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The first-charter formula
For a first week, optimise for easy logistics and short decisions rather than a list of every Sardinian highlight. Choose one home base, one sailing area and one clear priority: beaches, island towns, sailing time or quiet anchorages.
The northeast is a strong starting point because Portisco sits by the Costa Smeralda and gives quick access to the La Maddalena area. You can spend the first night close to the base, learn the boat and still reach several islands without turning the holiday into a delivery trip.
Book the boat, dates, skipper format and cancellation terms together. A realistic brief protects the week from the two common first-timer mistakes: choosing a boat that is too small for the group and planning a route that leaves no margin for weather.
Choose a base that makes arrival simple
IGY Portisco Marina lists 589 berths, a maximum draft of 10 m and a location about 20 minutes from Olbia airport and port. It also publishes VHF channel 69 for arrivals, 24-hour assistance, fuel, provisioning, restaurants and onboard deliveries. Those details matter on the first afternoon, when a smooth check-in is worth more than an ambitious first passage.
Portisco is a practical base for a Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena week: you can provision, inspect the boat and reach a nearby sheltered bay before dark. Confirm the charter company’s actual check-in time, handover process and final return requirements; marina hours and charter rules are not interchangeable.
If your priority is a longer island loop, ask whether a base closer to La Maddalena or Cannigione changes transfer time, boat choice or one-way fees. Compare the complete journey from airport to berth, not only the weekly rate.
Choose the boat and confidence level
A catamaran is often the forgiving first choice for several couples: separate hulls, a level cockpit, more shade and shallow-draft options for swimming stops. A monohull gives a more pronounced sailing feel and can suit a smaller group that values a narrower boat and livelier handling.
If you are not fully comfortable with pilotage, book a professional skipper. You still choose the mood and stops, while the skipper handles navigation, weather calls, manoeuvres and local restrictions. Ask in advance about the skipper’s cabin, daily briefing style and how much guests can participate.
Check the real layout: double cabins, heads, water tanks, fridge, shade, tender and storage. A boat that looks generous in a listing can feel crowded after luggage, provisions and snorkelling gear come aboard.
A realistic seven-day route
Day 1: arrive at Portisco, complete the handover, provision and make a short first hop to a sheltered bay near the Costa Smeralda. Keep dinner and the first night easy so everyone learns the boat.
Days 2–3: move through the Costa Smeralda and toward Caprera or La Maddalena. Use one day for a long swim and one for a shore visit. SardegnaTurismo describes La Maddalena as the inhabited centre of an archipelago of roughly 60 islands and islets, so the area rewards a slower pace.
Days 4–5: explore the park’s northern islands such as Spargi, Santa Maria or Razzoli if the skipper confirms the conditions and current rules. The national park is protected and sports, fishing and diving may require authorisation; treat every anchorage and landing as a local-rule question.
Days 6–7: return in stages, leave a fuel and marina margin, and keep the last night close enough to Portisco for a calm handback. The exact sequence should follow wind, swell, mooring availability and the boat’s return deadline.
Make the first afternoon operational
Arrive with a short list: passport or ID details, deposit method, crew data, food allergies and the preferred language for the safety briefing. Photograph the boat’s handover condition and ask where the spare keys, shore power, gas, water intake and emergency equipment are located.
Provision in two passes. Buy water, breakfast, lunch and basics before leaving; add fresh food after the group understands the fridge and storage. Portisco lists supermarket and onboard delivery options, but confirm what the charter company allows and whether delivery reaches your berth.
Keep the first route brief. Agree who watches the depth and weather, who handles lines, how the tender is used and what time everyone must be back on board. A simple routine makes the rest of the week feel like a holiday rather than a training course.
Leave room for wind and protected water
Sardinia’s northeast can change the feel of a route quickly. Give the skipper permission to shorten a passage, swap an exposed anchorage for a marina or repeat a good bay. The best first week has one flexible day and a protected option beside every longer leg.
Use the La Maddalena park as a destination, not a promise that every named beach will be available. The official park guidance highlights more than 60 islands, protected habitats and regulated activities. Respect no-anchor zones, mooring instructions, access restrictions and the skipper’s safety call.
If the forecast turns, the backup can be a shore day in La Maddalena, a marina dinner at Portisco or a short coastal hop. Build the plan so a change still delivers the experience the group came for.
First Sardinia charter checklist
- Choose one base and compare airport transfer, check-in, fuel, provisioning and return logistics.
- Confirm the boat’s real cabins, heads, draft, shade, water capacity, tender and storage.
- Decide bareboat or skipper, including the skipper’s cabin, meals and participation rules.
- Prepare crew details, deposit method, insurance, allergies and an emergency contact list.
- Plan a short first afternoon and a seven-day route with one flexible day.
- Check current La Maddalena park rules for anchoring, moorings, swimming and landings.
- Reserve fuel, marina and provisioning budget; photograph handover and save every receipt.
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