Yacht Charter in Corsica

Rent a boat in Corsica

Corsica, more commonly called the island of beauty, is a region of France located in the Mediterranean Sea south-east of the Côte d'Azur. Renting a boat in Corsica, day or week, is the ideal opportunity to discover a beautiful place and enjoy an excpetional holiday. There is a large number of charter agencies (sailboats, catamarans, motor boats...) available around the island of beauty since Ajaccio, Propriano or Bonifacio.

Navigation Conditions in Corsica.

June, July and August are the best months of the year to navigate in Corsica. It is hot but the marine wind provides a cooling breeze. There are no major navigational difficulties to report.There are several types of boat rentals in Corsica. A charter (rental with skipper), cab rental on a sailing boat, catamaran or monohull, boat rental without skipper (bareboat), yacht regatta rental and finally, luxury yacht rental. Some cruising and schooners are also available for family rentals or groups of friends in search of a unique holiday.

The coves and beaches along the coastline of Corsica such as the beach of Cala Francese, the coves of Canuseddu, Binoculars of rollers and the cave of the Dragon are must-see destnations. Along the mediterranean coast, many ports and anchorages are at your disposal for landings, fuelling, fuel and tourism (Port of Ajaccio, Port of Porto Vecchio, Bonifacio…).

South Corsica

In South Corsica, when entering the Gulf of Ajaccio, you will be stunned by the beauty of the Sanguinaires also known as The Bloody Islands.
While cruising to the south, don’t miss the charming marina of Propriano, located in a sheltered spot on The Gulf of Valinco. It is always protected from strong winds and is a perfect stop between Ajaccio and the Strait of Bonifacio.

The Natural reserve of the Strait of Bonifacio extends over 80 000 hectares and is situated at the southern tip of Corsica. It is considered as one of the most beautiful sites of Corsica and offers many anchorages. Make a detour via the Lavezzi islands, less than 10 nautical miles away from Bonifacio, and let yourself be tempted by the many idyllic moorings bordering this nature reserve. Once you are back along the Corsican coastline after this charming stopover, continue sailing towards Porto Vecchio via the cove of Palombaggia, which boasts one of the most beautiful beaches of Corsica.
The Gulf of Porto Vecchio is a protected area of a few hundred kilometres. The harbour of Porto Vecchio is ideal to take shelter in case of strong wind.

Sailing conditions around South Corsica:

South Corsica enjoys a Mediterranean climate which is hot and dry in summer, with air temperatures up to 36° C and water temperatures up to 25° C.
In winter, weather is mild and rainy. Spring and the beginning of the autumn season are ideal times for a cruise around South Corsica as temperatures are pleasant, the landscape is beautiful and there are less people in the ports and anchorages.
South Corsica has different weather systems between the east and west coasts. The west coast is more exposed and therefore windier. The prevailing wind is a westerly thermal breeze blowing at force of 3 to 5 on the Beaufort scale. It comes up in the morning and dies in the evening.
On the east coast, mountains channel and soften the westerly winds.
In the Strait of Bonifacio, conditions are specific with winds sometimes blowing in opposite directions and strongly, due to the bottleneck effect. In this area, you will find many places to take shelter.

If you decide to cruise around South Corsica in July or August, it’s probably best to favour anchorages to ports as they can often be packed and more expensive than in the low or mid season.

North Corsica

North Corsica, also called Upper Corsica, is the northeastern part of the island we call "Île de Beauté". It is naturally separated from Southern Corsica by the central mountain range called I Monti.
Upper Corsica is bathed by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the east and by the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The Gulf of Porto, which is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site, is also part of the Regional National Park of Corsica. It is an incredibly beautiful place that you will get to explore during your cruise but it will be difficult to drop anchor for the night there due to the exposure of anchorages.

A little further north, you will find the Gulf of Girolata, which is more sheltered. After the northern tip, sail to the Scandola Nature Reserve and marvel at the beauty of this magical and wild place. Less than 20 nautical miles away to the north, you will get to Calvi and its port, which is highly appreciated by boaters for the beauty of the walls of the old city and for its proximity to l’Île-Rousse. This wild coastline is a sailing paradise. However, in the event of strong swell, we advise you to take shelter in the charming port of Saint-Florent, which is also an ideal starting point to round the Cap Corse.

Few harbours are easily accessible around the Cap Corse and it is advised not to navigate too close from the reef but you will be able to take shelter in the fishing harbour of Centuri or in the Macinaggio harbour if needed. After passing the Cap, North Corsica’s west coast is very welcoming with the bay of Maccinaggio, which makes for a pleasant stopover. From this side of Corsica, it is very easy to sail to the Tuscan archipelago to discover idyllic islands such as the island of Elba.

Sailing Conditions near North Corsica:

North Corsica has a Mediterranean-type climate with up to 300 days of sunshine per year.
It is hot and dry in summer with air temperatures reaching up to 36°C and water temperatures up to 25°C. Spring and the beginning of the autumn are ideal seasons for a cruise around North Corsica: pleasant temperatures, stunning nature and less crowded marinas or anchorages.

In North Corsica, winds are very variable and blow from different directions. Prevailing wind in summer is a light northwesterly breeze that comes up late morning and dies in the evening. Around the Cap Corse, wind can strengthen and you must be careful when it comes up.