Why rent a catamaran in Ajaccio?
Discover the best of the Corsican coastline with a catamaran charter in Ajaccio. With family or friends, a cruise in the Gulf of Ajaccio will be an opportunity to alternate cultural visits with white sandy beaches. The west coast of the Isle of Beauty offers an idyllic setting for discovering unspoiled nature. From the Îles Sanguinaires to Cap di Muro, the Corsican coastline offers an alternation of small wild coves and fine sandy beaches, against a historical backdrop of Genoa domination.
The best places to sail close-hauled near Ajaccio
Discover the wild beauty of Corsica at the northern point of the Gulf of Ajaccio in the anchorage of Parata, from where you can take an excursion to the Sanguinaires Islands located just opposite. The poetic landscape of the archipelago is even more beautiful at sunset. Sailing towards Ajaccio, relax close-hauled to the anchorage of Peyrouse, Marinella or the beautiful beach of Saint-François. You can stay in one of Ajaccio's two marinas, the old Tino Rossi marina, sheltered by the citadel, or the Charles Ornano marina. Your catamaran charter in Ajaccio will be an opportunity to stock up on Corsican products in the local market before following in the footsteps of Napoleon Bonaparte by visiting the museum dedicated to him. Art enthusiasts will certainly prefer a visit to the Fesh museum. Enjoy the Corsican sun by sailing south, making sure to have anchored boats at Sainte-Barbe or the old port of Chiavari. We advise diving fans to end their cruise at Anse de Cacalu for a beautiful view of the seabed.
Useful tips for your catamaran charter in Ajaccio
How pleasant it is to sail in Corsica! The island's beautiful sunshine and pleasant temperatures will make your catamaran cruise in the Gulf of Ajaccio all the more enjoyable. Sailing in Corsica is particularly subject to the Mistral, Sirocco and Eole winds. Whether you choose a catamaran charter in Ajaccio with or without a skipper, the Gulf of Ajaccio will offer you pleasant shelter for your cruise along the western coast. Be careful, however, of the reefs that can make entry difficult in some anchorages.
In Ajaccio, you can set off in a catamaran from two ports: Port Charles Ornano or Port Tino Rossi.
The Tino Rossi marina and fishing port is located to the south-east of Ajaccio. It has 300 berths, 150 of which are reserved for yachtsmen with catamarans no longer than 10 meters. On site, you can take advantage of various services: electricity on the pontoon and quay, toilets, free Wi-Fi access and video surveillance.
Above Port Tino Rossi, you will find Port Charles Ornano. This port can accommodate up to 850 boats with 40 berths reserved for visiting yachtsmen. Here is a list of the services offered on site: fresh water, electricity on the pontoon and quay, fuel, careening area, selective waste and waste oil containers, etc
Weather conditions for a catamaran charter in Ajaccio
Corsica is an ideal playground for beautiful sailing. However, due to the Corsican relief, the wind can change direction quickly, which can make your sailing quite challenging. To protect yourself against the Mediterranean winds, particularly the Mistral and the Libeccio, the main winds that blow in Corsica, we advise you to always remain alert and check the wind conditions. To do this, there are many tools at your disposal such as the Windy or Météo Consult applications or the Navily website.
Sailing itineraries for catamarans departing from Ajaccio
With your sailboat charter from Ajaccio, several sailing itineraries are available to you.
- For a 3-4 day cruise, we recommend you make a stopover in the vicinity of Ajaccio, without straying too far. You can then go to the Sanguinaires Islands, 10 nautical miles from Ajaccio, to Cargèse, 37 nautical miles from Ajaccio, crossing the Gulf of Sagone, or even to the bay of Cupabia, 28 nautical miles away.
- For a week-long cruise, here are the sailing itineraries followed by Gilles and Stéphane, customers of Filovent:
One-week northern sailing itinerary - Total distance traveled: 138 nautical miles
- Day 1: Ajaccio → Cargèse (37 nautical miles)
- Day 2: Cargèse → Girolata (27 nautical miles)
- Day 3: Girolata → Calvi and the Calanques de Piana (30 nautical miles)
- Day 4: Calanques de Piana → île Rousse (12 nautical miles)
- Day 5: île Rousse → Cargèse (60 nautical miles)
- Day 6: Cargèse → Ajaccio (37 nautical miles)
One-week southern sailing itinerary - Total distance traveled: 138 nautical miles
- Day 1: Ajaccio → the Sanguinaires Islands (10 nautical miles)
- Day 2: the Sanguinaires Islands → Cupabia Bay (24 nautical miles)
- Day 3: Cupabia Bay → Campomoro (15 nautical miles)
- Day 4: Campomoro → Bonifacio (30 nautical miles)
- Day 5: Bonifacio → port of Propriano (40 nautical miles)
- Day 6: Propriano → Ajaccio (31 nautical miles)
These sailing itineraries enable you to discover the main points of interest on the west coast of Corsica without necessarily having to have a very sea-worthy crew on board.
The must-see anchorages around Ajaccio
Anchorage at the Calanques de Piana to the north of Ajaccio
The Calanques de Piana, halfway between Calvi and Ajaccio, should be part of your sailing itinerary. For Mr. Cardi, who works for our local partner Union Nautique Insulaire, "this volcanic rock that juts out into the water is spectacular. No postcard can replace the feeling you get when you are in the middle of these calanques". Like the Gulf of Girolata, the Gulf of Porto and the Scandola reserve, the Calanques de Piana have been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1983. The beauty of the Calanques has inspired many, including Guy de Maupassant, who wrote in Le monastère de Corbara: "the Calanques de Piana are one of the wonders of Corsica; one might say, I believe, one of the wonders of the world". However, anchorage in the Calanques de Piana is quite regulated. For more information, please consult the nautical charts.
Anchorage at the Cacalu cove south of Ajaccio
Mr. Cardi advises you to anchor at the cove of Cacalu. For him: "this anchorage is magnificent between the transparent waters and the fish, so swimming there is really pleasant. In addition, it is a good shelter from the wind and it is not very popular with pleasure boaters".
Anchorage at Cupabia beach
As well as the anchorage at the cove of Cacalu, Mr. Cardi also recommends anchoring at Cupabia beach, south of Ajaccio. "It's a beautiful beach with fine sand and the landscape is really relaxing. This anchorage also has good holding ground, which is ideal for dropping anchor," he told me.
Anchorage at Campomoro
This fairground anchorage is located to the south-east of Ajaccio. It is one of Stéphane's favorites: "this anchorage is well sheltered, with plenty of room and the 20 meters depth allows for a stable anchorage. The setting is truly magnificent because this cove forms a small projection that overlooks a Genoa tower. And as if this place couldn't be more perfect, the coup de grâce was delivered by the surprise visit of dolphins who came to rub against the catamaran's anchor. It was magical!"
Anchorage in the Gulf of Revellata
If you are on a cruise for more than a week, the anchorage at the Revellata cove north of Ajaccio is well worth a visit! It is one of Gilles' favorite anchorages: "In the open sea off Calvi and after sailing along the creeks of Piana, we found ourselves in the middle of a wild and magnificent landscape. Relaxation was on the agenda, we had a picnic on the catamaran before going by dinghy under the arch."
Good to know
| Number of boats available | 146 |
|---|---|
| Types of service | Skipper, Hostess, Chef (meals not included), Sailor |
| Average price per week | $23,708 |
| Minimum weekly price | $1,166 |
| Maximum price per week | $95,880 |