France / Italy · Western Mediterranean
Corsica & Sardinia
Bonifacio, La Maddalena and the Costa Smeralda – wild, windy and beautiful.
Bonifacio an der Südküste Korsikas, Frankreich · Photo: Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The sailing area
Corsica & Sardinia · France / Italy · Western Mediterranean
The Strait of Bonifacio separates Corsica and Sardinia and is one of Europe's most spectacular sailing areas. The town of Bonifacio sits atop white chalk cliffs, while opposite lies La Maddalena National Park with its granite islands and emerald-green waters.
The funneling effect in the strait can greatly increase wind speeds. A park fee applies in the Maddalena archipelago, and some zones are off-limits.
Nautical chart with anchorages
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Anchorages in Corsica & Sardinia
Bays, harbours and mooring fields in France / Italy. Coordinates are approximate and not for navigation. Google Maps shows a place search, not a verified anchoring position.
- 1
Bonifacio – Harbour
Harbour · 41.388° N, 9.163° E
Fjord-like harbour beneath the upper town.
Search in Google Maps - 2
Îles Lavezzi
Bay · 41.336° N, 9.254° E
Granite rocks and clear water, nature reserve.
Search in Google Maps - 3
Golfe de Santa Manza
Bay · 41.422° N, 9.248° E
Wide bay with good shelter in westerly winds.
Search in Google Maps - 4
Rondinara (Corsica)
Bay · 41.472° N, 9.274° E
Shell-shaped bay with a sandy beach.
Search in Google Maps - 5
Cala Lunga (Razzoli)
Bay · 41.304° N, 9.347° E
Between Razzoli and Santa Maria, in the national park.
Search in Google Maps - 6
Porto Palma (Caprera)
Bay · 41.196° N, 9.457° E
Sheltered bay on Garibaldi's island.
Search in Google Maps - 7
Cala Coticcio (Caprera)
Bay · 41.221° N, 9.484° E
Known as “Tahiti”, with crystal-clear water.
Search in Google Maps - 8
Porto Cervo
Harbour · 41.137° N, 9.537° E
Glamorous harbour on the Costa Smeralda.
Search in Google Maps - 9
Suggested itineraries
Strait of Bonifacio
7 days · approx. 100 sm
Two countries, one national park and the most beautiful granite coves in the Mediterranean.
- Portisco
- Cala di Volpe
- Porto Cervo
- Caprera
- Lavezzi
- Bonifacio
- La Maddalena
- Portisco
Coordinates are approximate and do not replace an official nautical chart or an up-to-date harbour guide.
Passage planning for Corsica & Sardinia
If you're planning a sailing trip in Corsica & Sardinia you should familiarise yourself with the wind, weather and local conditions beforehand. The best time to visit is usually during the season June to September. The difficulty level for this sailing area is “Challenging” – so plan your daily legs to leave enough time for changes in the weather, breaks and relaxed anchoring.
Wind and weather
Typical conditions in this sailing area: Mistral (NW) and Levante, funneling effect in the Strait of Bonifacio. Check the latest weather report and the forecast for the next few days every morning. Many bays only offer shelter from certain directions. Having an alternative anchorage up your sleeve makes any sailing trip much more relaxed.
Anchoring with a catamaran
A catamaran like our Lagoon 42 can reach shallower bays thanks to its shallow draught. Still, pay attention to the seabed: seagrass meadows are protected and provide poor holding. Sandy patches are the better choice. Let out enough chain, rig an anchor bridle and check that the anchor is holding securely after setting it.
Before casting off
For France / Italy get up-to-date nautical charts and a harbour guide, and find out about local fees, protected areas and regulations. The map and coordinates on this page are planning aids, but do not replace navigation on board.