Yacht Charter Marsala

Guide To Sailing In Marsala

On a Marsala yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of the west coast and nearby islands of Sicily as they are within an easy sail. Whatever you want from a Sicily yacht charter, from enjoying the vibrant culture to beautiful beaches, a Marsala sailing holiday ticks all the boxes

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Yacht Charter Marsala

Guide To Sailing In Marsala

On a Marsala yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of the west coast and nearby islands of Sicily as they are within an easy sail. Whatever you want from a Sicily yacht charter, from enjoying the vibrant culture to beautiful beaches, a Marsala sailing holiday ticks all the boxes

Though eclipsed in terms of archaeology by its neighbour Trapani, Marsala has born witness to many an important event in Italian and regional history. Garibaldi landed in Marsala on his way to unifying Italy in the 1800s, and in the late 1800s the town became famous for its fortified Marsala wine that is a UK favourite. It has however born witness to the wars between Greece, Rome and Carthage over time as well as being an important Norman and Arab town through the centuries.

Today, tourism isn't a huge part of the Marsala economy. You will find emblems and archaeology reflecting the town's important role from different civilisations, governments and empires but it hasn't become 'Disneyfied' for it unlike many a town that has seen such global turmoil.

If you like your wine, the enoteche wine bars on the Strada del Vino Marsala could be worth a hazy afternoon, but do be aware that the stuff is fortified and you should eat as you go to remember the afternoon's exploration!

With sights like the main square Piazza Loggia the Garibaldi plaques and museums as well as the nearby Selinunte Greek temples, Marsala is a beautiful forgotten gem as tourism goes and on your Marsala yacht charter, well worth a day or in town before or after joining your charter yacht. Book your sailing holiday with Borrow a Boat today to see what we mean!

Explore Marsala By Renting A Yacht

Sailing out of Marsala there are a range of destinations within easy reach. For those looking for quiet subtropical islands to escape to, island hopping to the Egadi Islands is just a few hours away from western Sicily. Rome beat Carthage in a naval battle just off these islands that are so sleepy today you'd never guess anything so important took place even 2,000 years ago!

On such an island-hopping trip you can head further south to Lampedusa and Pantelleria, islands that also have seen the tectonic changes of empire in civilsations past yet have a quiet mystique to them today - as well as their pristine ecology onshore and in the Mediterranean sea.

With less offshore sailing there is plenty to see on a coastal sailing holiday around Sicily. Trapani is very famous for its archaelogy and is an important tourist destination in its own right. Without too many long sailing legs it is possible to get to the Sicily islands' capital Palermo while enjoying the beautiful coast, beaches and towns of the west coast and north coast of mainland Sicily as you go.

For those on a superyacht charter or crewed luxury yacht charter it is feasible to reach the volcanic Aeolian Island archipelago to the NE of Sicily and potentially the Amalfi Coast on the west coast of mainland Italy. On a smaller bareboat catamaran or monohull sailboat your sailing vacation doesn't need to reach that far as you will soon see what you have within 2-3 days coast hopping is at least as good as the Italian Riviera far to the north of Sicily!

How To Get To Marsala

Palermo Airport

Palermo Airport is served by a number of airlines from the US and Europe. To get to Marsala you can catch a bus that takes 1h50 minutes or pay a taxi (though this can be expensive).

Marinas In Marsala

Marsala Marina, known locally as Porticciolo di Marsala, is the main marina in Marsala.

Porticciolo di Marsala

Porticciolo di Marsala is a mid-sized marina close to all the amenities of the town. It is a yacht charter hub with charter companies and boat owner offering yacht charter with crew and bareboat charter of luxury catamaran charter, monohull sailing yacht charter, superyacht luxury yacht charter, and motorboat charter.

Berth Characteristics:

250 berths

Max Length 20m (65 Feet)

Max Draught 6m (20 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, restaurant.

Suggested Sailing Routes From Marsala

Whether on a sailboat or motor boat on a bareboat charter or skippered yacht charter there is a lot you could do on a Marsala yacht charter. Sailing on the Mediterranean you can explore western Sicily or go island hopping. Let's island hop south to Pantelleria and Lampedusa!

7 Days - Island hopping: The first day will be a shakedown cruise - a few hours NW to the Egadi Islands near Trapani. After an afternoon on the beach or exploring ruins, the next day you will do your first long leg south to Pantelleria, mooring in Conad City for the evening. Spend a day exploring the island and then on day 3, south again to Lampedusa where you can relax on the renowned beaches and perhaps wander this island on foot. Day five will be a long leg north back to Marsala ahead of handover on day six at the marina.

14 Days - Mainland and Islands of Sicily: Your shakedown cruise will be out to the Egadi Islands for a quiet evening ashore. After around 25NM of sailing, Palermo the next day will be a bit different to the quiet anchorage the night before. Spend the next day taking it all in. Capo d'Orlando will give you a cultural fix for the next evening after 30NM or so of coastal cruising. Off to the Aeolian Islands, taking a few days at Stromboli, Lipari and Vulcano to see the black sands and explosions. The ancient city of Milazzo will be your next destination - take a day ashore to enjoy all it has to offer and well as visiting Messina while you're at it. Through the strait between Sicily and Italy next and round to Catania for another day's sailing. Syracuse will be your next port. Marina di Ragusa on the west coast is widely held as one of the best marinas on the main island, and then a long day's sailing back to Marsala the next day.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Marsala

The sailing season in Italy is from May to October. Outside of the high season in July/August you will find many marinas have enough room to meet demand and will often be cheaper than Greece or Croatia.

In some parts of Italy's sailing meccas the prices rocket in July/August and you may end up paying hundreds of Euros for the last available berth if you're lucky enough to get one!

As such the best times to sail in Italy are during school term in September or October when the sea is still warm but the marinas and towns relaxed and quiet. If you want Italy at full throttle in the maximum heat of summer the high season may well be for you!

The Climate

Much of the sailing season you will find sea breezes that build during the day and ease off at night, making for a perfect sailing holiday.

The hot, humid southerly Scirocco can make things extremely uncomfortable at night in southern Italy and around Sicily from time to time. Expect temperatures to hardly dip at night from the high 30s in the day. Orange hued fog (coloured by Sahara Desert sand) is another issue, adding to the discomfort!

In July and August however, many of the winds seem to take a rest for the year. You could end up motoring for much of your sailing holiday!

FAQs:

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Marsala?

Marsala Marina, known locally as Porticciolo di Marsala, is the main marina in Marsala. It has the capacity for 250 yachts of up to 20 metres in length.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Marsala?

While the sailing season runs from April to October in Sicily, it can get very busy and hot at the peak times of July and August with the marinas often very full and expensive. As such if you can get on a sailing vacation outside the school holidays, perhaps in May or September the sailing conditions are better and the crowds are less intense.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Marsala?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Marsala?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Dress for warm weather but do have something for tropical rains - light but waterproof.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a crewed yacht charter you typically don't require licences.

Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

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