The area
Here you can find informations about the area, the weather and the equipment
General informationThe water- quality is all over the area very good. Swimming, diving etc. are good. Exceptions are the bay of Porto Azzurro, Porto Vecchio and Cala di Volpe...
You can see the popularity of harbours and bays often along the "Route de Muell" ( rubbish-line). How long you are making a tour, belongs to the time, your feelings etc.. Starting at Piombino you can reach Elba and the East-coast of Corsica in two weeks time. With this time you can reach the South of the island. When you also have the time to go swimming and "free time" if you need some more days. You also can round Corsica in 2-3 weeks time and only can see water all the time.
WeatherAt high pressure in the summer the wind is often calm ( at night 0 Bft, at daytime trough "Landseewind" to 5 Bft). Tempreture in Summer 30C, but this isn't a problem because of the wind on the sea. In August, the beginning of September there are often thunderstorms in the afternoon. Usually near the country (Elba, Corsica). It can be different when a "Front" is going through, when it also can be blowing with 9Bft in the summer. This can be not very nice, depending where you are. High pressure above France and low pressure above Genua is causing the "Mistral".NW-W with 7 and more beaufort. Not very nice on the west-coast of Corsica, at the East-coast it isn't very nice to sail North. In the "Street of Bonifacio" ( between Sardenia and Corsica) the wind is always 2-3 Bft stronger than at coasts.  EquipmentYou should have a tender if you stay in a bay. If possible with an engine. Against the sun, you need a sun-roof, bimini etc., otherwise you will be a "rosted chicken" soon. Recommendable is VHF. The Italian are sending the weather forecast from a tape. You've got the choise between Italian and English. (chanal 68). Cross Corse you can get on chanal 79. On this chanal you can get a special weather-forecast for the different island-areas. This information you can get at 8.00, 13.00 and 20.00 o'clock. The mobile phone is working with out any problems, often till you are on the wide ocean. You can get electricity in the harbours, but you should have a long wire. If possible 10 to 15 meters long and you should have a standard euro connector (blue). Shopping possibilities are everywhere, sometimes you have to walk 5 to 10 minutes. You need a fridge in the summer. If this isn't possible you can also use an ice-box. You can get loose ice nearly in every supermarket.
LanguageItalian and French (Corsica) knowledge make the life easier. Sometimes the people in the restaurants on Elba are speaking German or a little Englsih. In Corsican people can't speak German and also English is very difficult. So you have to speak French there.
Season and PricesHigh season is in the middle of July until the end of August. In this time it is very difficult to get a place in the ports. A early arrival till 14.00 o'clock is useful. It makes it easier to find a place. Also the prices are rising in this time of year. Usually ( not in the summer holidays) you can find a place.
Prices: for example a 9-10 meter sailing-boat. In Italy and Elba usually high, ca.17-30 Euro out of season, twice the price in the summer time.during July/August. In Corsica the season prices are less, ca. 20-30%. The prices on the island of Sardinia are extremly high.For the famous harbours at Costa Smeralda you have to pay ca.70-100 Euro in the high season for the same lenght of the ship.
Example: stand 2004 (prices in Euro)
Harbour | May / June | July / August |
Porto Ferraio | 16 | |
Macinaggio | 19 | 26 |
St. Florent | 18 | |
Bastia Port Toga | 20 | |
Solenzara | | 22 |
Porto Vecchio | | 21 |
Menton | | 21 |
Anchor baysThe different possibilities are discribed within the island discriptions.
|
|
|
