CHARTER
IN CORSICA

A natural destination easily reached a day's navigation, Napoleon Island can offer a vacation different from all that is available in the Mediterranean to those sailors navigating the Northern and Central Tyrrhenian sea

Nautica Magazine
n. 396, april 1995

A SEA MOUNTAIN

A thousand Kilometers of coastline surrounding a mountain spurted from the sea mists of time and 2710 meters high. You could at first take this summary definition as product of some sophisticated tourist slogan; and yet, it summarizes the outstandingly beautiful characteristics of the third largest island in the Mediterranean. The fact that some say it was part of ancient Atlantis or that the place is pregnant with tormented history, old as well as recent, is one more reason to closely study this island with its traces of ancient glory.

What however attracts the sailing tourist are those orographic wonders found along the coasts, in some parts high and wildly intended; and low, sandy even marshy in some other. Wherever you look you face a natural wonder set in a wildly blue water and framed by granite pink cliffs: a real paradise especially for those setting out from the Tuscany and Ligurian coast who have it just around the corner. A close by destination that needs to be circumnavigated always anti clockwise in order to take better advantage of the northern winds usually blowing on the island's western side; exactly the opposite of what is suggested when driving by car where, due to the very narrow coastal roads siding almost vertical cliffs, one is better off on the internal road side in case of giving way to cars coming from the opposite side.

The most direct link to Corsica is the one via Elba and Capraia islands: a thirty miles navigation will take you into Corsica territory. If arriving from the North, Liguria, by night sailing, the landfall is usually at Macinaggio. Good shelter can be found immediately to the South East of Corso Cape when fresh North West winds makes the navigation hectic and lively. Macinaggio offers 500 berths of which 200 are reserved to the transiting traffic in a bay extremely well protected from the western winds and in good water depth. The town, still untouched and typical, is just starting to offer tourist facilities.

Saint Florent, located at the bottom of the homonymous gulf and to the West of the peninsula surmounted by the Stella mountain, is totally different. Navigation between the two ports is exhilarating when passing close to the Giraglia reef, site of so many famous regattas. The reef has a powerful lighthouse with a 28 mules range. Nighttime sailing close by the reef will give the unique sensation of being brightly crowned by the periodical lighthouse's flashes while daylight navigation will display an unusual sight of green fields strongly reminding of an alpine surrounding. A landing is available at Centuri, South West of the Cape with 125 berth for boats up to 10 meters LOA. Saint Florent has nothing to envy to the typical Ligurian coastal towns of which it has taken the characteristically architecture. a plus of course is that you are now in Corsica. Tourism is aplenty but in a very relaxed atmosphere with many shops boutiques which make the exploration of the internal alleys even more interesting. The harbor is well organized with 700 berths (200 for the transit trade) but arriving late in the day will pose the risk of having to spend the night at anchor at the Formali bay. Ile Rousse dock should only be used for a brief stay, enough to bunker, re-store and purchase ice but above all, the delicious freshly baked bread.

The next stop should be at Calvi, a splendid town comparable to Saint Tropez and, if possible, even more exclusive. 350 moorings only, of which 150 for the transit traffic, can give an idea of the fight to secure a night berth in time in a place where, among other things, the sea bottom does not grant a safe holding. It is worth stopping by and have a swim off shore and then enjoy a night ashore close by the Foreign Legion Headquarters.

After making good the splendid Revellata point ( you can not go wrong: in Corsica, capes and points display routes like signs!), the south bound navigation begins and, with a going wind you steer for Muchilina. There, just around the corner, it is the renowned Girolata. You can not miss a night at anchor in the tower's shadow in front of the beach. A small restaurant only reachable by land and donkey riding, is a part of this stop over, which will be unforgettable, being sure your and yours neighbors' anchor is bottomed properly. The very deep Porto gulf is also a good alternative for night anchoring without having to negotiate the channel dock which is usually reserved to crafts with less than 2 meters draught. Once there do not skip a visit to the inlets around Cap Rossu where sea eagles nests rest on overhanging granite pillars. Be sure that a suitable night anchorage is chosen beforehand in case of weather sudden deterioration.

Southward you will find Cargee with 180 berths for boats up to 15 meters LOA and further south there is Corsica capitol, Ajaccio, e real city with two marinas with over 1000 berths. Landing at Ajaccio may not be easy due to the Sanguinaries island to make good, night time navigation however is made easy by an efficient light ranges system.

Yachting wise speaking, the real Corsica may be found outside the civilized establishments: further south there is Propriano on the deep Valinco gulf with 380 berths for boats up to 30 meters LOA. Continuing southward, the ill famed Bonifacio Mouth are closed in where the wind is funneled suddenly increasing in strength. Bonifacio town can not be bypassed if for nothing else to visit the deep gully where navigation takes place in a white stone canyon. The town, whose main activity is naturally enough tourism and lobster fishing, is at the bottom of the gully. The entrance is easy although in daylight the harbor mouth is not distinguishable from the sea; berth provide easy berthing as well. A walk to high town is a must as it offers a charming view towards the sea and the fjord as well, capped as it is by the Foreign Legion forts and whose headquarters is also here.

After leaving the Bonifacio waters, sailing between Lavezzi and Razzoli and coasting Cavallo, the course will gradually shift northward; if weather conditions are not good and before making the final crossing that ends the circumnavigation, it is suggested to anchor for the night at Porto Vecchio, at the end of the homonymous gulf. Do not attempt to enter by night; failing local knowledge and following the bearings and chart ranges will only land you to an external breakwater. Daylight is require to properly locate the nearby reefs and enter the 400 berths marina. By so doing, proper time and weather conditions can be selected for the return crossing. If instead it is decided to continue the circumnavigation on the eastern low and marshy island's side, good landing possibilities can be found at Solenzara and Campoloro with 350 and 464 berths respectively.

  43° PARALLELO
  ACCARDI YACHTING
  AIRONBLUE S.R.L.
  ALBA SAIL
  ARAWAK SAILING CLUB
  BSB CHARTER
  CATAMARAN CENTER
  CUCCIA PIETRO YACHT BROKER
  DIMENSIONE MARE
  FORZATRE
  IL GLUF
  MARATTICUS
  MARINASARDA
  MATILDE BOATS
  POLTU QUATU CHARTER SNC
  PROGETTO MARE C/O VIAGGI DOVE
  RIGO YACHTS INTERNATIONAL
  SALPANCORE
  TAMANJ JUA PLANET NAUTICA
  VIACOLVENTO BROKER & CHARTER
  VIACOLVENTO BROKER & CHARTER
  WEST COAST INTERNATIONAL

OTHER AGENCIES: A.S.D. Vela Vacanze • Accadueo Sailing • Activoile • Admiral - Yacht Charter • Aegylon Charter • Agua Srl • Ala Charter Srl • Aladar Sail • Albatros • Albatros Rimini Srl • Albatross S.r.l. • Alfa Sail • Alisei • All Services • Annje Bonnje • Antares CPM Yachts • Aquatica • Arca di Noè • Area Charter • Armstrong Global • Associazione Vela d'Altura • Avra Sailing • Blowy Marine • Blu Team • Blue Art • Blue Dream Sailing Charter • Blue Marine Yachting • Blue Trend • Bluenose Yachting S.r.l. • Blumedia • Bombardieri Yacht Charter • Bravo Charlie Charter • BtoSail • Burin YC • Carloforte Sail Charter • Cat Cruiser • Centro Catamarani Italia by Sardinia Cat • Char't Boat • Charter & Charter • Charter Italy • Charter One • Charterando • Charterpesca • Club del Mare • CNI Europa • Compagnia degli Skippers Oceanici • Controvento • Cruising Charter • Dall'Aglio Yachting • Damaluna • David Sailing Team • Dreamsailing • Dreamsailing Crew Yacht • Easy Vela • Episail • Equinoxe Viaggi • Equinoxe Viaggi • Eritros Viaggi • Etruscan Charter • Eva Sail Charter & Broker • F-Marine • Fasulo Marco Italia • Fenikia International • Feram Yachting • ForSailing • Free Blue Charter • Freya Sailing • Full Sail Srl • Garda Yachting Charter • Genoa Yachts International • Genova Charter • Given For Yachting • Grande Zot • Gruppo Nautico Italiano • Gulliver Yachts • Happy Sail • Happy Yacht Charter • Himage Blue • Hoayachting • Hurrah Italia • I.B.T. Skipper Charter • Il Charter • Il Mare Dentro • Il Nadir Yacht & Travel • Il Nodo Yacht Charter • Intercharter • Italysailing • La Scuola della Vela • La Vela • La Via del Mare • Lagoon Royal • Layline • Le Bateau Blanc Srl • Libreria Nautica & Charter • Liguria Charter • M-Yachts • Main Sail • Mar-Y-Sol • Mare Mio • Mareaperto • Marozzini Travel • Marvelia • Matis Mare • Matto per la vela • Med One • Media Ship Charter • Mediterranean Yacht • Mondovela • Mulas & Charter • Nautica Carrabba • Nautica Charter Srl • Nautilus Marina • Navalia Srl • Navigare • Navigare Sottovento • Nel Blu • New Life • Number One Service • Nuova Compagnia delle Eolie • Oasi Blu • Oceanis Charter • Oceano Vela • Oltremare • Omnia di Andrea Aloisio • Onda e Vento • Organizzazione Mare • Orizzontiblu • Orza Srl • Otranto Navigazione • Ottonodi • Pilum Boats • Portofino Sail Charter • Portovenere Charter • Progettoceano • Puck Yacht & Charter • Quick Silver • Rec Charter • S@iling Charter • Sail Italia Srl • Sail Yachting • Sailing Days • Sailor's Center • Sardegna Charter • Sardegna Explora • Sardinia Sailing • Scuola Vela Vacanze • Sea & Sea Organization • Sea Charter Viaggi e Vacanze • Sea Horse Charter • Sea Land Yacht Charter • Sea Walker • Seatizen Yacht Charter • Settemari Yacht • Siciliamare Yachting Service Sas • Solomare • Soprasotto • Sottoraffica S.r.l. • South Sea Sailing • South Seas & Tuttomare • SP Yachts • Sud Ovest Srl • Sunny Charter • Supermarine Charter Division • T. Y. Broker • Tabusail • Time Charter • Tiziana Di Carlo • Top Yachts Charter • Toscana Charter • Tra Terra e Mare • Tuttèpossibile • Tuttiaprua • U.F.A.N. Sagramoni Snc • Utopia • Vela Charter • Vela Club Torino • Vela Club Venezia • Vela Giovane • Velacube • Veladoc • Velamare Charter • Venezia Yacht Charter • Windcharter • Windsport • Yachting 77 • Yachting International • Your Sail • Zefiro Yacht Charter • Ziggurmare • A.N.P. Allestimenti Nautici Papetti • Alice 900 Associazione • Alisea • Almara Sas • Argonauti Yacht Charters • Ass. Velica Granlasco • Associazione Isole • Avvisi ai Naviganti Srl • Bartolini Yachting • Boreal Tour • Centro Velico Horca Myseria • Charter 2000 • Chartrose World Ltd • Civitavecchia Mare • Dieterich Stefano • Echo Sail Srl • Eritros Bologna • Free Sailing • Il Mare Per Amico Circolo Nautico • Italteam Shipping Srl • L'olandese Volante Sas • Mac Charter • Mare Blu • Marineria • Mawi s.n.c. • Mediterraneo • Netter Italia Srl Brokerage & Chartering • Ocean Crazy Team Srl • Pratica di Mare • Sunshine Yacht Holidays • Vela - Diving Profondo Blu • Vela Life Sas • Velamareclub Srl • Vivere la vela • Yachting & Sport • Yachting Andrea Bianchi • ZZ Srl Divisione Vela

  Search other agencies and destinations