Sardinia: Cruising Information

Created by doina. Last modified on 2003-07-17 17:56:44
Countries: Italy

Sardinia, Isla de San Pietro, Carloforte

When you sail in between the islands, be carefull for the fishing gear, which is everywhere! There is plenty of water under you if you follow the buoys, also if you want to go back out via the north passage, to get a better heading for e.g. Menorca, it is ok on the east side of the island. Watch out for the ferries between Carloforte and Calasetta and Portovesme. Once you enter the port of Carloforte you have three options:

N: marina with a couple of pontoons, security gates etc, right on the boulevard, not too expensive (+- 15 Euros per night in low season for 12m boat).

S: in the south you find a smaller marina, but newer, therefore they are still cheaper! we paid 10 euros for one night in June, for a 12.5 meter boat, you can go alongside.

third option: to anchor in the southern half of the port. Be careful though to keep well away from the ferries. Holding ground is good, as we stayed there for 9 days in force 8-9-10 winds and we only once moved a meter or so. When you anchor, you can put your dinghy on the main quay (boulevard) but it's not the best place in easterly winds. Therefore look for the entrance in the south side to a little canal "canale delle saline" (just follow the fishermen!). Follow it until you see a supermarket on the right hand side, there you normally find plenty of space to moor up the dinghy. There is one computer in the whole of Carloforte that is for public use, and it is in a computer-informatics shop in the Via Don N. Segni nº 68 (3 Euros for 30mins)

Remember opening hours are very Italian! Same goes for the supermarkets and shops (8.30 - 12.30 and 17.30 - 20.00). If you run out of gas, you better have the same gas as they use in Italy, if not, there is absolutely no possibility of buying a bottle of it, not unless you have one to give in return, Campingaz is ok, but not readily available. Try the few "chandlers" - hardware stores on the boulevard and in the Corso Tagliafico. If you are really desperate (like we were, stormbound and not even a cup of tea or a hot meal!) than you can find a man in his garage somewhere in the backroads by the church fills them up for you, if you can bring the regulator with you. Do not stay there and watch how he does it, haha!

The town is absolutely beautiful! do not just rush off, there is so much to see there! life is realy Italian there, especially on a Sunday night! pizza and kids everywhere! Climb the pictoresque streets and learn about the history, sniff the atmosphere and see the donkeys pick up the rubbish in the mornings.... amazing! Tourist information is on the corner of the Piazza Carlo Emanuele and the Corso Tagliafico. If you are there in the beginning of June you might want to stay for the world famous tuna-festival! They won't let you too close to the nets but you can still try, if you don't see anything you can always go and taste it in the evening when there is a big celebration on the Piazza Pegli!

Ferries take you to Calasetta or Portovesme, from there you can take buses to Cagliari.... Ferries are about 5 euros one way, you buy tickets on the Piazza Carlo Emanuele in the north corner.

Don't think it is not worth going in between the islands! That's exactly what almost everybody thinks and that is why it is still so unspoilt, cheap, real.... go and see for yourself, you will love it.

Aline, BALYM MARINE

Alcudiamar Local 15, 07410 Pto. Alcudia

Mallorca Tel: (0034) 971 54 61 33

Fax: (0034) 971 54 53 20

balymmarine@telefonica.net