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16 Apr 2020

A 6-DAY ITINERARY IN SOUTH SARDINIA WITH NO FOOT ON THE GROUND

Yacht Itineraries
 
“This land resembles no other place. Sardinia is something else. Enchanting spaces and distances to travel, nothing finished, nothing definitive. It is like freedom itself.” David Herbert Lawrence, Sea and Sardinia, 1921

Despite the extension of this lockdown, and actually because of it, we can't do anything else but imagining solutions for a new lifestyle, new kind of holidays, new charter destinations where safety will be assured.

South Sardinia is an unspoiled remote destination where a yacht itinerary can be completed without stepping ashore one single time, and most importantly, without losing the sparkle of our land's beauty.

Here below our best suggestions for a 6-day itinerary starting from Sardinian East Coast.

photo by @luka180

DAY 1 – from Santa Maria Navarrese to Villasimius

Start the journey sailing towards Santa Maria Navarrese, a small jewel set in between the rocky cliffs, in the Ogliastra region of Sardinia, land of centenarians, rich in aromas and flavours, offering traditional, unique, good and genuine food and recipes. It will be a real food and wine journey discovering dishes, pasta, bread, cheese wines and meat from inland, linked to local folklore that are handed down from generation to generation, exported all over the world. Spend the night next to Ogliastra islet, just in front of the long beach.

Sailing just 5 miles South,  enjoy anchoring off Arbatax, a wide and spectacular arch of coast: 40 kilometers of ramparts and cliffs limestone, barely interrupted here and there by a few coves.

Rocce Rosse, literally red rocks, in the Arbatax area, are the most spectacular example of this phenomenon, a natural monument that sticks straight out of the emerald blue sea along the shore, offering a truly amazing colour contrast.

Bring your snorkeling gear or opt for a diving experience, spot some fish into its turquoise water features with unbelievable shades of blue and green.
Heading South towards Costa Rei area, relax by the beautiful Scoglio di Peppino, Piscina Rei and Marina Rei, Cala Sinzias and Cala Pira white beaches. Alternatively windsurfing, wave surfing and kite surfing, depending on your preferences, are great options in this area.

Set for dinner at anchor under the stars of the magic Punta Molentis beach.

photo by @mattiaperra

DAY 2 – Villasimius to Cagliari

Punta Molentis is a pleasant anchorage, sheltered by NE breezes. Part of the Marine Protected Area of ​​Capo Carbonara owes its name to "su molenti", the donkey, once transporting the material extracted from the surrounding granite quarries.

Suggestive rocks bordering the inlet make the anchorage pleasant and peaceful in calm sea and wind conditions. In case of NW breezes move to Porto Giunco, NE of Capo Carbonara and anchor with 5-7 m depth. The water is crystal clear with an incredible blue, a swim is a must!  Behind the long white sand beach that borders the N shore, a wetland houses rare pink flamingos. 

Continue the journey towards South, until Cavoli island, nesting area of shearwaters. From sky to seabed, among sea fans, fins nobilis and sea turtles,can be spotted by Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area, an invaluable natural heritage. Places of unparalleled beauty, officially in the top 100 of the most sustainable destinations in the world. Worth mentioning: the touristic port of Villasimius is equipped for capturing microplastics present in the waters. 

The area offers a wide range of scuba diving sites, including some shipwrecks, always a fascinating experience, also due to the history and mystery surrounding each of them. Slide from one beach to another touching base by Cala Caterina, Capo Boi, Torre delle stelle, according to the National Marine Park restrictions.

Looking for the perfect sunset beach in Sardinia? On your way to the Capital, Cagliari, sailing by Mari Pintau, meaning 'painted sea', you’ll find the right place!  The signature on this painting is nature itself, creator of a masterpiece with skilful artistic brushstrokes and a thousand shades of emerald-blue contrasting with the green of the surrounding hills.

Anchor off Poetto beach in Cagliari just under the promontory of the Devil’ Saddle and complete the day with a delicious catered fish dinner on board, from one of the best local restaurants in town.
photo by  @valeriofor
DAY 3 – Cagliari to Porto Pino

The strategic position of Cagliari and its marinas, gives the chance to be in a frisky city with all the services behind it and the airport, very convenient for crew changes, it is easily and quickly reachable, just 15 minutes drive from the port and marinas. 

Cagliari is a fantastic place to visit any time of the year, and one of the best places in Sardinia to get a good understanding of the island’s history, culture and spirit.  From cloths shopping to fresh food, with its largest covered market in Italy and one of the largest in Europe, Cagliari is every chief stew e chef’s dream place. Fresh local fish, fruit and vegetables, meat, cheese and many other typical products and wines from all over Europe can be found here and delivered straight to your yacht especially selected for you while enjoying a morning snorkel or a sup session anchored off Cala Fighera. 

Relax back on board for lunch whilst sailing West towards the new sceneries of Pula and Chia via Nora, one of Sardinia’s most important archaeological sites, a prosperous city, Phoenician first, Carthaginian later, and finally a crucial Roman centre, a gem we have inherited after three thousand years. Sailing by among Phoenician-Punic and Roman remains, you will journey back through time, to the past of Sardinian history, fascinated by perfectly preserved millennial remains.

Dip into a world of fun with water sports in Chia and let the colours of the background beach fascinate you!  Reminiscent of small peaches, dunes covered with juniper trees and turquoise waves gently roll towards the coastline. The lagoon behind Chia beach is an important flamingo breeding ground and,If lucky, dolphins swimming in the sea can be spotted! Anchor for a swim at Tuerredda, never exposed to strong winds and never stiflingly hot, it is blessed with a mild, almost tropical microclimate that keeps the water temperature a good two degrees warmer than the rest of the island. 
Enchanted by its beauty, Forbes magazine named it one of the 25 most beautiful beaches in the world, with white light sand, similar to talc, crystalline sea, Tuerredda is surrounded by a natural and unspoiled scenery. 

Slowly sailing west, find in Porto Pino the perfect spot for sunset and dinner, an amazing anchorage for swimming, overlooking the white dunes on the beach. Made even more beautiful, to the east, by the homonymous promontory covered in oaks, ancient juniper trees and very rare Aleppo pines, wood selected by the Phoenicians to build their ships, according to the legend. 
The bay is well sheltered from the mistral. 

Cruise overnight to Carloforte.
DAY 4 – Carloforte

Wake up in Carloforte, facing graceful houses, cafes and palm trees lining up the busy waterfront whilst, behind, a creamy curve of red-roofed buildings rises up the green hillside. 

For the most adventurous, do not miss the opportunity to join one of the local fishermen with ancient traditional techniques. Be the protagonist of a fishing experience on a local boat, discover the incredible biodiversity of the seas, the rules of fishing, maybe catching some fish!  Finally crown the day with a wonderful lunch based on typical traditional recipes.


The island can be circumnavigated in 20 NM. 
If the wind favours, sail Carloforte island from north by Isola Piana, Grotta di Punta delle Oche, anchoring 10 meters depth, on a patch of sand, WNW of Cala Vinagra Island.  From there Cala Fico, Capo Sandalo, Golfo del Becco, can be all wonderful stops. 

Right North of Punta dei Cannoni, south of Golfo del Becco, find another suggestive, wild and unspoiled sheltered sandy spot, anchoring on 7-10 meters. Pay attention to the hawks populating the cliff! 
Alternatively, tour South to find Guidi, 3 miles away from the port of Carloforte, along the SE coast of the Island of San Pietro, a useful, comfortable and pleasant shelter from the mistral wind, anchor on 5-7 meters of clear sand. 
Or visit Bobba, Luccaise, anchoring on 10 meters of sand, avoiding the large rocky areas. Golfo di mezzaluna and La caletta beach, can be another option, anchoring on about 7 meters of sand bottom.


Enjoy a drink at the sunset and experience a typical fish dinner catered on board by our selected restaurateurs in the old Genoese town of Carloforte.  Ligurian, Mediterranean and North Africa gastronomic traditions have become intertwined over time and have been preserved by the refugees Tabarkini, adapting them to new food resources they found on the island. Tuna, the king of the island, is fished locally and consumed in all possible variants. The skillful island restaurateurs have been able to respect the tradition enhancing its flavours, developing new dishes, especially seafood based ones.

Spend the night in Carloforte, ready to sail North early in the morning.

DAY 5 – Masua

Wake up and wow at the spectacular views from the sea passing by Lamarmora station built in 1897, where lead and zinc were processed. The building also housed steam-powered equipment and ovens. At the lower end was a deposit and a small port for the boats to dock for loading. The floor was made of tiles and the roof, no longer there, was wooden.

Continue towards Masua and enjoy a breakfast captured by the view of Pan di Zucchero, (meaning Sugarloaf) a sea stack, one of the most impressive and spectacular natural monuments on the Island and symbol of the coast of Iglesias.  Named after its resemblance to the famous Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) in the bay of Rio de Janeiro.

The most spectacular anchorage immediately SE of Pan di Zucchero, has sandy bottom. Quite sheltered from moderate NW winds, the seabed is quite deep and the anchor must drop in 15-18 m; at least 50 m of chain is needed. Don't hesitate to put on a mask and dive in to admire the extraordinary submarine world, with a huge variety of fish swimming in the crystalline water. It is no coincidence that it is particularly popular with underwater fishing enthusiasts. 

Besides Masua, also called "the pier" with its old concrete dock, another gem is Porto Flavia, halfway between a commercial port and a futuristic architectural work that revolutionized engineering in the early 20th century, a sea harbor serving as the mineral production hub of Masua in the west coast from 1920 until 90’s, when the production ceased. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage mining area. 
 
Jump on the tender to go exploring! Faraglioni di Nebida, Grotta del Soffione, Baia dell’acqua dolce, Grotta Sardegna, Baia dei faraglioni, Canalgrande, Portu Sciusciau, Sa cala de su forru and Cala domestica are just awaiting to be discovered. 
Get captured by the low and sandy seabed of Cala Domestica, with a few rocks out to sea near the promontories, ideally anchoring off 5-6 meters to the bottom.
Sail off for sunset and enjoy dinner at Scivu beach, do not miss a stop at the wild and exclusive Cala Balenottero, right after Buggerru, only reachable by sea.
DAY 6 – Piscinas to Oristano

Reach Piscinas for breakfast, one of the wonders of the Mediterranean, made of kilometres of high, sinuous sand dunes, among the highest in Europe, shaped by the north-westerly mistral wind, stretching from the hinterland to the sea and home of centuries-old junipers with twisted branches, mastics, sea daffodils and old olive trees. With the wind continuously blowing, it is one of the most popular sites for surfers, even during wintertime, thanks to the long, high waves. Wind and kite surfers will nevertheless be enthusiastic! 

Passing by the beaches of Is Arutas, the rice sand beach, and Maimoni reach Tharros, a Nuragic village, Phoenician commercial hub, Carthaginian fortress, urbs romana (Roman town), Byzantine main city, capital of the Kingdom of Arborea, and enjoy the view from the sea. Mooring on one of the buoys at Capo San Marco delight yourself in a nice shelter from Mistral (exposed to Sirocco).
Don’t miss S’Archittu before sailing away.

There are places where dreams are not far from reality. South Sardinia is one of those.
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If you have liked our itinerary please share it and let us have your comments by replying to this email.
We are always happy to have feedbacks and improve our proposals. Our NA Concierge & Agency department is constamtly working on new similar tailor made porposals that includes different parts of our island. Make sure to stay tuned with us and discover more by following our social pages. In these days we are giving great anchorage tips!

Do not hesitate to contact us at info@nayacht.com should you need any assistance or support while organizing your summer yacht itineraries.

Sunny e-hugs from NA team.
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