Yacht Charter Italy

Yacht Charter Italy

An Italian yacht charter has got to be close to the top of every sailor's bucket list! With its stunning beauty and often fun sailing, an Italian yachting holiday on the Mediterranean Sea can be a lot of fun.

There are four main areas for yacht chartering around Italy and these are mostly around the country's west coast. Venice on the east coast is one of those destinations for your bucket list but is a long way by sea from the most popular sailing areas in the country.

So what's on offer for someone taking a boat rental in Italy? Fine food and fine people with a heavy dash of fine culture hardly spoil some great coastal views and towns. The weather in the sailing season between May and October is just perfect for yachting with winds sitting in the F3-5 bracket most of the time. All of this in bright sunshine that lights up the sea to a gem-blue color.

The nightlife? Italians know how to party in style! Letting off steam ashore is a must-do as you explore this great nation by sea. As a package that makes Italy one of the top yacht charter destinations in the world.

Hiring A Yacht In Italy

There are four broad yacht charter destinations in Italy - the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Sicily, and Sardinia. In all four you can both explore the mainland coastline or go island hopping to other destinations like the Tuscan Islands or the Aeolian Islands, and even (if the sometimes beefy winds of the Strait of Bonifacio don't put you off) crossing to Corsica from Sardinia.

The yacht charter Italy process is manageable and easy. If you have the sailing qualifications for a bareboat yacht charter you can book online at Borrow A Boat and after paying a security deposit can cast off on your charter yacht reasonably quickly on arrival. For those on a Captained yacht charter, you have even less to worry about as the Captain of the luxury yacht charter takes care of that!

You will pay similar yacht rental fees to other countries in the region. Outside of school holidays, you will often find that marina fees are lower than in Croatia or Greece in some cases. That means you can afford to find your way around the towns and cities you visit with their restaurants and bars that you may wish to stay in a while.

Best Areas To Charter A Yacht In Italy

As we said above there are four main sailing regions to charter a yacht in Italy - the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Sicily, and Sardinia.

Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast

Backed by the infamous Mount Vesuvius volcano, the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast is a stunning sailing destination. At the southern end is the Sorrento Peninsula and just offshore of that the island of Capri. Moving to the northern end of the Bay of Naples are the islands of Ischia and Procida that are very welcome to sailors. Naples itself is a big, buzzing city in its own right with a great culture to explore and taste.

Tuscany

Tuscany and the Tuscan Islands is arguably the most popular sailing destination on the Italian coast. Yes, its fine wines are a draw but so are its towns and villages that are jaw-droppingly pretty. Pisa and Florence are cities not to be ignored!

The Tuscan archipelago islands of Capraia, Elba, Giglio, and Giannutri are easily accessible by sea and with their marinas are great for an evening's rest from the sailing of the day.

Sicily

The island just off the 'toe' of southern Italy has its own mythos thanks to the Mafia that used to reign supreme there. The island has a deep and fascinating human history going back thousands of years. Visit the Aeolian Island archipelago and the Aegadi islands as you explore this beautiful archipelago.

Sardinia

Sardinia is a top charter destination in the world. With ports and marinas quite evenly spaced along the sailing area, you can go for a shorter or longer day at sea and still have somewhere to relax for the evening.

The east coast with its sandy beaches is more sheltered and is one of the best holiday areas in the whole of Italy. The west coast is more exposed but its rugged coastline will keep you looking in wonder for hours on end.

Best Towns To Charter A Yacht In Italy

All of the four regions we looked at above are peppered with yacht charter opportunities. Among these let's focus on some of the main towns and cities:

Bay of Naples / Amalfi Coast

Salerno on the eastern end of this region is the main city for an Amalfi Coast yacht charter here. To the west of the Sorrento peninsula is Procida, while to the north of the region you will find many yachts available in Nettuno.

Tuscany

In the center of the Tuscany coast is Scarlino where you will find a large number of yacht charters available. San Vincenzo to the north is also a busy yacht charter town and to the very north, you will find many available in Castiglioncello. Do pay a visit to the exquisite Tuscan archipelago just offshore.

Sicily

Capo Orlando and Portorosa on the northern coast of the island are the main boat rental towns.

Sardinia

Cannigione and Portisco on the NE coast are the two main yacht charter destination centers of Sardinia.

Getting to your Italian Yacht Charter

As with much of France if you wish to drive to the west coast of Italy you can - this will be around two days if you aren't in a hurry. Trains via London and Paris are also possible, cutting the security checks and sitting around of flying. In the next sections, however, we will look at flying to Italy as it is quicker and more convenient overall.

Bay of Naples / Amalfi Coast

Naples Airport (NAP) is the main airport for this region. It's about 40 miles from the Amalfi Coast - book a coach from the airport to your chosen yacht charter departure point. Taxis are another option but can be a little more expensive.

Tuscany

Getting to Tuscany from the UK is either direct to Pisa or via Florence and then by train to Pisa and on by coach to your yacht charter town. Flights to Florence and Pisa will cost similar sums so it might only be worth flying to Florence should there be limited flights on your chosen day of arrival in Italy.

Sicily

The main airport in Sicily is Catania-Fontanarossa (CAT) on the east of the island. You can get flights here year-round from the UK. Palermo's Falcone-Borsellino takes flights from the UK in the summer season, while a new airport, Comiso in the SE also takes summer season flights from the UK.

Sardinia

There are year-round flights from London and Manchester to Cagliari and Olbia on the island.

Types Of Yachts To Rent In Italy

There are four broad types of the yacht to rent in Italy - superyacht, motor cruiser, catamaran, and sailing monohull.

Superyacht

For those with tens of thousands of Euros and more a day to spend, a superyacht charter may well be your vessel of choice. Fully crewed luxury charter yachts with staff to meet your every need, you will find an experience aboard quite unlike any ashore. Want to go water skiing, jet skiing, or even sailing on a smaller yacht? Many of these vessels will carry these aboard too.

Motor Yacht

Want to get about while unworried about the wind? A motor cruiser rental will get you where you want to go. Italians love a bit of power and speed so expect some kick when you put the throttles onto full ahead! You will often find many of the comforts of home aboard and plenty of space for entertaining.

Sailing catamaran charter

With far more space than monohulls, these yachts also fix the Italians' need for speed as they can be very quick under sail! Most are extremely comfortable with en suite showers and heads in every stateroom and plenty of space for entertaining and sunbathing when not underway.

Sailing monohull rental

Meter for meter far cheaper than sailing catamarans, monohulls may be less luxurious but many say are more fun to sail than their twin-hulled equivalents. They are also better when sailing close to the wind - if there's an upwind leg you should get there quicker without having to turn the diesel on!

Captained or Bareboat Yacht Rental in Italy

You don't need sailing experience or qualifications to go on a yacht charter in Italy. Why? You can have a Captain aboard.

Captained yacht charter

For an extra fee, their food, and a tip at the end of the yacht rental period you can hire a Captain to sail the boat where you want to go. They will know the best anchorages and be able to suggest the best destinations when you go on a run ashore.

You can put in as much or as little effort as you like into sailing this way. You never know - you may go for some sailing lessons when you get home!

Bareboat charter

If you have the right sailing qualifications and experience to sail a yacht then you can take out a bareboat charter of a yacht in Italy. You are then completely free to take the boat wherever you like and to your own schedule without someone outside of your party sharing your space.

Do you need a license to rent a Yacht in Italy?

If you are on a bareboat charter in Italy then you will need a sailing qualification that is recognized by the Italian authorities.

If you are from Europe or the UK you will be able to use your International Certificate of Competence (ICC).

Other major sailing qualifications like the RYA Day Captain and ASA 104 Bareboat certificate are also recognized.

If you are on a Captained yacht charter you don't need any sailing qualifications at all. Enjoy!

Best Times To Rent A Yacht In Italy

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!

Sailing Weather In Italy

The climate as a whole is warm between May and October though even in May it can get a bit fierce and the heat is legendary in July and August - don't bring your woollies as you won't need them!

Let's first look at the winds. The Maestral (Mistral) can reach the Bay of Naples and the west coast of Sardinia at most times of the year. By the time it reaches Italy it has lost much of its gusto though do be aware of it funneling through the Strait of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica - things can get interesting.

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

Similar to the Scirocco is the Libeccio, a south-westerly wind that can also bring heavy rain and the orange muck from the Sahara. This is a common enough wind in Tuscany and Sardinia.

To the north around Venice is the Tramontana falling off the Alps. This is stronger at night but brings cool air as a respite from the heat of summer.

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!

How much does it cost to rent Yachts in Italy?

The cost to rent a yacht depends on what you want and when you want to use it.

For a superyacht expect to pay €20,000 a day and up even at the low season - far more in July/August. You can still pay €5,000 a day for a well-appointed bareboat motor cruiser. For a good sailing catamaran, these can cost upwards of €2000 a day. At the other end of the scale, a small sailing monohull that sleeps up to six will cost around €100 a day in low season.

Explore Italy By Renting A Yacht

From its 3,000 years of civilization and culture to its modern-day flair, Italy is a great place to visit. Whether it's wines and food or the beautiful scenery, you will not be disappointed in what you see, feel smell, and taste.

The sailing conditions are among the best in the world so a week or two exploring the coast of this fantastic country is something not to be missed. What are you waiting for? Rent a yacht in Italy using Borrow A Boat today!