Where to rent a boat in Northern Sardinia, the best day routes, La Maddalena and Asinara permits, fuel, insurance, weather, breakdowns and the mistakes first-time skippers should avoid

My name is Michele. I was born in Campania sixty-five years ago and moved to Porto Torres almost forty-five years ago. Long enough ago that when somebody asks me where I am from, the truthful answer has become complicated. I worked as a fisherman. I sailed. I raced sailing boats for fun when my knees and back were more cooperative, including a few amateur regattas around Stintino. Now I am more or less retired. The sea is not. I still look at it every day. And before anybody asks me whether tomorrow is a good day to take a boat to Asinara or La Maddalena, I normally ask three questions.

What boat?Who is driving it?What does the weather say?

If the person answers only the first question, we have a problem. Northern Sardinia from the sea is magnificent. Capo Caccia. Asinara. Capo Falcone. The red coast around Isola Rossa. Capo Testa. The Strait of Bonifacio. Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli, Santa Maria, Caprera. There are days when you look down from a boat and the water is so transparent that the vessel appears to be floating in air.But beautiful water encourages stupidity. People rent a RIB at nine in the morning after driving one in circles for ten minutes beside the pontoon. At ten they feel like captains. At lunchtime they are five bays from where they started. At four the wind arrives. Then they discover that Google Maps does not drive boats. So this guide is not about convincing you to stay ashore. Quite the opposite. I want you to go. I simply want you to come back.

Northern Sardinia by Boat at a Glance

AreaBest forMy advice
Alghero	Capo Caccia, Porto Conte	Excellent first boating area in settled weather
Porto Torres	Asinara approaches, north-west coast	Good operational base; understand AMP rules
Stintino	Asinara, Capo Falcone	Excellent with local knowledge; protected waters require planning
Castelsardo	Coastal cruising	More exposed; not my first novice base
Isola Rossa	Red Coast, Costa Paradiso	Beautiful but exposure matters
Santa Teresa Gallura	Capo Testa, Porto Pozzo area	Wind is the deciding factor
Palau	La Maddalena Archipelago	Best rental base for first-time archipelago visitors
La Maddalena	Archipelago from inside	Excellent, but Park rules matter everywhere

My first rule

Pick the route for the weather. Do not pick the weather you wish existed for the route you already booked.

Do You Need a Boat Licence in Sardinia?

Sometimes. Not always. And the common sentence “up to 40 horsepower you don’t need a licence” is an incomplete explanation. Under the Italian recreational boating rules, a nautical licence is compulsory for navigation beyond six nautical miles from the coast, regardless of engine power. Within six miles, a licence is also required when the engine exceeds the statutory power and engine-capacity thresholds. The principal power threshold is 30 kW / 40.8 CV, but the law also contains different displacement limits depending on engine type. So do not inspect only the number printed on the cowling. Ask the rental company whether that specific engine and boat may legally be operated by you without a licence. Italy also made the new D1 recreational licence operational in 2026, so the licensing framework itself is evolving.

Michele’s version

A legal boat is not automatically a suitable boat. And a legal skipper is not automatically a good skipper.

Should a Beginner Rent a RIB Without a Skipper?

For some routes, yes. For some people, absolutely not. A small low-powered RIB on a calm day close to the departure port can be quite manageable. But before renting bareboat, you should already understand:

• throttle control and steering;
• reversing;
• manoeuvring at low speed;
• keeping clear of swimmers;
• approach to a pontoon;
• anchoring;
• how much swinging room an anchored boat needs;
• shallow-water propeller risk;
• wind direction;
• basic chart reading;
• navigation marks;
• fuel management;
• emergency procedures.

If those words describe things you plan to learn after leaving the harbour, hire a skipper. A skipper costs money. A propeller also costs money. Rocks cost more.

RIB, Motorboat, Sailing Boat or Skippered Tour?

Small RIB without licence

Good for: short coastal trips, couples or small families, settled weather, people with at least basic boating confidence. Bad for: long ambitious routes, strong afternoon wind, large groups, anybody nervous about manoeuvring.

Larger RIB

Better ride, more power, more room. Usually greater licensing requirements. Also easier to get yourself into trouble faster.

Motorboat

More comfort and storage. Potentially more expensive damage. The sea does not care that the boat has cushions.

Sailing boat

My preference. I am biased. You normally cover less coastline in a day, but you experience the sea properly. For an inexperienced visitor, choose a skippered sailboat.

Skippered charter

Best choice if your objective is:

see the best places, swim, eat, relax and not spend the afternoon studying anchor holding.

There is no shame in this.

Before You Sign a Rental Contract: Read This

Most holidaymakers study the photograph of the boat more carefully than the contract. Wrong order. Before signing, I want clear answers to these questions:

Is fuel included?

Usually it is not.

What is the security deposit?

What is the insurance excess/deductible?

What damage is specifically excluded?

Ask about: propeller, lower unit, grounding, tubes on a RIB, anchor and chain, sunshade, electronics, lost equipment.

Is towing or breakdown assistance included?

Who do I call if the engine stops?

Put that number into your phone. Do not leave it on the rental contract inside a wet bag.

Where am I permitted to navigate?

A rental company may impose a more restrictive navigation area than the law.

May I enter Asinara or La Maddalena protected waters?

Never assume.

Are the necessary Park permits included?

Never assume this either.

What happens if weather prevents the rental?

Ask before paying.

At what time must I return?

Late return can mean penalties. More importantly, an agreed return time should influence how far you travel.

Boat Insurance in Italy: What Is Already Covered and What Should You Consider?

Motorised recreational craft operating in Italy are subject to compulsory third-party liability insurance requirements. The Italian recreational boating framework also requires commercially hired boats to be provided with prescribed documentation, safety equipment and insurance coverage. That does not mean every conceivable loss suffered by the renter is automatically covered. This distinction matters.

The boat’s compulsory liability insurance

This is not a substitute for reading the rental contract. It primarily deals with legal liability under the policy terms.

Your deposit/excess

You may still be financially responsible for damage within the contract’s deductible or for losses excluded from cover. That is why I ask for the exact excess. Not:

“Is the boat insured?”

Of course it should be insured. Ask:

“If I damage the propeller, how much can I personally lose?”

Much better question.

Optional excess-reduction or damage waiver

Some rental companies or booking platforms offer optional products reducing the amount retained from you in case of accidental damage. Read exclusions. The words damage waiver do not mean: “Do whatever you want and someone else pays.” Grounding, negligence, prohibited navigation, intoxication, undeclared skippers and rule violations may be treated very differently.

Personal travel/accident insurance

Worth considering if your normal travel insurance excludes boating or water activities. Check:

• recreational boating;
• sailing;
• skipper/passenger status;
• medical evacuation;
• personal accident;
• repatriation.

Cancellation/weather insurance

Potentially useful for an expensive charter booked months ahead. But read what counts as adverse weather. Your family deciding that Force 4 looks uncomfortable is not necessarily the same as the operator officially cancelling the trip.

My advice

For a €200–300 small-boat rental, understand the deposit and excess. For an expensive multi-day yacht charter, talk properly to your insurer or broker. Saving ten minutes on insurance questions before departure is an idiotic economy.

Safety Equipment: Do Not Just Ask Whether It Is Onboard

Italian rules require the appropriate safety equipment for the craft and type/distance of navigation, and commercial operators have responsibilities concerning seaworthiness, required documents and safety equipment. But there is a difference between equipment being onboard and you being able to use it. Before leaving, identify: lifejackets, fire extinguisher, anchor, anchor line or chain, mooring lines, bilge arrangement, engine kill switch, first-aid equipment if supplied, VHF if fitted, emergency signalling equipment appropriate to the boat’s navigation limits. Make sure children’s lifejackets actually fit children. Do not discover after an accident that you have six adult buoyancy aids and an eight-year-old passenger. And I always want a charged mobile phone protected from water. Preferably two.

Weather: The Most Important Equipment Isn’t On the Boat

The Italian Air Force’s official weather service provides marine forecasts, Meteomar information and gale warnings, including dedicated areas for Northern, North-Western and North-Eastern Sardinian waters. Check it. Then check again before departure. I also compare forecasts rather than trusting one pretty weather app. What matters to me:

wind direction,

wind strength,

gusts,

wave direction and height,

how conditions develop during the afternoon.

Tourists ask whether it will rain. Sailors ask what the wind will do.

The Maestrale: Northern Sardinia’s Most Important Travel Companion

The north-westerly maestrale is not automatically dangerous. But it can become very strong and can change the character of an itinerary completely. Some coastlines become exposed. Other bays become more comfortable. The Strait of Bonifacio deserves particular respect because wind can accelerate through the geographical funnel between Sardinia and Corsica. Do not choose a day’s route because somebody on Instagram did it yesterday. Yesterday’s wind has gone home.

Fuel: Michele’s Rule Is Embarrassingly Simple

I never plan to return with almost nothing in the tank. Fuel calculations should include: distance, sea state, wind, load, engine consumption, reserve. A rough boating tradition is to think conservatively — enough for outward journey, enough for return, and a meaningful reserve — rather than treating the final litre as evidence of excellent planning.

Rental boats

Ask the operator:

How full is it now?

How do I read the fuel gauge?

Where do you expect me to refuel?

Do I return it full, or do you charge consumption?

Get the answer before departure.

Where to Refuel in Northern Sardinia

Fuel availability changes seasonally, so call the marina before building a long route around a single fuel stop. In Alghero, a marine fuel point is listed at IP on Banchina Domenico Millelire, and another marine fuel location is shown at marina gas station, Molo Antonio Lo Frasso. At Santa Teresa Gallura, the official port lists a fuel dispenser operating continuously during the summer season and on call throughout the rest of the year. Palau municipal records identify a marine AGIP fuel operation within the tourist port; because operating arrangements can change, confirm its current status and hours directly with the harbour before departure. At La Maddalena, Cala Camiciotto reports a road fuel station approximately 30 metres from the marina, useful for local logistics but not something I would treat as an automatic alongside marine-fuelling solution.

Porto Torres’ current port documentation still records an Enilive marine fuel installation with associated water area.

For a one-day rental

Use the fuelling procedure specified by the rental company. Do not create your own system involving plastic cans and improvised pouring unless the operator has explicitly instructed you to do so safely.

What to Do If the Engine Stops

First question:

Are you in danger?

There is a large difference between: engine stopped, calm weather, securely anchored, no immediate risk; and: engine stopped, lee shore, wind increasing, rocks approaching.

If there is no immediate danger

If safe to do so: stop drifting by anchoring appropriately, keep everybody in the boat, identify your position, call the rental company’s assistance number. Do not start dismantling an unfamiliar rental engine because you once repaired a lawnmower.

If there is danger to people or the vessel

In Italian waters call the Guardia Costiera on 1530. The official Coast Guard emergency number is free and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Save it now: 1530.

If a marine VHF is fitted and you know how to use it, Channel 16 is the international maritime distress/calling channel. In a genuine life-threatening distress situation, use the proper MAYDAY procedure. Do not experiment with radio protocol for the first time while the boat is already on the rocks.

What Information Should You Give in an Emergency?

Calm down first. Then communicate useful information. They need:

Who you are.

Where you are.

Coordinates are better than “near the beautiful beach with rocks”.

What boat you are in.

How many people are onboard.

What happened.

Whether anybody is injured.

Whether you are taking water, drifting or anchored.

Any immediate hazard.

Your phone’s map position can be very useful. So can knowing the actual name of the cove.

Best Boat-Rental Bases in Northern Sardinia

Now the practical part. I have deliberately included several real operators in each major area rather than pretending one company serves every traveller. Ratings, fleets and commercial conditions change. Call them. Compare contracts. Ask the questions above.

Boat Rental in Alghero

Alghero is an excellent base for exploring Porto Conte and Capo Caccia, but the coastline west of Capo Caccia becomes serious enough that I would not send an inexperienced skipper wandering offshore simply because the boat has a 40-hp engine.

Rental and excursion operators

OperatorBase / addressPhone
Alghero Rent Boat – Noleggio Gommoni e Barche Alghero	Banchina Giuseppe Pezzi, 07041 Alghero	+39 351 207 8062
Sardinian Waves	Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 07041 Alghero	+39 379 251 6124
Nautica Alghero – Noleggio gommoni e barche	Porto di Alghero, Lungomare Barcellona, Pontili Mar de Plata	+39 371 490 9438
Experienseas – Boat Rental Alghero	Lungomare Barcellona	+39 347 955 0990

For sailing or skippered excursions rather than bareboat rental, Andrea Jensen Sailing operates from Aquatica Marina on Banchina Sanità (+39 338 970 8139), while Sailing in Sardinia – Davide Ledda – Escursioni in barca a vela Alghero is based at Banchina Sanità 8 (+39 393 012 5152).

Marina references

Porto di Alghero – Aquatica Marina is on Banchina Sanità and can be reached at +39 333 207 4951. Consorzio Porto di Alghero operates around Banchina Giuseppe Pezzi; phone +39 339 732 9921.

Good day route

Alghero → Punta Giglio → Porto Conte → Capo Caccia area → return

Adapt to conditions. Do not promise yourself that you must round every headland.

Boat Rental in Porto Torres

Porto Torres is not marketed with the glamour of Palau. I don’t care. It is a real working port, and for certain Asinara-related operations that makes it useful. Options include ToGo Sardinian Sail Charter, Via Lungomare Balai 72 (+39 393 436 2112), and Buriana Charter – Blue Shark di Manunta Giovanni, Via Mario Bazzoni 2 (+39 333 540 6742). For organised Asinara excursions, AMATO ESCURSIONI ASINARA is at Via Mare 18 (+39 392 755 3148). Asinara Gite is another Porto Torres boat-rental reference, Via del Lentischio 11 (+39 340 053 6931).

Porto Torres also matters because…

The public maritime connection to Cala Reale on Asinara is operated by Delcomar from the Dogana-Segni quay, according to the National Park. That is useful if your objective is visiting Asinara rather than personally driving a boat there.

Boat Rental in Stintino

This is one of the most obvious bases for Asinara. It is also one where people underestimate regulation. Operators include:

OperatorAddressPhone
Luxury Boat	Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, Stintino	+39 349 867 7270
Argosub Escursioni Asinara, Spiaggia Pelosa e Noleggio Gommoni	Piazzale Guardia Costiera	+39 349 613 5094
Asinara Sailing • Tour in Barca a Vela da Stintino – Sardegna	Via Cala Sant’Andrea	+39 392 987 1178

For harbour services, Marina di Stintino is at Via Cala Sant’Andrea and lists +39 334 740 4583. Another useful marina reference is Porto dell’Ancora, Porto dell’Ancora, phone +39 079 527085.

Sailing and Boating Around Asinara: Read the Rules First

This is not normal unrestricted coastline. The Asinara Marine Protected Area has zoning. Under its regulations:

• recreational navigation is not permitted in Zone A;
• sailing, rowing, pedal craft and electric propulsion have more freedom in Zones B and C;
• ordinary motor navigation in Zone B is restricted;
• authorised motor navigation in Zone C is subject to a maximum of 10 knots;
• the Passaggio dei Fornelli has a 3-knot limit;
• authorised access corridors exist towards Cala Reale and Cala d’Oliva.

The Park has published an updated 2026 supplementary AMP regulation, so use the current rules rather than a map somebody uploaded to a forum in 2019. The Park also publishes exact zoning coordinates and nautical-chart references.

Michele’s advice

If you rented a boat in Stintino and cannot explain which Asinara zones you are allowed into:

do not leave the pontoon until the rental company has explained the map to you.

Take a photograph of the zoning chart. Keep it on the phone.

Boat Rental in Castelsardo

Castelsardo can be a useful small base for exploring the coast, but this is a more exposed part of the Gulf than beginners sometimes expect. Real operators include SIRB ONE NOLEGGIO GOMMONI, Via Porto Turistico (+39 333 353 8972). NOLEGGIO BARCHE TECNOMARINE di Bellenfant Valérie Florence – barche a motore, barche a vela, gommoni. operates directly from Porto di Castelsardo (+39 388 618 5412). The associated technical operation RIMESSAGGIO BARCHE E SERVIZI TECNOMARINE di Bellenfant Valerie F., manutenzioni nautiche, Rigging, Veleria, Noleggio Barche. is at Lu Ponti 20 (+39 079 4124386). For a skippered coastal excursion rather than driving yourself, Piccolo Navigare boat excursion operates from Via Porto Turistico (+39 346 304 6161).

My view

Nice coast. Less forgiving as a first-ever boat day than protected water. Check the wind properly.

Boat Rental in Isola Rossa

Isola Rossa is an excellent base for the Costa Rossa and Costa Paradiso area. The coastline is dramatic. Red granite. Coves. Clear water. But again: it is not a lagoon. Noleggio Gommoni Isola Rossa Marine operates from Porto Turistico, Molo A, Viale Lungomare S. Cottoni (+39 333 577 1774). Noleggio Gommoni Isola Rossa- GITE LUNGO COSTA ROSSA Pileri is also on Viale Lungomare S. Cottoni (+39 349 522 0499). For sailing excursions, Sardegna Sailing is at Lungomare Cottoni 28 (+39 338 287 2827). The local marina reference is Porto Turistico MARINA, Lungomare Dettori (+39 393 923 0804).

Good route concept

Isola Rossa → sections of Costa Paradiso → return. How far? The weather decides. Not the brochure.

Boat Rental Around Santa Teresa Gallura and Porto Pozzo

For the area between Santa Teresa, Capo Testa and the approaches towards the archipelago, you have several options. ONE Nautical Experience – Private Boat Tours operates from Piazza Vignamarina, Santa Teresa Gallura (+39 331 150 7786). Sardinia Sea Experience is based at Molo Vignamarina (+39 328 874 1277). Capo Testa Yachting S.R.L. is at Piazza del Tempo 7 (+39 348 408 7443). A few kilometres away at Porto Pozzo, North West Noleggio Gommoni – Porto Pozzo operates from Piazzale Porto Turistico (+39 335 601 4352). Also at Porto Pozzo, Noleggio Gommoni Azzurra P. Pozzo is based at Pontile L’Ancora, Piazzale Porto Turistico (+39 338 636 6217).

Why Porto Pozzo is interesting

It gives you a different starting geometry from Santa Teresa. For some days and routes, that matters. Again, wind. Always wind.

Crossing to Corsica from Santa Teresa: Not a Casual Extension

Bonifacio looks close. On a clear day it feels even closer. That does not mean a tourist with a small rental RIB should simply decide after lunch:

“Let’s go to France.”

You are crossing an international border and one of the Mediterranean’s best-known wind channels. Before even considering it, establish:

• whether your rental contract permits Corsica;
• whether the craft’s insurance permits it;
• whether you have the necessary documents;
• whether your licence and navigation limits permit the route;
• weather and sea state;
• fuel reserve;
• current maritime rules.

For a first-time RIB renter? Stay in Sardinia. Corsica will survive without you for one day.

Boat Rental in Palau

If somebody asks me where a visitor should base themselves for a first boating day in the La Maddalena area, Palau is the obvious answer. There is competition, which is good for the customer. Some useful references:

OperatorAddressPhone
Noleggio gommoni Palau – Ad marine boat rental – Boat excursions	Porto Turistico, Palau	+39 346 220 4379
Boating Sardinia	Via Riva dei Lestrigoni	+39 339 323 6406
North Tempest escursioni in barca a Vela, Motoscafo e Gommoni con skipper	Porto Turistico, Molo D, Piazza del Molo	+39 371 560 9995
Maxi Rib Excursions | Gite Turistiche in Gommone – Noleggio Barche Palau	Porto Turistico, Pontile C	+39 338 962 1717
Sardinia Yachts Charter	Porto Turistico di Palau, Via dei Lestrigoni	+39 333 170 4367

For Porto Pollo departures, Gemelli Boat | Noleggio Gommoni Porto Pollo – Palau – Sardegna operates at Via per Campeggio (+39 331 290 6822).

My warning about Palau

The fact that there are boats everywhere creates a false sense of security. Traffic is a hazard too. Watch: ferries, excursion boats, yachts, sailing boats, other rental RIBs whose skippers may know even less than you do.

Boat Rental on La Maddalena

Starting from La Maddalena itself has an obvious advantage: you are already inside the archipelago. Good operators include: Enjoy La Maddalena Noleggio Gommoni — Via Padule, +39 371 539 8484. Exclusive Boats – La Maddalena boat rental & boat hire — Via Amendola, +39 392 227 8573. Noleggio Gommoni e Affitto Posti Barca La Maddalena – Ecomar — Banchina Punta Chiara, +39 338 637 8256. La Maddalena Yacht — Via Padule, +39 342 100 8346. Cala Peticchia noleggio gommoni e posti barca — Località Cala Peticchia, +39 329 726 7148.

Being inside the Park does not mean ignoring the Park

Quite the opposite.

La Maddalena by Boat: 2026 Rules You Cannot Ignore

This is the section to bookmark. For summer 2026 and 2027, Capitaneria di Porto Ordinance 33/2026 introduced specific seasonal rules between 1 June and 30 September. Among the major provisions:

Maximum 7 knots within 500 metres of the coast.

Maximum 10 knots between 500 and 1,000 metres, while maintaining displacement mode.

Anchoring on Posidonia oceanica seagrass or other sensitive habitat is prohibited.

Anchoring is permitted on suitable sandy or muddy seabeds. Specific no-anchor corridors must remain clear for rescue traffic. The purpose is both navigation safety and protection of marine habitat.

The rule that will save you an argument

If you see dark seagrass beneath you:

do not throw the anchor into it.

Find sand. If you cannot distinguish sand from Posidonia, ask your rental company to show you before departure.

Do You Need a La Maddalena National Park Permit?

Activities inside the National Park are regulated, and visitors navigating, anchoring or mooring within protected Park waters must check the applicable access/authorisation regime for their craft and activity. Do this before departure through the official Park system, or establish explicitly whether your rental operator has handled what is necessary. The 2026 season has also brought specific regulation and limits affecting rental and charter fleets. The regulations change. The islands do not come with a permanent “same rules as last summer” guarantee.

My Suggested La Maddalena Day Route

I deliberately refuse to give you:

09:47 Cala Corsara

11:12 Budelli

12:36 Santa Maria

That is nonsense. A sensible route starting from Palau or La Maddalena might include a selection of: Spargi, Cala Corsara, Budelli viewpoints from permitted areas, Santa Maria, Razzoli, Caprera,

depending on wind, traffic, Park restrictions and your boat.

You do not need seven islands in seven hours. Three beautiful stops enjoyed properly beat six performed as administrative duties.

Can You Anchor at Cala Corsara?

Do not answer questions like this using a five-year-old blog post. The La Maddalena Park and Capitaneria rules now specifically regulate anchoring, mooring, traffic corridors and protected seabed; some highly visited locations also have operational priority areas for passenger vessels. Use the current Park map and follow onsite markings. And again:

sand: potentially suitable.

Posidonia: no anchor.

When Is the Best Time to Go Boating in Northern Sardinia?

May

Beautiful. Less traffic. Water cooler. Weather more variable. Excellent for experienced sailors.

June

Probably my favourite month. Long days. Good light. Manageable traffic. Normally less madness than August.

July

Reliable summer boating. More traffic. More heat. More rental boats.

August

Everything happens at once. Ports busy. Fuel docks busy. Anchorages busy. Rental fleets heavily used. Still beautiful. But I would leave early.

September

Excellent. Warm water. Traffic easing. Weather still often good. My second favourite after June.

October

Wonderful for sailors when conditions are right. Less suitable for somebody whose only boating experience is a single August rental three years ago.

What Time Should You Leave?

Early. My preferred summer rental schedule is something like:

08:30–09:00 — briefing and departure

not:

11:15 — finally find sunglasses

The earlier start gives you: more calm time, less harbour congestion, better anchorage options, more margin if conditions change. Your last stop should not be the farthest point from home. That is poor route design.

The Return Leg Matters More Than the Outward Leg

People leave with energy. They return: sunburned, tired, dehydrated, with children asleep, after swimming, after lunch. Meanwhile the afternoon wind may be stronger. So I make the return leg easier than the outward leg. Not harder. This is not pessimism. This is forty-five years beside the sea.

Alcohol and the Person Driving the Boat

A boat lunch with Vermentino sounds lovely. It is. For passengers. The person responsible for the boat should remain capable of safely operating it. Water, sun and fatigue already reduce concentration. Do not help them.

Children on Rental Boats

Children normally love RIBs. They also: move unexpectedly, drop things, stand up when they shouldn’t, fall asleep at exactly the wrong moment. Use properly fitting lifejackets. Teach them before departure: where to sit, not to touch controls, not to jump before the engine is safely dealt with, not to swim towards the propeller. Keep them away from moving anchor line. An anchor line under load is not playground rope.

Propellers: The Thing Tourists Forget Exists

Before anybody enters the water: engine safe, propeller not turning, skipper aware of everyone in the sea. Before restarting: count the swimmers. Every one. A person behind a RIB can disappear from view very easily. The propeller does not know you are on holiday.

Anchor Properly or Do Not Anchor

Throwing metal overboard is not anchoring. You need: appropriate depth, appropriate seabed, enough scope, swinging room, awareness of other boats. After setting the anchor, check whether you are actually holding. Use landmarks. Use electronics if available. Watch. And in La Maddalena:

first check the seabed.

No Posidonia.

Should You Beach a Rental RIB?

Unless the rental operator specifically explains that this is permitted and how to do it safely:

I wouldn’t.

Sand entering cooling systems, hull or tube damage, propellers striking bottom and changing tides or waves are all very efficient ways to ruin an afternoon. Anchor appropriately and swim ashore where legal and safe.

Five Mistakes I See Every Summer

1. Too much route

People rent for eight hours and plan twelve hours of destinations.

2. Leaving too late

Then racing home.

3. No weather plan

“It’s sunny” is not a forecast.

4. No reserve fuel

A fuel gauge is not a philosophical suggestion.

5. Ego

The most expensive. If the rental operator says today is not a good day for the route you want, listen. They earn money by renting boats. If even they prefer not to rent one to you, consider the significance.

Should You Rent a Boat or Take an Organised Tour?

Rent independently when: you have experience, you want flexibility, conditions are easy, you understand the local rules. Take a guided/skippered tour when: this is your first time driving a boat, you want La Maddalena without studying Park rules all evening, the group wants to drink at lunch, you are travelling with small children, you value swimming more than navigation.

My recommendation for most first-time tourists

Day 1: skipper.

Watch. Ask. Learn. Then decide whether Day 2 should be bareboat.

What About Sailing?

Now we reach my subject. If you have never sailed, Northern Sardinia is an excellent place to understand why some of us spend our lives doing something slower than a motorboat. A sailing day is not about collecting coves. It is about the passage too. Wind angle matters. Sail trim matters. Silence matters. The boat moves because the atmosphere says it may. I prefer that relationship. I also know that not everybody wants to spend an afternoon discussing telltales. Fair enough. A skippered sailing excursion is the compromise.

My Five Rules Before Leaving Any Harbour

I have used these all my life. Nothing sophisticated.

1. Weather

Now and later.

2. Route

Primary route and alternative.

3. Fuel

Enough, plus reserve.

4. Boat

Equipment, engine, lines, anchor, communications.

5. People

How many? Children? Can everybody swim? Anybody medically vulnerable? Anybody likely to become seasick? A route is planned around the weakest realistic part of the system. Sometimes that is the engine. Sometimes weather. Frequently it is the crew.

Emergency Reference: Save This Before Departure

Emergency at sea in Italy: Guardia Costiera — 1530

Free. 24/7. 365 days per year.

General European emergency number: 112

For a maritime emergency in Italian waters, I would use 1530 directly when possible. VHF: Channel 16 for maritime distress/calling where appropriate and where you are equipped and competent to use it. Rental-company assistance: save the number before casting off. Marina: also save your departure harbour number. And tell somebody ashore what route you intend to take. Old-fashioned. Useful.

Northern Sardinia Boat Rental FAQ

Can I rent a boat in Northern Sardinia without a licence?

Yes, certain boats can be operated without a nautical licence within the legal navigation limits and engine power/capacity thresholds. Do not assume every “40 hp” engine automatically qualifies; confirm the exact vessel with the operator.

How far can I go without a boat licence in Italy?

The general no-licence framework concerns navigation within six nautical miles of the coast with qualifying craft and engines. Beyond six miles a nautical licence is required.

Is boat insurance compulsory?

Motorised recreational craft are subject to compulsory third-party liability insurance. Commercially hired boats must also meet applicable insurance, documentation and safety requirements. Your personal liability for damage under a rental contract is a separate question.

Should I buy optional insurance when renting a RIB?

Consider excess-reduction/damage cover when available, particularly if the contractual deductible is high. Check exclusions and your existing travel insurance rather than buying automatically.

Does rental insurance cover propeller damage?

Do not assume it does. Ask specifically because propeller, lower-unit, grounding and anchor damage may be subject to special exclusions or deductibles.

Who do I call if my rental boat breaks down?

If there is no immediate danger, secure the boat if possible and call the rental company’s assistance number. If people or the vessel are in danger, call the Guardia Costiera on 1530.

What is the emergency number at sea in Sardinia?

1530, the Italian Coast Guard maritime emergency number, available free of charge 24/7.

Can I take a rental boat to Asinara?

Potentially, but Asinara is a Marine Protected Area with zones and specific navigation rules. Confirm both the rental company’s permitted area and current Park authorisation requirements before departure.

Can I take a rental boat to La Maddalena?

Yes, with an appropriate boat and compliance with the National Park’s current access and navigation regulations. In 2026 specific speed, anchoring and environmental rules apply.

Can I anchor anywhere in La Maddalena?

No. The 2026 ordinance prohibits anchoring on Posidonia and other sensitive habitats; anchoring should take place only on suitable sand or mud where otherwise permitted.

What is the speed limit near the coast in La Maddalena in 2026?

The summer 2026–27 ordinance sets 7 knots within 500 metres and 10 knots from 500 to 1,000 metres, subject to its detailed provisions.

Is Palau or La Maddalena better for renting a boat?

Palau has a very large selection and is convenient for visitors staying on mainland Sardinia. La Maddalena has the advantage that you begin the day already inside the archipelago.

Is Stintino good for boat rental?

Yes, especially for the Asinara area, but you need to understand the Marine Protected Area zoning rather than treating the entire island as unrestricted water.

Is Alghero good for beginner boating?

Porto Conte can be an excellent area in settled weather. The exposed coastline and headlands still require respect, so take local advice on the day’s conditions.

What month is best for boating in Northern Sardinia?

I prefer June and September for the balance of weather, water temperature and lower traffic.

Is August safe for boating?

August itself is not the danger. Conditions and behaviour are. The main additional issue is much heavier vessel traffic and crowded anchorages.

Should beginners rent a boat with a skipper?

If they have no meaningful boating experience, yes. Particularly for a first La Maddalena excursion.

Final Thoughts: The Sea Does Not Care That You Paid for the Boat

When I was a young fisherman, weather was not entertainment. If the sea was bad, it changed your work. Sometimes it cancelled it. When I started sailing more seriously, I learned the same lesson in a different way. Then came the regattas around Stintino. You learn quickly there too. The strongest man onboard cannot negotiate with the wind. Now I watch summer boating from a different position. Rental boats leave Porto Torres, Stintino, Palau, Alghero and La Maddalena every morning. Most return without any problem. Families have wonderful days. Children swim in water they will remember when they are adults. People discover Asinara or Spargi from the best possible perspective. That is how it should be. But every year I also see the other kind. Too fast. Too close to swimmers. Anchor thrown anywhere. Everybody drinking. Nobody watching the sky. Fuel treated as somebody else’s problem.

A small 40-horsepower RIB described as “no licence required” as though those words also mean “no knowledge required”. They don’t. The sea is not especially dangerous. It is simply indifferent. That is an important difference. Check the weather. Know the route. Know the boat. Carry the right equipment. Keep fuel in reserve. Respect the Parks. Turn back early if conditions change. And if you do not know what you are doing, hire somebody who does. Then go. Because once the practical work is done, there is very little in Northern Sardinia that compares with leaving the harbour early, reducing speed as you approach an island, shutting the engine down and watching the boat settle over clear water. At that point there is no need for advice from me. Just don’t put the anchor in the Posidonia.