Sardinia yacht itinerary
A practical one-day plan for cruising out of Sardinia, built around swim stops, an easy lunch, and a sunset return.
From the port outwards
- 01
09:30 · Depart the marina
Cast off from a main marina in Sardinia and set a relaxed pace so everyone settles in. Confirm the route with the skipper based on wind and swell before you head to the first swim stop.
- 02
11:00 · First swim stop
Drop anchor in a sheltered bay for a swim straight from the platform. Aim for late morning for clearer water and fewer boats, and keep an eye on holding if the seabed is patchy.
- 03
13:00 · Lunch on the water
Choose an easy lunch plan: onboard catering or a waterfront table with tender drop-off. In high season, reserve ahead and keep a backup bay if the anchorage gets busy.
- 04
16:00 · Slow cruise & toys
Cruise along the coast and use water toys at a calm stop. Keep an eye on traffic and local speed limits near ports; the crew can suggest quieter pockets for a longer swim.
- 05
19:00 · Sunset return
Time the return for golden hour and head back toward Sardinia. If the sea is up, pick a more sheltered line and arrive early enough for a smooth dock-in.
About Sardinia
Sardinia's north-east coast puts Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo and the Maddalena Archipelago within a short run of each other, so a single week on the water can move from villa-lined bays to granite islets without a long transit. The fleet here runs from compact day boats to superyachts above 40 metres, with guest capacities that flex from a couple sharing a sunset run to corporate groups of a dozen on a closed-deck charter. Cagliari and Olbia both put the fleet within reach of most arriving flights, and Palau serves as the usual gateway for anyone heading straight into the Maddalena.
Timing matters more than most brochures admit. June through September fills the anchorages fast — La Pelosa gets crowded by mid-morning, and the better spots inside the Maddalena get claimed early — while May and October trade a little warmth for open granite coves and easier access. Charters run from a half-day sunset cruise along the Costa Smeralda coastline to week-long circuits that cross toward the Bonifacio Strait, and day rates across the fleet span roughly €5,000 to €60,000, so budget and vessel size can be discussed honestly before a route gets drawn up.
Booking here is less about ticking cabin counts and more about matching a boat's layout to what a group actually wants to do with the day — a fold-down beach terrace reads differently to a closed-door layout suited to a private meeting at sea. Fuel and APA are quoted separately from the day rate and explained before anything is signed, and for corporate charters out of Porto Cervo or Olbia, catering runs and onboard privacy get built into the route plan rather than added as an afterthought once the boat is booked.