Sail Sardinia.

Sardinia's north-east coast is granite and water. The Maddalena archipelago sits a short hop from the mainland marinas — a cluster of low pink-granite islands with white sand beaches wedged between boulders and water that reads turquoise over sand, deep blue over weed. You anchor off Spargi or Budelli, swim before breakfast, and count more boats than buildings.

We've sailed this coast enough summers to be honest about it: the sailing is short-legged and forgiving, the scenery is the draw, and July and August get busy. Come in June or September and you get the same water with fewer boats at anchor. It suits first charterers, families, and anyone who'd rather gunkhole between islands than log offshore miles.

Most charters run out of the Costa Smeralda marinas — Olbia, Portisco, Porto Rotondo, Cannigione — and point north into the Bocche di Bonifacio, the strait between Sardinia and Corsica. The Maddalena National Park is the heart of it: La Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi, Santa Maria, Budelli. Distances are small. You can be at anchor in Cala Corsara an hour after slipping lines.

The park is protected. Some anchorages need a permit and a few zones are off-limits to protect the seagrass and the famous pink beach on Budelli, which you view but don't land on. Your briefing covers the current rules; they change year to year.

South from Olbia the coast opens toward Golfo Aranci and Tavolara, a limestone slab rising straight from the sea. Cagliari on the south coast is a different charter altogether — city harbour, the Golfo degli Angeli, and quieter cruising toward Villasimius.

Cannigione is a workmanlike base at the head of the Golfo di Arzachena — sheltered, close to the archipelago, easy first night. Portisco and Porto Rotondo are polished Costa Smeralda marinas with everything to hand and prices to match. Olbia has the airport and the ferries, so it's the practical arrival point.

For anchoring: Cala Corsara on Spargi is the classic, Porto Madonna between La Maddalena and Caprera holds a fleet in settled weather, and Cala di Villamarina on Santa Maria gives you shelter from the north-west. Palau on the mainland is a good provisioning stop with a fuel berth.

The charter season runs roughly May to October, with July and August the peak. The prevailing wind is the mistral — the maestrale — from the north-west, funnelling through the Bocche di Bonifacio where it accelerates hard. On a strong maestrale day the strait kicks up a short, steep sea and the sensible move is to stay in the archipelago's lee rather than push through.

Summer typically brings 10 to 20 knots, thermal-driven and building through the afternoon. Mornings are often calm, which is why the early swim is a habit here. Spring and autumn can hand you a proper blow or three flat days in a row — check the forecast and keep an anchorage in reserve. Water is warm enough to swim from June into October.

We offer both bareboat and crewed yachts from the Sardinian bases. Bareboat suits skippers with the paperwork and the experience to run their own week — the short hops and good shelter make this a forgiving place to charter without a crew. If you'd rather not skipper, a skippered yacht adds one hand who knows the anchorages and the permit rules, and you keep the run of the boat.

Fully crewed yachts come with skipper and hostess or cook for those who want the week handled. Catamarans are popular here for the shallow draught and deck space at anchor; monohulls sail better in the maestrale. Fleet details and availability are on the yacht grid — tell us the dates and party size over WhatsApp and we'll match a boat.

Weekly bareboat rates swing widely by boat size, age and season. A mid-size monohull in the shoulder season sits well below a new catamaran in peak August. Rather than quote a figure we can't stand behind for your exact dates: Price on request — send us the week and the boat class over WhatsApp and we'll come back with a real number.

Budget beyond the charter fee for: a security deposit or damage waiver, fuel (you return the tank as you found it), the end-of-charter clean, tourist tax, and the Maddalena park fee where it applies. Marina fees on the Costa Smeralda in August are among the steepest in the Med, so factor a night or two alongside if you want power and water. Provisioning is cheaper in Olbia's supermarkets than the marina shops.

Day 1 — Board at Portisco or Cannigione, provision, short sail to anchor off Isola delle Rose or Cala di Trana. Settle in.

Day 2 — North into the park. Anchor at Cala Corsara, Spargi. Swim, walk the granite, lunch aboard.

Day 3 — Porto Madonna between La Maddalena and Caprera. Dinghy ashore to Caprera for the walking and the beaches. Quiet night if the maestrale sleeps.

Day 4 — Santa Maria and Budelli. View the pink beach from the water, anchor at Cala Santa Maria for the afternoon. Longer swim, snorkel the shallows.

Day 5 — Push west toward the Bocche, weather allowing, or drop into La Maddalena town for a proper dinner ashore and to restock.

Day 6 — Palau for fuel and provisions, then Golfo di Arzachena for a sheltered last-but-one night close to base.

Day 7 — Short morning sail back, swim, hand the boat back the following morning. Adjust the whole thing for wind; the maestrale writes the real itinerary.

Olbia airport (OLB) is the gateway — most of the marinas are 15 to 40 minutes by taxi or transfer. Cagliari (CAG) serves the south coast bases. Both take direct summer flights from across Europe; connections thin out in the shoulder months, so book early for June and September.

Ferries run to Olbia and Golfo Aranci from the Italian mainland if you're bringing a car. Transfers from the airport to Portisco, Porto Rotondo or Cannigione are straightforward — send us your flight and base over WhatsApp and we'll point you the right way.