Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. After Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus, Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean It is located southwest of Italy, southeast of France and to north of the island of Sardinia. Corsica is an exceptional place for a yacht charter holiday. Known for its rugged mountains and towering cliffs, Corsica contains many fishing villages and unspoiled places that make for ideal yacht anchorages.
Corsica was under Carthaginian influence and domination until 237 BC, when it was taken over by the Roman Republic. It remained under Rome until its conquest by the Vandals in AD 430, and later in 522 by the Byzantine Empire. With the collapse of Byzantine control, Corsica came under various influences, including Arabs and Lombards, before it finally fell to Genoa in 1282 following the Battle of Meloria against Pisa. Despite take-overs by Aragon between 1296-1434 and France between 1553-1559, Corsica would remain under Genoese control until its purchase by France in 1768.
Corsica is also the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born in Ajaccio, into minor Corsican nobility. Corsica was under French control at the time, and Corsican nobles were offered the ability to gain French titles if they could prove their genealogy sufficiently.
With six hundred miles of coastline to discover, there is a lot to explore on Corsica. A two week charter is necessary if you aim to completely sail around Corsica, a trip of 330 NM. A popular alternative is to combine Corsica and Sardinia in their charter. The southern part of Corsica is separated form Sardinia by a short strait, only few miles long.
Corsica goes from sea level to about 3000m and has a land mass only about 100miles by 50 miles. This is a lovely area for both yacht charter and diving. Clear waters and the warm climate have made Corsica a popular place to charter a yacht. Corsica is also known as the ‘island of riches’. Parts of Corsica have been barely touched by man; Corsica is an exceptional place for a yacht charter vacation.
Corsica has a natural park, Parc Naturel Régional de Corse, which protects thousands of rare animal and plant species. The park was created in 1972 and includes the Golfe de Porto, the Réserve Naturelle de Scandola that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and some of the highest mountains on Corsica. This park is protected and cannot be reached on foot, but access by boat is possible. Two endangered subspecies of hoofed mammals, the Mouflon and Corsican red deer are to be found in the park.
Some of the larger towns include; Ajaccio or Aiacciu which is also known by its Latin name of Ajax, Bastia, Corte or Corti, Sartène or Sartè. Smaller towns and villages that are worth a visit are; Saint-Florent or San Fiurenzu, Calvi, L'Île-Rousse or Isula Rossa, Porto-Vecchio or Porti Vechju, Bonifacio or Bunifaziu and Aleria.
The climate of Corsica is typically Mediterranean and provides sunny warm and dry summers. In the height of summer, the coast of Corsica sees average temperature of 25°C but it can rise to 35°. As a general rule the north is hotter than the south. The sun shines for an average of 280 days per year, concentrated from April to October, making the Mediterranean summer, the perfect time for a yacht charter in Corsica.
The yacht charter season on Corsica runs from April to October. Low season: from October and April is the low season. May, June and September and considered the middle season and the high season is July and August
French is the official language of Corsica but Italian is also spoken widely. The currency on Corsica is the Euro. Electricity is 220V.
The largest airport in Corsica is the Aéroport de Ajaccio Campo Dell'Oro (AJA). The airport is about 15 minutes from the city centre. A shuttle bus service runs frequently to the city centre. Bastia (BIA), Calvi and Figari are minor airports.
The major ferry ports on Corsica are Calvi, Bastia, Ajaccio, Ile Rousse, Propriano and Porto-Vecchio. The ferries service the island of Corsica from Marseille, Toulon, and Nice in France and Genoa, and Livorno in Italy.
Many consider the south of Corsica to be the most beautiful with its main harbour in Bonifacio. Characteristic of Bonifacio is its setting, high on the cliffs overlooking the sea. The location is an ideal point of departure for the Bonifacio channel and Lavezzi Islands.
Also in the south of Corsica, Porto-Vecchio hosts hundreds of luxury yachts in its harbour.
On the west coast lies Ajaccio, from which you can explore unspoiled bays not accessible from land. Ajaccio is of historical importance as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.
On the northeast shore of Corsica lies Calvi with its fortress and the beautiful beaches of l'Ile Rousse.
Detailed reports of Marinas and Harbours in Corsica can be found in our Cruising Guide
