Porto Cervo and the YCCS
Porto Cervo was created from scratch in the 1960s by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who acquired 3,500 hectares of the northeastern Sardinian coastline and built a resort designed specifically to attract the Mediterranean's most discerning visitors. The result — the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the Hotel Cala di Volpe, the Porto Cervo marina, and the village above it — remains the most coherent marriage of luxury marina and luxury resort in the Mediterranean.
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), founded in 1967 with the Aga Khan as commodore, manages Porto Cervo's superyacht berths and organises one of the Mediterranean's most prestigious regatta calendars — the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta among them. Berths in Porto Cervo during peak season (July–August) are among the most sought-after in the Mediterranean; advance reservation through the YCCS is essential for vessels above 30 metres. YCCS membership provides priority allocation and is held by many of the owners whose yachts winter in the Med.
The Costa Smeralda coastline
The Costa Smeralda — the "Emerald Coast" — runs for approximately 55 kilometres along Sardinia's northeastern coast, from Baia Sardinia in the north to Porto Rotondo in the south. The name comes from the colour of the water, which in the right light at the right time of day genuinely looks emerald. The coastline is a succession of granite headlands, sandy coves, and small villages — nearly all of it visible only from the sea, which is part of why it has retained its character despite decades of luxury tourism.
Key anchorages along the Costa Smeralda include: Cala di Volpe (named for the famous hotel, directly accessible by tender), Romazzino (sheltered, excellent holding, beautiful beach), Capriccioli (one of the finest anchorages on the coast — multiple coves with crystal water), and the bays around Baia Sardinia north of Porto Cervo. All are popular in peak season; June and September offer them in relative peace.
La Maddalena archipelago
North of the Costa Smeralda, separated from the mainland of Sardinia by the Strait of Bonifacio, lies the La Maddalena archipelago — seven main islands and numerous smaller islets, most of them within a national park whose marine protected area contains the finest water in the western Mediterranean. The archipelago is a UNESCO candidate site; the clarity and colour of the water around islands like Budelli (the pink beach — Spiaggia Rosa), Spargi (Cala Granara), and Razzoli is genuinely extraordinary.
Anchoring within the national park is regulated — specific zones permit anchoring, others require mooring buoys, and some areas are fully protected and no-access. The La Maddalena National Park authority publishes updated zone maps each season. Your captain will have current information. The town of La Maddalena on the main island has good provisioning and is a practical base for exploring the archipelago.
Southern Sardinia
Southern Sardinia — the Sulcis coast, Sant'Antioco, and the area around Cagliari — is visited far less frequently by superyachts than the Costa Smeralda, which is part of its appeal. The coastline is wilder and less developed, the anchorages are more likely to be empty, and the local character has been less smoothed by decades of luxury tourism. Cagliari itself is a genuinely beautiful city with excellent restaurants and a proper Sardinian identity. The Sulcis coast has some of the island's finest beaches and the flamingo lagoons of the Stagno di Molentargius add a completely unexpected element to a superyacht itinerary.
Season and timing
The Sardinian superyacht season runs from late May to early October. The YCCS regatta season brings significant traffic to Porto Cervo in June and September — these weeks are the busiest outside of peak summer. July and August are maximum-capacity months in Porto Cervo and the main Costa Smeralda anchorages; the La Maddalena archipelago is more manageable but still busy in these months.
For the finest conditions with manageable crowds, June (after Whitsun) and September offer the best balance. The Boat International Sardinia guide provides extended editorial coverage of the island's destinations and the YCCS regatta calendar. For Sardinia as part of a wider Italian itinerary, see our Amalfi Coast guide and the charter overview.