With its heavenly beaches and sheltered coves, Corsica is one of the most popular French destinations. But beware, you have to be prepared in advance to hope to sail around the island of beauty, as there are few rental offers.
If the North-West, lends itself more to quiet cruising than festive, the South offers the Epinal image of the Corsican beaches and its festive life on land with its many beach restaurants and nightclubs. The east coast, between Solenzara and Bastia, is not very interesting, with few shelters, while the west coast is much prettier.
Preferably sailing and catamaran, with or without crew, here is everything you need to know to prepare your stay of a week or two around Corsica.
Why choose Corse??
Corsica offers such a diversity of landscapes that you can sail there several times without ever making the same cruise. Weather, atmosphere, food... Depending on your sailing area, you will discover different things. If in the south, you'll rather taste Mediterranean fish, in the north, you'll be able to enjoy the crap at sanglier?!
The island is relatively well ventilated for sailing, the setting is breathtaking, the food is very good and the local wines are good. It is an area with a strong island culture. Nothing like Corse?!
When réserver??
The peak season runs from 15 July to 15 August and to ensure availability on these dates, reservations should be made around the beginning of December. Especially if you wish to sail monohulls, which are less numerous than catamarans. The alternative solution is also to leave Sardinia. In any case, you have to get there early! Be aware that there are less than 200 sailing boats and catamarans for rent throughout Corsica!
Although Saint-Raphaël, in the south of France, is only 90 miles from the island, it is nevertheless a crossing which is less suitable for relaxing.
When partir??
The summer period in Corsica runs from mid-April to mid-October. Indeed, outside this period, most of the fleets are wintering on the mainland. Summer - from June to September - is the most touristic period. However, as there are few boats for rent, you can find anchorages on the west coast or in the north, which are a little less popular than the large beaches in the south.
In June, there are fewer people, the days are the longest and locally, people are available and have not yet faced the season. On the downside, the water hasn't had time to heat up yet and is around 19/21 °C (is this really a problème??)
September is also a good time. The first 15 days of September, the rates go down, there are less people and the water is very hot. It is much more accessible both in terms of attendance and price. The light is magical, especially on the North-West, wild and mountainous with its red cliffs. Don't miss the sunset on Cargèse?!
From where partir??
There are three airports in Corsica, Bastia in the north, Ajaccio in the centre-west and Figari in the south. Few companies serve the island. It is therefore necessary to get there early to find plane tickets.
Most of the fleet is located in Ajaccio ...in the middle of the West Coast. 70% of the boats are rented from here. First of all from a meteorological point of view, depending on the wind (west, north-west or even a little south), you can choose your itinerary. Then from a logistical point of view, the airport is 25 minutes away by car and the ferries arrive from the mainland 300 m from the boarding base.
Propriano a little further south is the starting point for sail Corsica from the South and towards the Mouths of Bonifacio. We'll be able to go down to Bonifacio and the Lavezzi Islands. There are a lot of anchorages in the South as at the foot of the Genoese Tower of Campomoro. It will take 1 to 1 hour and 20 minutes to transfer from Ajaccio airport to Propriano by car, but we will already have set foot in the south. From this port of departure, we gain one day of navigation to reach the spots of the South-East. Another advantage, because of the distance with the airport, the rental rates are a little cheaper.
Porto-Vecchio and Solenzara are ideal starting points for sailing south-east, where you can find the most famous beaches: Santa Gulia, Saint-Cyprien or the unmissable Lavezzi Islands. White sand and turquoise water make it a real little paradise where to practice kitesurfing for example, but whose reputation makes it an ultra touristic place. The advantage is that from this place, everything is within reach.
Finally, Calvi remains the only possibility to rent sailing boats in the north of Corsica. Ultra-confidential, the fleet is limited to half a dozen boats, but the place is magical. The beaches are wild and deserted and few boats cross in the area. One can enjoy the Ile Rousse or the Cap Corse, enjoy splendid anchorages and beaches as beautiful in terms of colour and contrast as the beaches of the south.
The Mistral wind which often blows there in summer makes it a coast less frequented than the rest of Corsica, yet authentic.
Port or mouillage??
In Corsica, ports are expensive and rare - there are a maximum of ten on the whole island -, so we'll give preference to mouillages?! You can also take advantage of moorings organized on buoys, but you have to book well in advance.
The 4 spots incontournables??
The Lavezzi Islands is still one of the most beautiful places, even if the whole coast is magical. The lights and contrasts are really beautiful.
Cargèse on the West Coast is a really cute little port. In the area you can visit the nature reserve of Scandola or the hamlet of Girolata and the creeks of Piana. These reddish cliffs falling down whose water and half-wild beaches are really pretty.
Ghignu beach between Ile Rousse and Saint-Florent is a wild beach, lost to the world. If there is a bit of mistral wind, it is one of the most beautiful and wild places in Corsica.
What are the tips for preparing your navigation??
Because there are few ports in Corsica, it is important to be vigilant about the weather. The base chiefs keep a weather watch for 4 days and at the slightest alert, warn yachtsmen so that they can find a safe and well-sheltered anchorage, or as a last resort reach a port. Reservations must be made immediately and go quickly. Vigilance and anticipation are the key words for a good cruise.
Another piece of advice, it is important to sail quite far from the coast because of the rocky upwelling 1.5 miles inland. Potatoes can go up less than 2 m, and once again you have to be careful with the maps. Even though the dangers may seem identifiable, bottom contact occurs every ans?!
Sailing in Corsica requires a bit of knowledge, common sense and skill.
What is the rate for a week from croisière??
For a Lagoon 380 catamaran with 4 double cabins and two bathrooms, here are the prices:
- 3,000 euros in June
- 3?600 euros early July
- 6,100 euros in August
And count 250 euros to 300 euros per day for the services of a professional skipper on board.
