A catamaran vacation to theMaddalena Archipelago is a sailing lover's dream, so much so that the area is home to numerous sailing schools.The wind playfully wedges between the 60 islands, shaping the rocks into the strangest shapes through millennia of erosion. The archipelago was promoted to a national park in 1994 to protect the incredible natural environment that is home to more than 1,000 plant and animal species.

Your Maddalena (9) is the largest island in the archipelago of the same name, as well as the only one with a real settlement. The town was founded in 1770, and its cobblestone streets are lined with elegant mansions full of trendy bars and boutique shopping.Stopping in the quaint little harbor will be a welcome change of scenery after a full sailing day. The rest of the island is no less beautiful, thanks to Cala Francese, overlooking an ancient granite quarry, the equipped beach of Stagno Torto, and the thousand shades of blue that lap the islet of Giardinelli (5).

We begin with Spargi Island, an unspoiled paradise dotted with tiny sandy coves. Prominent are the enchanting Cala Corsara (2), in which wind-smoothed rocks take on the most diverse forms, Cala Granara on whose shore a group of wild piglets live, and the Love Beach With very fine sand with pinkish highlights.

A little further north on the island of Budelli, you will find the world-famous Pink Beach (3), among the most spectacular in Sardinia, which owes its name to billions of tiny bioclasts that give it this distinctive color. Unfortunately, mass tourism has largely deprived it of the pink hue, necessitating its closure to the public.

On the island of Razzoli we will stop in the lonely Cala Lunga, at the bottom of a fjord more than a mile deep, while on the adjacent island of Santa Maria We will anchor the catamaran in the bay of the same name with a large sandy beach. The body of water between the three islands is called the Porto Madonna (4), a true paradise with clear water and a breathtaking scenery that will catapult you to a distant world.

The island of Caprera is such a concentration of pristine beauty that it was chosen as the last home by Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of two worlds, until the day of his death on June 2, 1882. The Garibaldi Compendium preserves its remains and has been converted to a very interesting museum.

Here dozens of small beaches would make any sea lover fall in love with the island: the most famous is Cala Coticcio (6), nicknamed by locals "Tahiti beach" for the incredible turquoise water. On the western side we anchor the catamaran at Cala Napoletana , collected and solitary, and in the large bay of Cala Garibaldi. Then again to Cala Portese or of the two seas (7), where water laps both sides of the inlet, and at Porto Palma (8), home of the historic Centro Velico Caprera, Italy's oldest sailing school.

Santo Stefano is a small island south of Maddalena harbor, once entirely devoted to military activities. Here in the lonely Villamarina Cove, in the midst of the maquis you will find a huge granite bust of Costanzo Ciano, a peculiar relic abandoned since the years of fascism.

Sumptuous villas, luxury stores, huge super-yachts and the finest restaurants, you will find this much more in Costa Smeralda. The name was coined in 1962 by Prince Aga Khan, who through the consortium took advantage of the lush natural beauty to create a tourist offering of the highest caliber.

There really is something for everyone: in Porto Cervo you will be captivated by the glittering yachts of wealthy tycoons and the boutiques of the big fashion names. In Porto Rotondo you will find a well-kept marina full of sailboats, with a thousand clubs and restaurants just steps from the sea. Palau and Cannigione are two bustling towns with frenetic nightlife in the summer months. A Baja Sardinia await you on Phi Beach, fabulous nightclub overlooking the sea, and the Ritual, an immense castle where you can dance until morning. Finally, the tiny jewel of Port Rafael offers a very elegant little square for exclusive and sophisticated tourism.

The Emerald Coast offers dozens of must-see beaches for a catamaran cruise, one more beautiful than the other, of which stands out Romazzino, with very white sand, and Petra Ruja, on which you can enjoy a sunset drink at the Nikki Beach. Honorable mention goes to the islands of Mortorio and Le Camere, integral nature reserves with water so turquoise it would make the Maldives envious.

Continuing southward we bypass the steep Cape Figari, from the top of which Guglielmo Marconi made the first experiments on radio transmissions, to find ourselves in the Gulf of Olbia dotted with many coves, such as the spectacular Moorish Cove covered by a centuries-old pine forest.

On the bow of our catamaran towers the iconic silhouette of the island of Tavolara, an imposing granite mountain that contrasts beautifully with the bright green of juniper and rosemary. At its base stretches a tongue of fine sand, with the island's only facilities including the restaurant "Da Tonino," goliardically proclaimed king of Tavolara.

Our catamaran vacation continues toward Molara Island, also a protected area for scenic beauty, and its incredible natural pools, a very clear sandy oasis in the northwestern part of the island.

In the Gulf of Olbia, there are not only dreamy beaches, but also quaint little villages in which to refuel, such as Aranci Gulf, a small harbor with colorful houses awash in the scents of fresh fish, and the pretty seaside village Porto San Paolo. Closing this stretch of sea is done by. Capo Coda Cavallo, with its large white beach from which to admire the spectacular scenery of the marine protected area.

The northwest coast of Sardinia offers some of the most beautiful bays on the island, world-renowned for their caribbean-like beauty. The beach La Pelosa in Stintino certainly needs no introduction, thanks to the very long shallow sandy bottom that gives the water a dazzling blue color. Here you will spend hours of relaxing vacation lulled by the sea aboard our catamaran. Next to its big sister rises the island of the Pelosetta from which stands out the iconic aragonese tower 1578.

The national park ofAsinara is an unspoiled place where millennial peace reigns. From the verdant hills rises the former maximum-security prison, while all around white donkeys graze, along with wild boar and horses. The western part faces steep cliffs while the eastern coast opens to wonderful sandy coves, such as Cala Oliva, on which rests a pretty village of white cottages, and the spectacular Cala Sabina, reachable only from land as it is an integral reserve.

Among the nearby landings, it is impossible not to mention Castelsardo, voted one of the most beautiful villages in Sardinia. The Doria Castle, built in 1270, is a true architectural spectacle overlooking the Gulf of Asinara. The interior is perfectly preserved, and contains the interesting museum of Mediterranean weaving.

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Info catamaran charter in Sardinia

• When: May to October.
• Duration: Weekly charter with embarkation on Saturday at 6 pm, disembarkation the following Saturday at 9 am.
• Crew: It is possible to charter a catamaran in Sardinia with skipper and hostess or by bareboat charter.
• Reservations: email to info@mistralsailing.it or call the number +39 347 949 8966 (Luca)

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