Chartering in Sardinia from Cagliari: the south coast, the mistral and protected areas

Cagliari sits on the Gulf of Cagliari on Sardinia's south coast, with its airport close to town. From there a charter heads east to Capo Carbonara near Villasimius, or west past Teulada to the islands of Sant'Antioco and San Pietro. Compared with the Costa Smeralda in the north, harbours are fewer and passages longer. Chartering in Sardinia from Cagliari therefore means a clear destination every day and a bay in reserve.

The mistral, called the maestrale locally, blows from the north west. On the south coast it usually comes off the land, so the water close inshore stays flatter, but strong gusts drop down from the hills and a steep sea builds quickly further out. Off Villasimius lies the Capo Carbonara marine protected area, with zones where anchoring, navigation or fishing are restricted. Capo Teulada is a military training area that is closed at sea from time to time. The coastguard publishes the closure periods, and the base will know them.

Before you sail, ask about current closures off Capo Teulada and which zones of the Capo Carbonara protected area you may use. Read the forecast every morning with an eye on north westerly gusts, and stay close inshore when the mistral blows. The paperwork Italy expects from skipper and crew applies on Sardinia just as on the mainland. If you damage someone else's boat or property with the charter yacht you are personally liable, so your own skipper liability insurance belongs in the preparations.

Worth remembering

On Sardinia's south coast you plan wind and closures afresh every morning.