La Magdalena / Costa Esmeralda

[soares29]

Hi. Would be great to have your recommendations for this area. Should we or are we able to reserve mooring balls, etc. Thank you

[Yellow bird]

First fo all, this is one of the most wonderful sea place in Med (for 11 months a year);
but not in August, in August it becomes one of the worst

Mooring balls in the bays of this area can't be reserved, when you arrive and there is one free you can use it, otherwise you have to use your anchor.
But don't worry, there are really a lot of beatiful (and well protected) places to anchor at.
With a good pilot book (and a good anchor) you won't have any problem.

The most part of Marinas reserve berth only for long periods (usually at least 2 weeks or more) for a couple of night they don't take resevations, you have to call the day before for the reservation (but as I said, you can have problems with berth in Marinas, and surerly you will have, only in August).

An advise, take a look at the forecast each day, the Mistral could be very strong also in the summer.

[soares29]

Excellent. It does clarify well. If there is a forecast for Mistral. Windsurf ???
Thank you.

[Yellow bird]

Originally Posted by soares29

Excellent. It does clarify well. If there is a forecast for Mistral. Windsurf ???
Thank you.

[Yellow bird]

The park of Maddalena is a protected area, and pleasure boats have to pay a fee,
here is the price table

National Park of La Maddalena - System for Issuing Permits

And as a protected area there are some (just a few) places where sailing and anchorage are forbidden, so take a look at the charts or at the pilot book, to avoid fines

[keithw88]

August, as previous poster has said, is unbearable because the place is swamped by hordes of visiting boats. July is busy as well. Both months can also be very hot (and will be VERY expensive). While I was based in the Med I would leave the boat for about 6 weeks from mid July.
This area is sadly an illustration of mankind destroying its world. Yes, boaters need a permit and there are many "protected" areas. However, you will rarely see any mooring balls but you will see tens of boats anchored in "protected" areas. One Sunday in July last year there were at least two hundred boats in the gorgeous "protected" area south of Isola Santa Maria, all anchored and only a handful of mooring balls to be found, at least one unoccupied! In fact, I have often seen boats anchoring near vacant mooring balls. (One reason being a distrust of the integrity of the lines, another is that some balls have protruding screws which can damage a boat's nice shiny hull.)
In this peak period marinas raise their already eye-watering prices, rarely less than 150 euros a night for a modest size of boat and two or three times that would not be uncommon.
It is not just the number of boats around these popular places at this time that's a problem, it's the people in them. Many use their boats (or charter) only in August and they bash and crash into berths and even into anchored vessels. There are party boats with thumping music and shouting holiday-makers. We were surrounded by about 20 boats, mostly cats, one day last July in a bay in Sardegna immediately south of the Maddelenas, from an operation called "Bucket Lusters", which was basically a drunken orgy.
That all said, there are absolutely amazingly beautiful places in these islands and I would willingly go again. Just not in the six or so peak weeks. And not just the Maddelenas, all the way round the top of Sardegna to Bosa (good marina and boatyard) and the South Coast of La Corse (Bonifacio is not to be missed) are truly lovely places to sail.
Mistrals are quite common and the sea gets up really fast into nasty short chop of over 2 metres in anything over 25 knots. Forecasts of big wind events are good, but not so for small systems which can still give you 25 knots when you don't want it.
Go! See for yourself and enjoy it (all the more if you bear in mind the above!)

[soares29]

June better ?

[Yellow bird]

Originally Posted by soares29

June better ?

Perfect!!
The best period of the year for enjoy that place!

Almost desert (both marinas and bays), long daylight, people more frendly and welcoming.

You have to read the pilot book well, because not in all "protected" areas is forbidden sailing and anchoring, there are two zone "A" and "B"
"A" is all forbidden
"B" even if in the "protected" area you can sail (at low speed) and stay at anchor (or at a buoy if you find one, but in June you can easy do it).

I never saw a boat at anchor in any zone "A", CG officers are strict on this rule

As said KeithW, if you'll have time, don't loose the south of Corsica (From Bonifacio to Porto Vecchio, and I. Cavallo and I. Lavezzi)

[keithw88]

Yes, and up to mid July. September (after week one or two) and even well into October in a good year are really good as the water is warmer later in the year. Month of May is also nice but many places not yet open.

[Yellow bird]

Originally Posted by keithw88

Yes, and up to mid July. September (after week one or two) and even well into October in a good year are really good as the water is warmer later in the year. Month of May is also nice but many places not yet open.

I agree!

The only drawback of Sept is that you'll have shorter daylight, but it has all the other good caracteristics of June!
In October you can find more day with a lot of wind, 2/3 days a week with wind over 30 knots it's not uncommon, anyway we are talking about weather so you can be lucky and find a month with beatyfull wind

[soares29]

Hey, Thank you everyone that helped with recommendations. Just came back. WOW one of the best paces I've sailed !!!. SOO PRETTY so calm. Sailors are very respectfully and nice. Our group had an amazing time !!!!
Definitely going back int he future.

[cwetto]

Originally Posted by Black Eagle

First fo all, this is one of the most wonderful sea place in Med (for 11 months a year);
but not in August, in August it becomes one of the worst

Mooring balls in the bays of this area can't be reserved, when you arrive and there is one free you can use it, otherwise you have to use your anchor.
But don't worry, there are really a lot of beatiful (and well protected) places to anchor at.
With a good pilot book (and a good anchor) you won't have any problem.

The most part of Marinas reserve berth only for long periods (usually at least 2 weeks or more) for a couple of night they don't take resevations, you have to call the day before for the reservation (but as I said, you can have problems with berth in Marinas, and surerly you will have, only in August).

An advise, take a look at the forecast each day, the Mistral could be very strong also in the summer.

it looks like there are no mooring balls installed in Maddalena, at least Budelli, Santa Maria, Cala Caprese, Porto Palma.
Crowded, in high winds Mistral only Porto Palma secure. Secure and protected balls at Cannigone.
Check for tickets at local turist info point even cheaper than online.