Recommendation: Sardinia or Naples?

[The Traveler]

We’re looking at a 1 week bareboat charter out of either the Naples area or Sardinia. They look like quite different experiences so I’m interested in recommendations from people who’ve sailed these areas.

Our experience so far has been tropical destinations so we know the med will be quite different. This trip will be much more focused on visiting shore locations rather than snorkeling and hanging out in beautiful anchorages.

We’d love to see locations like Capri but our style is much more laid back and informal. A day or two in a ritzy town is cool but for the rest, we’d prefer small, casual cafes, little towns, and beautiful locations.

From my research so far it seems a Naples based trip will be mostly marinas ($$) and cities, and Sardinia (Isola Maddalena region) might be more anchorages and remote locations.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

[boatman61]

I'd opt for Sardinia any day, not overly crazy about Cagliari but Alghero and North are fantastic..
Just my humble opinion..

[The Traveler]

Our options are departing from Olivia or from Cannigione.

We’re doing a week in Italy by land prior to the charter so we’re thinking we might want a bit more of a remote itinerary for sailing after having visited plenty of cities by land. Seems the Sardinia based itinerary may have more options for snorkeling and diving as well.

[Franziska]

We have spent several weeks in both places.



Naples, is great for culture (forget crowded Pompej, Heraculaneum is less crowded, less large & easier to visit and less expensive while offering similar artefacts). Naples National Archeology Museum is awesome.



Water quality in Naples and Pozzuoli bay is terrible



Capri's cliffs are impressive, but hugely overcrowded. Thousands of dayboats pester the water with a lot of swell

No place to land a dinghy.



Ischia is much nicer.



Sardinia is great for snorkeling and swimming. Crystal clear water.



Avoid crowded La Maddalena and go to the islands north of Stintino or around Olbia instead.



Porto Cervo is an expensive tourist trap and just as fake as a gondola in Las Vegas. It's actually built in the 60ies.


The Aeolian are super nice, and might be an alternative if you don't go in August (Italie's summer holidays).



Enjoy, we're now at anchor next to the the pretty island of Ponza.

[DEAN2140]

We chartered out of Corsica, which for some reason, was much cheaper than Sardinia. We did cross the strait to Sardinia and thoroughly enjoyed both locations.

[The Traveler]

Originally Posted by Franziska

We have spent several weeks in both places.



Naples, is great for culture (forget crowded Pompej, Heraculaneum is less crowded, less large & easier to visit and less expensive while offering similar artefacts). Naples National Archeology Museum is awesome.



Water quality in Naples and Pozzuoli bay is terrible



Capri's cliffs are impressive, but hugely overcrowded. Thousands of dayboats pester the water with a lot of swell

No place to land a dinghy.



Ischia is much nicer.



Sardinia is great for snorkeling and swimming. Crystal clear water.



Avoid crowded La Maddalena and go to the islands north of Stintino or around Olbia instead.



Porto Cervo is an expensive tourist trap and just as fake as a gondola in Las Vegas. It's actually built in the 60ies.


The Aeolian are super nice, and might be an alternative if you don't go in August (Italie's summer holidays).



Enjoy, we're now at anchor next to the the pretty island of Ponza.

I think we’re leaning towards Sardinia.I’ve been studying the charter company’s suggested itinerary for a 7 day trip out of Olbia but do you have any specific recommendations? My crew loves to snorkel and dive, a location with a beautiful hike could be nice, and maybe a laid back village for a night or two.

Thanks and hope you’re enjoying Ponza.

[The Traveler]

Originally Posted by DEAN2140

We chartered out of Corsica, which for some reason, was much cheaper than Sardinia. We did cross the strait to Sardinia and thoroughly enjoyed both locations.

Interesting. I assumed the companies don’t allow crossing from France to Italy. They’re usually pretty restrictive. Which company did you use? Any suggested locations for Sardinia and which did you enjoy more?

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by The Traveler

I think we’re leaning towards Sardinia.I’ve been studying the charter company’s suggested itinerary for a 7 day trip out of Olbia but do you have any specific recommendations? My crew loves to snorkel and dive, a location with a beautiful hike could be nice, and maybe a laid back village for a night or two.

Thanks and hope you’re enjoying Ponza.

We live aboard and are fortunate enough to cruise full time here in the Med. As such I can not recommend a charter company.
I do always recommend to go with the weather and have a very flexible itinerary though.

Be wary when you see a Mistral or Thunderstorm approaching. Usually they come from the west though, so your main concern is wind and a lot less waves.

Nevertheless, when cruising from Olbia, I can recommend Golfo Aranci (hike up to Promontorio di Capo Figari) and the area south with the islands of Tavolara and Molara.

Take it easy, tight schedules are not helpful when sailing.

Enjoy!

Ponza is pretty awesome. We love it. See attached.

[The Traveler]

Originally Posted by Franziska

We live aboard and are fortunate enough to cruise full time here in the Med. As such I can not recommend a charter company.
I do always recommend to go with the weather and have a very flexible itinerary though.

Be wary when you see a Mistral or Thunderstorm approaching. Usually they come from the west though, so your main concern is wind and a lot less waves.

Nevertheless, when cruising from Olbia, I can recommend Golfo Aranci (hike up to Promontorio di Capo Figari) and the area south with the islands of Tavolara and Molara.

Take it easy, tight schedules are not helpful when sailing.

Enjoy!

Ponza is pretty awesome. We love it. See attached.

Sorry, I meant recommendations for locations, not charter companies.

You’re right, schedules are very tough which makes 1 week charters quite difficult. We have to be back at a certain date and time so we can’t adventure too far away.

Thanks for the recommendations. I believe Tavolara is located in the marine preserve. Is sailing and mooring allowed in the preserve?

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by The Traveler

Sorry, I meant recommendations for locations, not charter companies.

You’re right, schedules are very tough which makes 1 week charters quite difficult. We have to be back at a certain date and time so we can’t adventure too far away.

Thanks for the recommendations. I believe Tavolara is located in the marine preserve. Is sailing and mooring allowed in the preserve?

Reg. Tavolara, not sure about anchoring, Navionics shows an anchorage in the islands south west, we only sailed through there. No problem.

Try to get in touch with these folks, they might know:

https://www.nauticassistance.com/Cms_Data/Contents/nautica_en/Folders/Documents/~contents/NSY2GKBQWPSRSDF2/NE-ANCHORAGES-OLBIA-AREA.pdf

[The Traveler]

Thanks for the anchorages guide.

I have a ton more research to do and need to download the charts but for now, we're planning on sailing out of Olbia and visiting Tavolara, Caprera, La Maddalena (hopefully not too busy in September), and maybe Porto Rotondo or Golfo Aranci, or another town.

Porto Rotondo doesn't seem as crazy as Porto Cervo but I'd love to know if it's worth visiting.

Definitely looking for some great snorkeling spots. Our last two sailing trips were Bora Bora though so I think it's going to be hard to top the snorkeling there.

[ejs]

I'd recommend against SailItalia in Prochida, near Naples. Boat was not ready when they said it would be and they tried to get us to pay cash at the last minute for a bunch of "extras" that are normally included.

[Franziska]

Regarding snorkeling, you write you've been in Bora Bora before. I'd think you'll be very disappointed by the Med.



It's great regarding culture and food, but snorkeling, not really. The water is very clear, but you'll find few fish.

Even in more remote places like Pantelleria or Ponza.



I'd think that Greece might be a bit better regarding this but not by much.

[confusednoise]

Regarding anchoring on Tavolara - yes, anchoring is allowed. There’s really only one main anchorage on the island - the only other restrictions in the park are that you need to stay away from the military area on the far eastern side. Easy to do.

Beautiful spot - like most good anchorages in the area it’s a total zoo in the day time but then settles down around 6pm. We just went through the region a couple of weeks ago. La Maddalena is beautiful but of course the crowds get there as well.

Have a great trip

[sailormed]

In the Med sailing is mostly motoring because of lack of wind. I have spend many weeks in both Naples and Sardinia. Concerning Naples sailing in the bay is impossible because of all the ferries. The bay of Naples is pretty circular so you have ferries doing 20 knots coming from nearly all directions and avoiding one put you at risk of another. Sailing under these conditions is suicidal. In Capri in the summer season a ferry will arrive every 10 minutes from different departure harbours from every direction.
I do recommand Ventotene and Ponza. You must moor in the old Roman harbour in Ventotene. It was digged out by Roman slave labour 2000 years ago. Arrive early, places are limited but the place is unwordly.
Ponza is fantastic for the scenery from the water, it is the leftover of a volcano from many millions of years ago.
If you choose Naples, go also to Chiaiolella on the island of Procida, go will go back to the middle ages, unforgettable. A good mooring is the bay of Porto Miseno, another vulcanic leftover. Watch out for the mussel farms!