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Charter Itinerary:
SARDINIA, BONAFACIO AND THE MADDALENA ISLANDS
Maddalena Islands
Join your yacht at Porto Rotondo, Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean. After you have unpacked, head over to Cala di Volpe for your first night. Cala di Volpe is a deep shallow bay, well protected from the Mistral wind and is surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches.
Enjoy an early morning swim before breakfast and then take a short cruise down to Olbia. The city's major cathedral is situated in the old town and is dedicated to St. Simplicio, bishop of Olbia, who was martyred under the Diocletian Emperor in the III century A.D. Olbia has also become famous because of the archaeological discovery of 24 shipwrecks - 2 of them from the age of Nero and 16 from the fifth century A.D.
Only a few kilometers from Olbia is the Pedres Castle (Castello di Pedes). Its style of construction comes from the Judicial Period of the Visconti in Gallura. Another castle, Castello di Sa Paulazza, is situated on the small hill and is of Byzantine origin. It is square-shaped and has 4 corner towers in the area where an antique Nuraghe rose in the period when Emperor Giustiniano conquered Sardinia in 534 A.D. The stones from Nuraghe were used for the construction of the castle. Overnight.
A short cruise up the rugged eastern shore of the Costa Smeralda, will bring you in to Porto Cervo. The Aga Khan built a resort that takes full advantage of the rocky cliffs, protected beaches and stunning blue sea. Since then, the region has become one of the world's most exclusive retreats. In town, the Stella Maris Church boasts the 'Sad Madonna' painted by El Greco. This Church is a modern whitewashed design created by the Roman architect, Michel Busiri Vici, who also created the grotto-design shopping arcade in the town centre containing lots of exclusive boutiques. Overnight.
A relaxed start to the day will have you in the Maddalena Island area, located inside the Straits of Bonifacio along the northeastern coast of Sardinia. Budelli, Caprera, Razzoli, Santa Maria, Santo Stefano and Spargi surround La Maddalena Island. This group of small rocky islands has been inhabited since prehistoric times. After lunch head over to Budelli, one of Italy's most enchanting beaches that is famous for its pink sand produced by the coral shattered by the raging sea. Today, it is a highly protected island. The best mooring places are the almost deserted little beach of Cala d'Arena (south-eastern point) and the Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach). Overnight. Enjoy a light breakfast before heading up towards Santa Maria for lunch and a swim. The characteristics of the town are the green of its grand trees, but above all are the ancient olive trees that color the piazza and the slopes that rise up from the sea interrupted by the white of the church dating back to 1050 and by the imposing grey of the Spanish Tower guarding the bay and the beach. Head over to Bonifacio, the oldest town on the island of Corsica (French). Entering Bonifacio's almost land-locked harbor is one of the most dramatic moments in sailing, as it opens magically before you revealing a totally protected harbor. For a thousand years, this ancient citadel town has defied gravity from her high perch on the edge of a chalk peninsular that guards the southernmost tip of the island. Enjoy dinner in one of the excellent seafood restaurants ashore. Overnight.
After breakfast take a short cruise over to Lavezzi for lunch and a swim. This dreamy archipelago only has one lighthouse and two cemeteries where the 750 crew of the Semillante are buried, a boat which sank in 1855. The island's coves are a favorite with boat-lovers and its fine sandy beaches offer a taste of paradise. After touring, head for Santa Tereza di Gallura. Make plans to spend some time here wandering amongst the huge sandstone "animals," natural formations that closely resemble elephants, rhinos, hippos and water buffalo. Take a walk on one of the many glorious white sandy beaches. Overnight.
An early cruise will have you head down to Cala Yacca to anchor for lunch and a swim. Continue on through the Fornelli Passage, passing by the Island of Asinara, a penal settlement. Arrive in the afternoon at the flourishing fishing port of Alghero. It consists of a picturesque and well-preserved old town enclosed in a stout girdle of walls, outside of which the new town sports a grid of parallel streets filled with hotels and restaurants. Around the town the coast offers many secluded bays, small inlets bordered by pine forests and high, jagged cliffs washed by the emerald green sea. Inland luxuriant vineyards produce some of the most aromatic wines on the island. Overnight. Disembark Alghero.

Sardinia Coast
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E-Newsletter, January 2010
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Western and Eastern Mediterranean Charters Booking Now!
Cleopatra's Baths, Gocek, Turkey
Unlike last summer, we are booking now for charters in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean and have been since last Fall. Other Charter Brokers in our industry are reporting the same, with much more activity and even a possible return to the charter activity in the Mediterranean of "Pre September 2008". Most Owners are asking for the normal full price, however there are still a few discounts that can be negotiated, depending on the Owner, charter location and month. And so far, we have seen more pricing flexibility in Greece and Turkey than in the Western Mediterranean. If the Mediterranean, either Western, or Eastern, or Croatia are a charter location of interest for this coming summer, now is the time to start thinking about your charter.
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Sailing through the Islands of Italy
Port of Ponza
While the Italian coast is a great cruising area, there are many Italian islands to explore about which little is ever mentioned. Adding to a lower rate of tourism than might be expected on these islands, is the inaccessibility of these islands to the non-yachting public. Those with ferry service are not as numbered as one would think in the 21st century. And those with airports are even fewer. Many of these islands can only be reached by private yacht including visiting by yacht charter. Visiting these islands by yacht charter is a special way to visit these hidden islands for a charter off of the beaten track in the Western Mediterranean.
Having no airport, but sporting a ferry dock, many feel that the harbor of Ponza on the island of Pontine is the nicest harbor in the Mediterranean. With no airport or ferry dock, many feel the neighboring island of Palmarola has the most beautiful natural scenery of any island in the Mediterranean.

Stromboli Volcano
Down along the top of the "Boot" of Italy are the Aeolian Islands, with the active volcano on Stromboli Island. Here are some of nature's best fireworks displays to be enjoyed with a top deck dinner under the stars anchored just at the base of the volcano.
Sitting just off of the coast of northern Sicily, Italy's largest island are the Aegadian Islands. Off of the southern tip of Sicily are the Pelagic Islands. From the Italian island base of Sicily, explore the Aeolian, Aegadian and Pelagic Islands, for a charter of unknown islands within a well known island area.
The Italian island of Sardinia along the Costa Smeralda is a great cruising area. However just off the coast of the Costa Smeralda are the Maddalena Islands. A charter itinerary in this area can combine stops in the lofty chic areas of the Costa Smeralda with escapes to the natural beauty of the Maddalena Islands slipping into anchorages of crystal clear waters tucked away from it all.
And there are always the Tuscan Islands, with the main island of Elba the well known birthplace and prison for Napoleon. However cruise the other islands and discover the medieval village at the crest of the island of Giglio, and visit the island of Montecristo, the fabled home of the Count of Montecristo.
A charter itinerary of the Islands of Italy is to cruise an area of the Western Mediterranean that few see and to discover another side of the history and beauty of the Western Mediterranean, exploring islands perhaps better known in ancient times than today.
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