Question 1

Before your sailing trip in Italy

Accepted Answer

Sailing in Italy & living on board a boat

Living on board a boat is not that different from living at home, the main difference being that you have limited space, water and electricity on board. When moored to a buoy or at anchor, you need to be careful to use water sparingly and take short showers. While sailing, you can charge cell phones etc. via 12v outlets and 220V outlets can be used when you are in the marina because you can then connect to shore power. On the larger boats we sail, there is often a generator, when it is running, you can use the 220v sockets even without shore power. In the harbors there are also showers and toilets ashore. The crew on board sleep either in the skipper's cabin(s) or in the boat's saloon.

If you have booked the trip without flights and transfers, you are responsible for getting to and from the marina. Before departure, you will be given the address of the marina and contact details of representatives on site.

Learn more about sailing while traveling

Don't forget to ask the crew on board if you want to learn more about sailing during the trip. Our skilled skippers and hosts are happy to share their knowledge, and anyone who wants to can try their hand at the helm, hoisting sails and reading charts.

Lifejacket

There are life jackets on board the boat that can be used at any time and should be used when the skipper or host deems it necessary. If you prefer to wear a more flexible lifejacket, you are welcome to bring it.

Passports and valuable documents

You must have a passport valid for the duration of your stay in Italy. EU citizens can also travel with their international ID card. For other nationalities and non-EU citizens, please check the rules applicable to your specific case.

Would you like to have a SUP on board?

If you would like to bring a SUP on the boat, it is available for rent, please contact us to see if it is available.

Food & drinks on board

Breakfast and lunch are included in the trip as well as drinks on board. Every evening we dock in a harbor or in a bay where there is at least one but usually several restaurants to choose from. When we dock in a bay, you take the dinghy in to land and the restaurant. The crew on board is happy to help with tips on good restaurants and to book a table.

Packing list

Pack in a soft bag that you can easily fold and stow away on the boat, hard bags take up a lot of space in the cabin. In addition to packing what you usually pack when you go on a sun vacation, also keep in mind that the sunlight is reflected by the water around the boat. Suggested packing list:

-A pair of good sunglasses

-Sunscreen with high protection factor

-Hat or cap

-Swimming shoes or sandals

-Shoes on board the boat must only have light or white soles, it is best to go barefoot.

-Mosquito repellent

-Many pairs of swimwear

-Something to read

-Board games, UNO, deck of cards

-Snorkeling gear if you want to snorkel in the gorgeous turquoise water

-Seasickness tablets if you get seasick easily

-A thinner raincoat or windbreaker if there is a shower or if the wind feels chilly.

-Extra beach towel, as only one towel per person is included. Please bring a clothespin or rubber band to mark the beach towel during the week to avoid confusion (sheets and pillowcases included).

Pack a first change of clothes in your hand luggage - in the unlikely event that your luggage is delayed, it is an advantage to have a change of clothes, swimwear and toothbrush in your hand luggage.

Question 2

Facts about Italy

Accepted Answer

Sail in Italy and experience paradise for real

Italy has a number of exciting and scenic areas that are made for sailing. In the north-east of the country, more specifically the north-eastern Sardinia, you will find the stunning La Maddalena archipelago, which offers beautiful scenery of a rare kind. You can also sail across to France and the southern part of the island of Corsica. North of Sicily, there is a group of islands with volcanoes categorized by the authorities as partially active. Usually they tend to glow during the nights which is incredibly magical and powerful if you have never experienced anything like it before!

The Italian language

Italy's graphic position is in Western Europe and has a large population of more than 60 million. They speak a number of minority languages further developed into various forms of regional dialects. The official language of Italy is known as Italian. The language is currently used by more than 85 million people worldwide. Italian itself is often categorized as a Romance language and is closest to Latin compared to all other Romance-sounding languages.

Surface of the boot (Italy)

The world-famous 'boot' has a land area of 301 338 km² and is bordered to the north by Switzerland and Austria along the stunning Alps. To the north-east it borders the former Yugoslav Republic of Slovenia, and to the east it has the fabled Adriatic Sea with a maritime border with another former Yugoslav Republic, Croatia. Italy also has Albania as a maritime border. To the north-west you have the French and to the west the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

Finally, in the south it has a maritime border with Malta and the countries of North Africa, in the form of Tunisia and Libya. The country is made up of the entire Apennine Peninsula, the world-famous Sicily and Europe's Caribbean, namely Sardinia. There are also quite a few smaller islands belonging to Italy such as the famous Capri. There are also two independent states in the form of the Vatican and San Marino, which act as enclaves within the country. While Campione d'Italia is a small Italian dominated exclave in the country of Switzerland.

When you choose to sail in Italy, we have Sardinia as our starting point

Sardinia is the starting point for our sailing trips in Italy. Sardinia is often referred to as the Caribbean of Europe because of its stunning beaches and crystal clear waters. The island itself is located west of the Italian peninsula. It has an area of 24 090 km², making it the second largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily. The island has about 1.65 million inhabitants and is surrounded by various smaller islands. Worth mentioning is the fact that Sardinia constitutes an autonomous region and has Cagliari as its capital.

The different islands of Sardinia

Sardinia is full of beautiful small islands that are a popular tourist destination for sailing enthusiasts. Costa Smeralda, or the Emerald Coast as it is often called, is actually the archipelago off the popular resort of Portisco. Then there's the Maddalena archipelago, which offers many different forms of nature experiences and stunning beaches, including the world-famous Spiaggia Rose in Budelli, also known as the Pink Beach. You can also reach out to the French part and the island of Corsica located on the other side of the Strait of Bonifacio itself. It is important to underline the fact that several of these islands are uninhabited and protected by law as they form part of the nature reserve. Sailing conditions vary depending on where in the archipelago you sail. La Maddalena and its surrounding islands in the northern archipelago of Sardinia offer constant breezes and perfect sailing conditions, while over on the Corsican side the winds and currents are stronger and more challenging.

Wine and food

Italy has always been known as the home of pizza and pasta, but it's also known for its various tasty wines. Restaurant staff are usually quite good at recommending different wines to go with the dish you choose to enjoy. Just ask for help and they will be more than willing to help you choose something tasty and delicious.

Delicacies

In Italy, you can enjoy a cannoli after dinner, which is a popular Sicilian pastry that tastes divine. The name itself comes from the Latin, more specifically the word canna, which means small tube.

A wide variety of wines

Italian culture promotes wine drinking as a healthy and natural part of their food culture. This means that they are well known for producing a number of different wine flavors. These wines vary in quality depending on how they are made, the raw materials used and how long they are stored before they can be enjoyed.

Italy and beer

Italians may not be known for beer when it comes to alcoholic beverages but the fact is that they produce some beers that can be enjoyed. The local restaurants are usually quite good at recommending different types of beer depending on the type of dish to be enjoyed.

Currency in Italy

In Italy you pay with Euro, out on the islands that we visit during the sailing trip, some of the restaurants only take cash payment, therefore it may be good to take cash on arrival at the airport or marina.

Weather in Sardinia

During the summer months, it rarely rains along the Sardinian coast and often there are only short showers when it does. In summer, the air is usually still warm even if it rains.

Question 3

Travel conditions for sailing in Italy

Accepted Answer

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Click here to read our travel conditions for sailing trips.

Sailing trip in Italy