Mediterranean Overview

Disco Inferno will be available for charter in the Mediterranean from June through to September in 2012

ITALY

Sardinia - 125 miles from the Italian mainland and one of the finest cruising grounds in the entire Mediterranean. With the famous Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo in the North which attracts some of the finest yachts in the World with their rich and glamorous owners and guests. the coastline is rocky and bare yet stunningly beautiful, the anchorages are abundant and the waters crystal clear with numerous little bays and islands to explore. If you fancy a night ashore, Sardinia has whatever you are looking for fine restaurants and vibrant bars, the glamour of this magical island seems to surround you.

We’ve all heard about Sardinia, a variety of different things but what really surprised me was the beauty of the island, yes, its much busier thanCroatia but this is a playground for the rich and famous, everywhere you turn its huge sunglasses and bling designer clothing, the largest yachtsin the world are all around you and the variety of what to do is really appealling.

My favourite memories are of the great sailing we did, the beautiful beaches and the crystal clear waters, the ice-cream boats that wouldcome round the anchorages, the choices of where we were to go each day. Delivering a charter here is great fun as the venue seems to bepretty much perfect.

Sardinia has it all; the glamour, beach bars, millionnaire’s clubs, restaurants and in the National Parks, its all just the natural beauty of beaches, rocks and water. If you don’t mind the crowds, Sardinia is the perfect cruising ground.

The Italian coast is a constant delight for a wonderful cruise with azure seas, green mountains, olive trees and pretty little villages, towns, bays and anchorages. Here are a few of the highlights of this spectacular cruising area.

Elba & the Tuscan Islands - This is a small mountainous group of islands, Elba, the largest, richest and most beautiful, its highest peak is over 1000m and its indented coast with numerus beautiful bays and harbours. This area is still one of Italy's best kept secrets.

Rome & The Tyrrhenian Sea - Rome, the Capital of Italy and if ever there was a city brimming with history this is the place, a day here is never going to be enough, in a week you will only touch the surface however the ambience that this city has can be found the moment you arrive. A must stop on a cruise south down the Italian coast or the perfect start or finish to your charter.

Bay of Naples - The bay of Naples lies in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, on its seaward side the islands of Capri and Ischia. Its shores host the ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii. This bay has so much to offer you could cruise it for a week and still not see it all.

The Isle of Capri - carries a real aura around it and definitely deserves a mention by itself. The best way to admire it's beauty is from the sea most of the beautiful beaches can only be reached by water, day times on land are generally chaotic as the cruise ships come and go but after they leave the real Capri is left to be enjoyed and explored.

Sicily - the largest island in the Mediterranean offering something for everyone, Messina, Palermo, Trapani and the famous volcano Mount Etna still smoking, Etna is the tallest & most active volcano in Europe. Sicilly is famous for it's spicy cuisine, fine wines and wealth of history, a superb place for a cruise with sparkling sea and sandy beaches.

The Ionian Coast - Encompassing southern Italy from the toe to the heel. The Ionian Sea stretches right across to Greece so expect deep blue waters and balmy temeratures. This mountainous coast has a barron beauty, with few harbours and marinas you are unlikely to see many other yachts and will regularly have anchorages all to yourself to enjoy the long sandy beaches and the lowest rainfall in italy. This coast is best enjoyed as part of a cruise from Sicilly on your way to the Adriatic or back.

CORSICA

Wild and untamed with corners barely touched by man; Corsica is an exceptional place for your cruise.

Corsica is an island of France with steep, rugged mountains and deep river gorges. Here you'll find a ‘sailors’ paradise.

There are beautiful calanques, a natural harbour lying in a cleft in the high hills of the coast - safe havens for sailors since ancient times, set within a stunning backdrop of grey and rocky coastlines. You'll find picturesque villages, crystal-clear waters and fine sandy white beaches.

The weather in Corsica is sunny, warm and dry with variable winds May through September.

The West coast of Corsica is the most stunning, a largely craggy and inaccessible coastline exposed to the Mistral with few safe bays for anchoring overnight. It is therefore an itinerary very weather dependent. There are however so many places to see once on the south coast before Bonifaccio and onto Porto Vecchio. There are also the national park islands just under Bonafacio and the Italian Maddelena Park within easy sailing reach.

Summer 2010 was our first time cruising the west coast and we really loved the beauty and peacefulness of it, there were hardly any other yachts around, which after the hussle and bussle of the Riviera & Sardinia is a real treat.

THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Saint-Tropez is the winter base of Disco Inferno when she’s not in the Caribbean, it's a place that we like to think of as home, either side of the summer months you can really enjoy the quiet town, the people are friendly and the weather is not too bad either.

The French Riviera, the South of France, the Cote d'Azur different names, same place. Basically this area is the Mediterranean French coast between Toulon and Monaco.

The shoreline of the Riviera has all the grandness you read about, casinos, 5* hotels, boutiques, palm trees, sandy beaches and luxury villas for rent. It was ranked as the preferred playground for the rich and famous who wouldn't settle for anything less than first class for over a century. Places listed from East to West.

Monaco - Although not a part of France it is very much a part of the French Riviera, the principality of Monaco has three main parts; Monaco (the Rock and Prince's Palace), La Condamine (busy shopping area at the base of the Rock) and Monte-Carlo (the central area around the Casino surrounded by stylish hotels). The Formula One Grand Prix comes here in May each year a huge event on the social calendar. A spot for the VERY rich and VERY famous!

St-Jean-Cap Ferrat - Houses some of the most elegant villas and finest gardens along the coast, it provides beautiful views across the anchorage which has stunning water to swim in.

Villefranche - The relaxed resort of Villefranche, retains it's history and the centre is full of narrow streets running up and down. Along the waterfront are most of the resorts restaurants all with views out over the water towards Cap Ferrat.

Nice - is the 5th largest city in France, so it's very different to the other places along the coast. It has an international airport and a large port that sees cruise ships pass in and out. It hosts a half marathan in May time and various other events through the year.

Antibes - has a beautiful old town within it's walls, you can wander through the streets for hours discovering the town's history.

Cannes - Home of the World famous Cannes Film Festival, throughout the year it hosts various exhibitions and conventions. Explore the boutiques, restaurants and bars and if you fancy a night ashore there are many 5* hotels to choose from.

Saint Raphael - has just over 40km of coastline which has sandy beaches, creeks and inlets. It has five different harbours and the town has a real seaside resort feel to it.

Saint-Tropez - the Gulf of Saint-Tropez has beautiful blue waters, within the bay there is Saint-Tropez Harbour, Port Grimaud and St Maxime. From the water the medieval town is easy to spot. Walk around the harbour to admire the boats and the artists selling their paintings. There are plenty of street cafes to watch the world pass.

The Porquerolles - a group of islands futher west down the coast, several of them are for miltary use only. The water surrounding them is just beautiful and the charming quiet streets and restaurants ashore are most welcoming after the bustle of the mainland towns.

CROATIA

Croatia lies at the heart of the Mediterranean. The coast of a thousand isles has become a popular cruising destination in recent years but this Adriatic paradise with crystal clear waters and protected anchorages is still far from crowded.

A cruise around Croatia is the ultimate tonic from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world. The most popular cruise and by far the area most geared to yachts is the stretch from Dubrovnik in the south to Split lying nearly in the middle of Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Due to Croatian Cruising Laws all charters on non Croatian registered boats have to either start or finish outside of Croatia, the easiest place is Kotor, Montengro being only 20 miles south of Dubrovnik, Croatia is only a half day sail away and you can still use Dubrovnik airport. Further afield is Venice, Italy, it offers a stunning start or finish port but is a long way north of Croatia so is only really practical as part of a 2 week cruise to or from Split.

During August 2009 our most popular charters were from Kotor to Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik to Kotor. For a week cruise it’s the ideal distance and sees you visiting the islands; Lopud, Sipan, Mljet as well as the cities of Dubrovnik and Kotor, in the Summer of 2008 we cruised from Montenegro up the entire Croatian Coast and north to Venice, we spent over 2 months in Croatia and only went to the most beautiful spots, that we found, twice.
There are so many places to choose from be it a night in a town or a secluded anchorage, almost everything is possible in Croatia. The locals are the friendliest people and so welcoming to everyone. Everyone who has been to Croatia says it is beautiful and I can confirm that everyone is right.

Croatia has to be seen to be believed, it’s the Mediterranean’s answer to the Caribbean.

GREECE - the Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands are on the west side of Greece. The sea around these islands is stunning, looking into the water from the boat you can see the wildlife beneath right down to the sandy bottom 20 or 30 meters away.

Corfu - The island is well watered and very fertile full of olive and citrus trees, grapes and corn. Corfu is considered as having one of the most attractive countryside of all the Greek Islands.

Lefkada - is a very popular summer resort, where there is something for everyone. Young visitor’s party all night, windsurfers have some excellent spots, there are quiet places for those who just want to relax, and there is a lot to see.

Ithaca - is most famous for being Odysseus’s homeland. Although there are no substantiated archaeological discoveries to support Homer’s writing, that it was the birth place of Odysseus, it fits his description completely “There are no tracks, nor grasslands…it is a rocky severe island, unsuited for horses, but not so wretched, despite its small size. It is good for goats.” It is 2 nautical miles west of Kefalonia and has no airport, visitors come by ferry from Kefalonia.

Kefalonia - is the largest of the islands. Beautiful golden beaches, lofty mountains providing the scenic backdrop to hundreds of secluded white coves , the strange cliffs, the cave of St. Gerassimos - the island's patron saint, the Cave of Drongorati, the underground lake at Mellisani, churches and Monasteries perched precariously on cliffs, timeless villages .

Zante - The most southerly of the Ionian Islands has a varied landscape, the west is characterised by striking mountain scenery and is largely uninhabited and the east is packed with fertile plains, picturesque bays and long sandy beaches. Zante is a beautiful island, with many varieties of pretty colourful flowers that seem to blossom all year round.