Contents
Start with the strait, not the postcard
Use Bonifacio for check-in, fuel and a first short night. The Strait can accelerate wind and sea state; ask the harbour for current traffic, buoy and depth notes before leaving. Plan Lavezzi only after a fresh forecast.
Lavezzu is inside the Bouches de Bonifacio Nature Reserve. Official visitor guidance requires marked paths and prohibits collecting shells, smoking and leaving waste. For a yacht, use current organised moorings or approved areas and never anchor on seagrass.
| Day | Plan and overnight |
|---|---|
| 1 — Bonifacio | Handover, fuel, citadel and marina night. |
| 2 — Lavezzi window | ≈8–12 nm; go only in settled weather. |
| 3 — reserve day | Stay on approved mooring; walk marked paths. |
| 4 — Santa Giulia | ≈18–24 nm; early departure. |
| 5 — Porto-Vecchio | ≈10–15 nm; confirm marina or buoy. |
| 6 — buffer | Shore day and return check. |
| 7 — finish | Fuel, inventory and checkout. |
Weather windows in the Strait
Scenario A: calm forecast. Leave Bonifacio at first light, visit Lavezzi, then move east while the sea is manageable. Scenario B: fresh wind or thunderstorms. Keep the yacht in Bonifacio, shift the Lavezzi day and move to Porto-Vecchio only after a confirmed window.
Finish with Porto-Vecchio certainty
Reserve the final berth before the trip. Budget yacht, fuel, moorings, provisions, transfers and deposit separately. Confirm skipper licence, insurance and crew list. Match the boat to your draft in the [fleet](/fleet), then send the route through [Helm](/helm). Updated 14 September 2026.
Lavezzi departure checklist
- Check the current reserve notice and approved moorings.
- Set a hard turnaround time for the Strait.
- Keep Porto-Vecchio berth confirmation offline.
Watchkeeping in the Bonifacio Strait
The strait is short on the chart but busy in practice: ferries, excursion boats, fishing gear and sudden gusts compete for attention. Set a lookout before the crossing, keep the navigation lights and radio ready, and treat the marked traffic lane as a working boundary rather than a shortcut.
If the sea state builds, turn back while the return is still simple. A safe turnaround point is more valuable than a late arrival at Lavezzi. Keep Porto-Vecchio as the eastbound target only after the crew has recovered and the berth is confirmed.
| Scenario | Decision | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Calm morning | Cross early, visit Lavezzi. | Approved mooring. |
| Fresh wind | Delay the crossing. | Bonifacio marina. |
| Thunderstorm line | Cancel shore landing. | Sheltered port. |
| No berth confirmation | Do not commit to eastbound leg. | Repeat current port. |
Lavezzi shore protocol
Lavezzu has narrow, stony paths, little shade and no bins. Carry water, closed footwear and a small bag for your own waste. Stay on marked paths, do not climb the granite and leave shells, plants and fishing gear untouched.
Keep the tender landing short and controlled. One person stays with the boat, another checks the path and the return time. If the swell makes the landing awkward, enjoy the archipelago from the yacht and keep the reserve rules intact.
Porto-Vecchio finish logistics
Call the marina before leaving Santa Giulia and give the boat length, draft and estimated arrival. Keep fenders and lines ready on both sides; a calm arrival leaves time for fuel, inventory and a crew meal before checkout.
Budget yacht, fuel, moorings, provisions, transfers and deposit separately. Confirm skipper licence, insurance and crew list. Match the boat to your draft in the [fleet](/fleet), then send dates through [Helm](/helm). Updated 14 September 2026.
Fuel and crew rhythm
Refuel before the Lavezzi day rather than after it. The strait crossing, repeated manoeuvres and a reserve return all cost more than the straight-line distance suggests. Keep water and a simple lunch ready so the crew does not rush the shore transfer.
Use the sixth day as a true buffer, not a hidden passage day. If Lavezzi slipped because of wind, keep Porto-Vecchio reachable in one daylight leg and accept a shorter shore programme.
Sources