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What a skipper changes
On a skippered charter, the professional skipper is responsible for safe navigation, manoeuvres, weather decisions and the boat’s operating limits. Guests can steer or help with lines only when the skipper invites them and the conditions allow it.
The group still owns the holiday brief: preferred islands, sailing hours, swimming stops, shore dinners, dietary needs and the pace of the week. Share those priorities before departure so the skipper can turn them into a safe route.
Ask for the arrangement in writing. Clarify whether the skipper’s fee, cabin, food, transfers, fuel, final cleaning and mandatory packs are included in the quote or charged separately.
Choose the base and boat together
Portisco is a practical northeast base for a skippered Sardinia week. IGY Portisco Marina lists 589 berths, a maximum draft of 10 m, VHF channel 69 for arrival, 24-hour assistance, fuel, restaurants and provisioning or onboard delivery services. That reduces friction when the skipper, guests and supplies arrive at different times.
From Portisco, the group can combine Costa Smeralda bays with Caprera and La Maddalena. SardegnaTurismo describes La Maddalena as the inhabited centre of an archipelago of about 60 islands and islets; a local skipper can help choose a sheltered sequence rather than promise every named beach.
Match the hull to the guests. A catamaran gives separate cabins, a level cockpit and more shade; a monohull gives a narrower platform and a stronger sailing feel. The skipper can operate either, but the layout still determines comfort.
Confirm the skipper’s cabin and daily routine
A skipper needs a proper sleeping place and reasonable access to the cockpit. Do not assume a saloon berth or a shared guest cabin is acceptable; confirm the exact cabin plan before payment.
Agree a short daily briefing: forecast, route, departure window, anchorage or marina choice, water use and the time to be back on board. The skipper makes the safety call, while the group can choose between two safe options when conditions allow.
Discuss language, children, mobility limits, allergies, night sailing and privacy. A good match is not only a licence or a résumé; it is a communication style that lets guests ask questions early.
Build the itinerary as a conversation
Start with a two-layer plan: a main route and a sheltered alternative for every longer leg. A week from Portisco might include Costa Smeralda, Caprera, La Maddalena and Spargi, but the exact order should follow the forecast, mooring availability and the skipper’s local knowledge.
Use the park as a protected destination, not an unrestricted playground. Official SardegnaTurismo guidance notes that the national park covers more than 20,000 hectares and regulates activities such as sports, fishing and diving. Ask where anchoring, mooring, swimming or landing is permitted that day.
Keep one decision-free day. Repeating a good bay or staying in La Maddalena can be better than forcing a passage because it appears in the original itinerary. The skipper should explain the trade-off in plain language.
Separate included services from extras
Ask for a line-by-line quote with charter, skipper, skipper’s cabin and meals, fuel, water, marina or mooring fees, cleaning, transit log, insurance or deposit, provisioning, transfers and optional water toys.
Some items are paid to the charter company, some to the marina and some from the group’s common pot. Portisco’s official information lists services such as fuel, provisioning and onboard delivery, but availability, opening hours and prices must be reconfirmed for your dates.
Agree how tips, restaurant bills, taxis and an extra marina night will be handled. Collect a reserve before boarding so the skipper is not asked to front costs or chase receipts during the holiday.
Brief the skipper like a partner
Send a one-page guest profile: names, sailing experience, sleep preferences, allergies, children, mobility needs, celebrations and the top three places or experiences. Add a hard return time and anything the group will not compromise on.
During the first evening, ask what the skipper sees as the week’s decision points. Wind, swell, marina capacity, park rules and water use may all change the plan. Knowing that early makes a route change feel like good seamanship, not a failed promise.
Respect the skipper’s off-duty time. Agree when the working day ends, how guests access the galley and whether the skipper joins meals. Clear boundaries give everyone more privacy and better service.
Skippered Sardinia charter checklist
- Define the group brief: islands, sailing hours, swim stops, shore meals and pace.
- Confirm skipper fee, cabin, meals, transfers, fuel, cleaning, insurance and mandatory packs.
- Check the exact boat layout, real cabins, heads, shade, water, tender and storage.
- Agree language, daily briefing, guest participation, privacy and night-sailing policy.
- Prepare a main route and a protected alternative for every longer passage.
- Check current La Maddalena park rules for anchoring, moorings, activities and landings.
- Collect a common reserve and share guest details, emergency contacts and return time.
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