodrum peninsula are perfect for a summer sailing holiday. The vibe is distinctly east meets west. The cuisine, bazaars and hammams are inherently oriental, with an easy going culture blending mosques with a bikini led lifestyle. Development has been carefully monitored and much of the peninsula retains its intrinsic character. The coastal towns and villages remain low rise against a back drop of pine clad hills, and are decorated by reflective and glorious blue water.
