Yacht Charter Olbia

Yacht Charter Olbia

Guide To Sailing In Olbia, Sardinia

On an Olbia yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore the Emerald Coast and La Maddalena Islands within an easy sail. Whatever you want from a Sardinia sailing holiday, from the impressive archaeology and beautiful beaches to the fashionable restaurants and nightlife, an Olbia sailing vacation is going to be an unforgettable experience.

Though largely ignored by most as they pass through the sea and airport to the Costa Smeralda, the Sardinian east coast town of Olbia has a lot to offer in its own right. Built by the Phoenicians (though occupied since before), Olbia has been in existence for 3,000 years in some form or another. It has had several names through history through Greek, Roman, Pisan and Sardinian home-rule, though the Italian Fascists gave it its old and current name back in 1939.

One of the important remnants of history is Sa Testa, a ceremonial Nuragic well just outside of the town. This has steps going down into the water and is believed to have religious significance for the Bronze Age peoples. Another religious relic is the Basillica of San Simplicio, the patron saint of Olbia, which lies in the Old Town of Olbia today. Built in Pisan-Romanesque style, this is well worth a visit as you wander the streets and alleys of this fascinating town.

Close to the Basillica San Simplicio is the Piazza Margherita, the main square in Olbia where you will find many bars and cafes to rest at and watch the world go by. Of the alleys and roads leading off it you should take a wander up the Corso Umberto, that is full of shops, restaurants and bars - all a lot cheaper than you will find in resort towns of the Emerald Coast to the north.

After taking over your charter yacht or motorboat you should pop by the PIazza Mercato, an old market where you can get your fresh produce for your sailing holiday. This, like the port, has traces of the Phoenician Empire - as with all of Olbia, old and new sits comfortably side by side.

Book your Olbia yacht charter with Borrow a Boat today!

Explore Olbia By Renting A Yacht

Where else can you and your fellow charter guests go on your Italy yacht charter from Olbia?

Just to the SE of Olbia is Tavolara Island. Part NATO base, part nature reserve and major tourist attraction, Tavolara Island was once the smallest kingdom in Europe. Today you will find a long sandy beach, excellent scuba diving and snorkelling, and if you can stand the heat, an opportunity to take a guided hike up the massif that dominates the view here.

On your boat rental the southern end of the Emerald Coast is Porto Rotondo. This old town is well away from the tourist crowd and one of the most authentic Sardinian villages you will likely find on your sailing holiday with the Piazzetta San Marco where locals go to socialise and relax at the centre.

The Maddalena archipelago of 60 islands and islets is one of the top reasons that people begin a boat rental in Olbia. Around 30 miles NE of the town, and a short sail from the mainland Costa Smeralda, it is renowned for its excellent beaches and secluded coves where you can find yourself completely alone with on white sandy beaches all to yourself. Though just off the Costa Smeralda coast, La Maddalena archipelago is one of those places where sailors and their guests often spend a few days to enjoy them to their full, perhaps moored in secluded bays while enjoying the peace and quiet of the archipelago. If you can, get a guide to take you to Budelli Island - one of the most beautiful and heavily protected islands in the archipelago, Budelli Island is famous for its pink beach.

To the south of the islands is Porto Cervo, the highly acclaimed capital of the Emerald Coast. A quiet and sleepy fishing village until the Aga Khan chose to develop it in the 1980s, it now has some of the best nightspots, restaurants and boutiques in the region. One of the attractions that makes it so popular with the ultra high net worth who leave their mega yachts in the marina, is that the new development sits well within the architectural vernacular of the older parts of town. As such, though much of it is so new, you could easily imagine yourself in the likes of San Tropez or the better parts of the Balearic Islands for its style and culture.

For your Olbia yacht charter, you need to know a few things about getting there and the marinas - read on to find out more.

**How to Get to** **Olbia**

**Olbia Airport**

Olbia Airport is around 20 minutes by bus from the marina. The airport is served by airlines flying from regional and major airports across Europe.

Marinas in Olbia

**Marina** **di Olbia**

Marina di Olbia has a number of boat owner and charter companies with charter yachts available that include catamaran, private yacht charter, luxury yacht charter, monohull sailboat and motor yacht charter.

Berth Characteristics:

270 berths

Max Length 80m (262 Feet)

Max Draught 5.2m (17 Feet)

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

Suggested Sailing Routes From Olbia

Whether on a sailing boat or motorboat charter on a bareboat charter or yacht charter with skipper and crew you can explore the the Maddalena archipelago and Costa Smeralda on your charter yacht. A longer trip can take you to right around Sardinia too. Let's take a look at two such itineraries.

**7 Days -** **La Maddalena** **Islands and** **Emerald Coast**: Porto Rotondo will be your first port of call after a half day's sail north. Relax on a night ashore before heading for Porto Cervo, the capital of the Costa Smeralda for your next evening. The village of La Maddalena will be your first night in the La Maddalena islands - spend a couple of nights here, exploring the beautiful beaches and secluded coves. South now to the islands off Olbia, including one on Tavolara Island before returning to the charter base.

**14 days - Round Sardinia an excursion to Corsica:** The first night will be in the quiet village of Porto Rotondo before heading to the La Maddalena islands to enjoy the white sandy beaches. Head on to the mainland town of Porto Pollo for a day of water sports. Santa Teresa will be your next port and perhaps have lunch in one of the secluded bays nearby before crossing the strait to Corsica and to the west coast port town of Propriano and then Ajaccio for another day ashore. South to the protected Sardinian island of Asinara - take a day ashore to enjoy this beautiful place. Alghero on the west coast of Sardinia will be your next evening ashore, and then take a night at anchor in the Gulf of Oristano and spend time ashore looking at the Stagno de Cabras, one of the largest saltwater lagoons in the region. Your next night will be in Carloforte, a fishing port on San Pietro Island, a then a night in Cagliari, the capital of Sardina. This is followed by a short hop east to Villasimius for a relaxing night before a long leg - 40 or so NM - to Olbia, and return your yacht to the charter base.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Olbia

The sailing season in Sardinia 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 June or September when the sea is still warm but the marinas and towns relaxed and quiet. If you want Sardinia at full throttle in the maximum heat of summer the high season may well be for you!

The Climate

Sardinia is known for its excellent sailing conditions, making many locations meccas for all sorts of wind sports.

During much of the sailing season in this part of the west Mediterranean Sea you will find sea breezes that build during the day and ease off at night, making for a perfect sailing holiday.

The NE Maestrale is an important wind here. Generally blowing from October to April, and originating from the Rhone Valley, it can pipe up for a week at a time and blow at gale force for days on end even in summer.

The hot, humid southerly Scirocco can make things extremely uncomfortable at night toward the southern half of Sardinia 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!

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 Olbia?**

Marina di Olbia has 270 berths that can take luxury yachts of up to 80 metres LOA.

### When are the best times to hire a boat in Olbia?

While the sailing season runs from April to October in the region, 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 June 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 Olbia?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival as part of the charter conditions. 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 Olbia?

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.

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