Catamaran Hire in Tuscany with or without a Skipper

Where to sail in Tuscany and around the island of Elba?

Tuscany, in central Italy on the Tyrrhenian coast, offers an ideal playground for a catamaran charter: short line-of-sight passages, sheltered anchorages and the Tuscan islands within easy reach of your bow. Elba, the largest of the seven Tuscan islands, is the flagship destination.

Several cruising grounds open up from the Tuscan bases:

• The island of Elba: the heart of a Tuscany cruise, renowned for its spectacular anchorages, its crystal-clear coves and its lively harbours such as Portoferraio. You can easily go ashore to explore the towns and dine in the local restaurants.
• The Tuscan archipelago: seven islands in all — Elba, Capraia, Giglio, Gorgona, Pianosa, Montecristo and Giannutri. Several of them (Montecristo, Pianosa, Gorgona) lie in highly protected zones, with restricted access or subject to permit.
• The Tuscan coast and the Gulf of Follonica: Punta Ala, Cala Violina, Scarlino and the beaches along the shore, perfect for short coastal hops.
• Corsica and Sardinia: within reach for longer cruises, as a natural extension from Elba.

Departure ports and bases in Tuscany

Catamaran charters in Tuscany set off mainly from a few well-connected bases:

• Punta Ala: a major base facing the island of Elba, ideal for reaching the Tuscan islands quickly.
• Marina di Scarlino (Gulf of Follonica): a central, sheltered starting point.
• San Vincenzo and Marina Cala de' Medici (Rosignano): handy bases on the Etruscan coast.
• Salivoli – Piombino: the base closest to Elba, just a short crossing away.

When to sail in Tuscany?

The best period runs from June to September, when the air temperature sits between 25 and 29 °C, close to that of the water. The season stays pleasant from April to October, peaking in July and August. For gentler rates and less crowded anchorages, spring and the shoulder season offer an excellent compromise.

Here is an average of the temperatures recorded over recent years on the island of Elba and in Tuscany:

Sailing conditions in Tuscany

Sailing in Tuscany is known to be accessible: the passages between the coast and the Tuscan islands are short and within sight, in waters that are generally mild in summer. The prevailing wind is the mistral (maestrale), which sweeps down from the north-west and brings cooler, drier air; in summer it alternates with the sirocco, a hot and humid wind from the south-east. Rarer but stronger, the libeccio (south-west) and the ponente (west) can build up a choppy sea.

The distances between the main navigation points are as follows:

Part of the Tuscan islands belongs to the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, the largest marine park in Europe. Anchoring is regulated there, and certain zones are off-limits or subject to permit, particularly around Montecristo, Pianosa and Gorgona. Check the authorised areas before dropping anchor.

Cruise itinerary ideas in Tuscany

To help you picture your trip, here are two one-week itinerary outlines departing from the Tuscan coast:

• The tour of the island of Elba in 7 days: setting off from Punta Ala or Salivoli, coastal cruising around Elba, its coves and its harbours, with a possible extension towards Capraia.
• Tuscan archipelago and Etruscan coast: a loop between Scarlino, Elba and Giglio, alternating wild anchorages and gourmet stops.

Which types of boat to hire in Tuscany?

Depending on your plans and your budget, several types of boat are available, with the catamaran leading the way for comfort and stability:

• The catamaran hire in Tuscany: the top choice for comfort, living space and stability at anchor. Its shallow draught also makes it easier to reach the shallower coves. Ideal for a family or a group of friends looking for a relaxing holiday.
• The sailing yacht hire in Tuscany: the most affordable option, which will delight lovers of the thrill of sailing and is valued for its handling.
• The motorboat hire in Tuscany: perfect for day trips and quick connections between the Tuscan islands.

The services offered for your boat hire in Tuscany

• Hire without a skipper: if a member of your crew holds the required qualifications and experience, the boat is entirely yours and you organise your cruise in complete freedom.
• Hire with a skipper: the ideal option if no one can take the helm or if you want a fully relaxing holiday. The professional skipper takes charge of the navigation and shares their knowledge of the area with you.
• Hire with crew: included on luxury vessels over 20 metres, optional between 10 and 20 metres. The crew is generally made up of a captain, a cook and a hostess.
• Cabin cruise: you book a cabin aboard a high-end boat that you share with other travellers and a professional crew. Ideal for travelling as a couple without chartering the whole boat.

What is the price of a catamaran hire in Tuscany?

The table below gives an order of magnitude for the average prices of a one-week hire in Tuscany. These rates vary according to the season, availability, the model and the age of the boat.

The price includes: the boat hire and the main equipment on board (the sails, the crockery, the Wi-Fi, the tender, the bedding and the outboard engine).

The price does not include: insurance, harbour and mooring fees, the skipper, the hostess, the end-of-hire cleaning often built into a compulsory package, extras (kayak, paddleboard…) and provisioning.

If you wish to charter a yacht in Tuscany, contact us directly to obtain the rate list: the price range is very wide for this type of boat. Lina, our specialist in the crewed and luxury boat segment, will send you the best offers.

We advise you to take out our cancellation insurance. It covers every member of the crew, whereas individual cancellation insurance or cover via your bank card only covers the holder.

We also recommend deposit waiver insurance. At sea, mishaps happen even to the best sailors: this insurance lets you recover a significant part of your deposit in the event of damage related to sailing.

The documents required to hire a boat without a skipper in Tuscany

For a bareboat hire in Tuscany, you will need a coastal boating licence as well as a restricted radiotelephone certificate (SRC) for using the VHF. For larger vessels, an offshore licence or equivalent may be required, depending on the size of the boat and the charter company's conditions.

Useful information for your boat hire in Tuscany

What language is spoken in Tuscany?

The official language is Italian. In the harbours and tourist areas, English is widely spoken.

What currency is used in Tuscany?

The currency is the euro (€).

How do you get to Tuscany?

Regular flights serve Pisa airport (Galileo Galilei), the region's main gateway, and Florence airport as a second option. Grosseto airport is the closest to the southern bases, but has no scheduled service. All these options are within reasonable distance of the departure bases (Punta Ala, Scarlino, San Vincenzo, Piombino).

Is there a time difference in Tuscany?

Italy is one hour ahead of the UK (Central European Time).

What should you do in an emergency at sea?

In an emergency, contact the Italian coastguard (Guardia Costiera) on VHF channel 16, the international distress frequency, or by telephone on 1530.

How do you finalise the booking of your boat in Tuscany?

Once we have received your request, an adviser will contact you by telephone to understand your sailing plans, then send you boat suggestions by email. Once the boat is found, you pay a deposit in your customer account to confirm the hire and secure the boat.

Good to know