Contents
Route logic: base, buffer, finish
Day 1 in Ajaccio is for handover, fuel, water and provisions. Make Propriano the first weather gate: a short reset before the exposed south-west coast. Confirm berth, draft and return rules with the base.
Keep the final two nights near Bonifacio. The Bouches de Bonifacio reserve uses marked zones and organised moorings to protect Posidonia; check the current notice before anchoring.
| Day | Plan and overnight |
|---|---|
| 1 — Ajaccio | Handover and base night. |
| 2 — Propriano | ≈28–34 nm; early start. |
| 3 — buffer | Shore day or short hop. |
| 4 — Roccapina | ≈24–30 nm, calm window only. |
| 5 — Bonifacio | ≈18–24 nm; reserve approach time. |
| 6 — reserve | Citadel; Lavezzi only if permitted. |
| 7 — return | Fuel and checkout. |
Mistral decision rule
With strong westerly wind, stay in Propriano or another lee-side port. Shorten Roccapina, move Bonifacio to the next daylight window and remove the exposed cove first. A successful week means safe returns, not every waypoint.
Budget and booking
Price yacht, fuel, marina or buoy nights, provisions, transfers and deposit separately. Confirm skipper documents, insurance, crew list and the exact Bonifacio berth. Compare the fleet and send dates through Helm. Updated 14 September 2026.
Bonifacio berth strategy
Reserve the berth before the Lavezzi day. A marina night gives shore access, fuel and a clean weather reset; a buoy field is a fallback only when the harbour confirms availability. Keep an arrival window before sunset.
Before departure
- Save the forecast and mistral trigger.
- Confirm Propriano and Bonifacio berths.
- Keep one reserve night.
Passage planning by crew, not by map
A 28–34 nm leg can be easy for a rested crew and exhausting after a late flight. Set the first waypoint before casting off, define the watch rotation and keep one person responsible for the weather update. A short engine check and a fuel log at departure prevent a long return under pressure.
For a first charter, reserve an hour of daylight for every marina approach and another hour for a tender landing. If the crew is slow or the sea state rises, cancel the shore stop before cancelling the safe arrival. This route is designed to flex by one night without losing the finish.
| Decision point | Action | Fallback |
|---|---|---|
| Late arrival | Sleep in Ajaccio marina. | Move Propriano to Day 3. |
| Fresh westerly | Leave early; shorten exposed coast. | Hold in lee-side port. |
| No berth reply | Call harbour before sunset. | Use confirmed buoy field. |
| Crew fatigue | Reduce sail plan and stop ashore. | Repeat a sheltered night. |
Shelter choices along the west coast
Propriano is the operating buffer because it gives the crew a clean pause between the long southbound legs. If the forecast turns uncertain, use the town, fuel and provisions rather than trying to hide in an unverified cove. Ask the harbour whether a berth, buoy or restaurant pontoon is actually available that night.
Near Roccapina, treat the coast as exposed until the wind report proves otherwise. Keep the plotter zoomed out for escape bearings, mark the latest safe departure time and do not let a beautiful sunset push the approach into darkness. Bonifacio is the objective; the cove is optional.
Daylight routine and reserve etiquette
Start each passage with a three-minute brief: route, depth, traffic, weather trigger and who calls the harbour. In the reserve, keep engines ready for a controlled move, use marked moorings and leave no waste. The official guidance for Lavezzi also asks visitors to stay on marked paths and avoid collecting shells.
Plan meals and water around the longest leg. A tired crew makes slower fender work, weaker lookout and poorer decisions at the harbour entrance. Put the next morning’s fuel, lines and documents where they can be reached without waking the whole boat.
Return margin and handover
The final Bonifacio night is not the moment to spend the last fuel reserve. Keep enough for harbour manoeuvres, a second approach and the contracted return procedure. Photograph the inventory, note any new mark on the hull and ask the base to sign the handover record before leaving the berth.
For a boat matched to your dates, draft and crew experience, compare the fleet and send the route through Helm. Updated 14 September 2026; verify local notices again on the morning of departure.
Sources