Wednesday 2 November 2016

The diversity of Sardinia

Sardinia - the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea stands out for its incredible diversity. Miles of dunes with gnarled juniper trees and hidden coves, surrounded by bizarre cliffs, fine sand or pebble beaches - those who love islands, will love Sardinia. Outside the peak season the Costa Smeralda with the Maddalena Archipel is probably one of the best yachting spots in the world.


Ranking in as the second largest island of the Mediterranean basin, Sardinia is located in the middle of the area delimited by the Italian and the Iberic pensinsulas and the African continent. It measures 24090 sq km in surface and is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited places in Europe, though nowadays it mostly makes for a great Yacht Charter holiday destination.
Originally, the island’s relief was mountainous but millions of years of erosion have dulled the granite ranges to a maximum height of 1834m (Punta La Marmora) right in the center of the island. The mountain ranges are separated by plateaus and large valleys, giving way to a flatter lowland toward the western and southern shore. And speaking of shores, due to the hard rocks making up the soil here, they are pretty straight but have deep and wide bays surrounded by smaller islands, making them perfect as anchorage for Yacht Charter vessels.


The prevailing vegetation in Sardinia is made up of evergreen bushes and shrubs (myrtle, lentisk, laurel) but there are also the occasional forests of holm-oak, oak and cork-oak, not to mention the typically Italian olive trees. Among some peculiar species of animals that Yacht Charter visitors can see here are the pink flamingos which use Sardinia as a migratory stop to Tunisia. National Parks can be found at Gennargentu, Sette Fratelli and Monte Arcosu.

Typical to the Mediterranean weather, there are a lot of sunny days on these shores, even during the mild winters which get a few hot days every year, meaning Sardinia is not a bad place for a Yacht Charter sailing trip even during the off season. The tourist season here lasts from summer to late autumn when the temperatures are around the 21deg C value.


Sardinia’s history could easily fill up a collection of books since it goes back all the way to prehistory when the Nuragic civilization thrived here. Then came the Phoenicians and Romans who set up the first ports and expanded trading with the African Carthage. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines took over but only for a short time until the 8th century when the Arabs made regular raids to the island.

Spain played an important role in Sardinian history which explains why even today many parts of the island adhere to the Catalan ways. Spain lost possession of the island in 1713 and the Austrians took over until 1861 when island became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. After the world wars, the island began blossoming as a touristic destination, with more and more people realizing its Yacht Charter sailing potential.


Today, ports cities such as Alghero, Cagliari, Cannigione, La Maddalena, Olbia, Palau and Portisco make up the most visited locations on the island with their sublime beaches, but also their long history and culture which is a mirror into the past, to times long forgotten. Particularly fond of this Italian island are British, Spanish and German Yacht Charter sailors who make a point out of coming here every year.

The fine weather and welcoming shores of Sardinia make it a regular stop not only for Yacht Charter boatmen but also for water sport enthusiasts who congregate with clockwork precision each year on its shores. This is due to winds like the Scirocco, the Mistral and the Levant which sweep the island regularly.


There is an almost endless abundance of natural harbors for anchorage and although there are few marinas and other sailing facilities, they all provide quality services to any Yacht Charter visitor. The best time to come here by boat is from May to September when the sea breeze blows from the west and no significant tides occur.


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