Experience the fascination of two islands on one voyage: from Sicily’s vibrant capital Palermo we sail along the spectacular north-west coast to the Aegadian Islands – one of the last insider tips in the Mediterranean – and then across the open sea to southern Sardinia. Turquoise bays, a breathtaking crossing and the wild beauty of Sardinia’s south coast await us. A week full of contrasts: Sicilian temperament, secluded island worlds, a true offshore passage and Sardinian dream beaches.
Enjoy the last summer days of the year with sun, wind and salt water, jump into the incredibly clear water of the Aegadian Islands, experience the vastness of the open sea on the crossing and discover the Caribbean-like bays on Sardinia’s south coast. We sail together, learn from one another and enjoy the freedom on the water.
We decide our stops in harbours and anchorages together. We are a crew that plans the route according to preferences, wind and weather.
- • Castellammare del GolfoPicturesque fishing harbour with an Arab-Norman castle, gateway to the Zingaro nature reserve
- • TrapaniA city between two seas with salt pans, windmills and a lively old town
- • FavignanaThe main island of the Aegadian Islands with the legendary Cala Rossa, turquoise water in old tuff quarries
- • LevanzoTiny island with prehistoric cave paintings and crystal-clear water
- • MarettimoThe wildest and westernmost of the Aegadian Islands, a marine reserve with caves and untouched nature
- • Great crossing (~199 NM)One night and one day on the open Tyrrhenian Sea on course for Sardinia
- • Carloforte / Isola di San PietroA fascinating Ligurian enclave on Sardinia: founded in the 18th century by Ligurian coral fishermen from Tunisia, still with its own dialect and Genoese architecture today
- • South coast of SardiniaPorto Pino with its dune landscape, Chia with Caribbean-like bays and turquoise water
- • Nora near PulaA Phoenician-Roman excavation site right by the sea, partly submerged – the oldest town in Sardinia
- • CagliariThe lively capital of Sardinia on the Gulf of Angels
Our adventure begins on Saturday in Palermo – boarding, getting to know each other and a safety briefing in Sicily’s fascinating capital. From Palermo we sail west along the north coast to Castellammare del Golfo, a picturesque fishing harbour at the foot of an Arab-Norman castle. We continue to Trapani, the city between two seas, famous for its salt pans and windmills. From here we reach the Aegadian Islands – an archipelago that seems to have fallen out of time. Favignana with its famous Cala Rossa, the tiny island of Levanzo and wild Marettimo with its sea caves and marine reserve offer days full of swimming, snorkelling and wonder. From Marettimo, the westernmost island, we set off on the great crossing: around 199 nautical miles across the Tyrrhenian Sea to Sardinia – one night and one day at sea with night watches, a starry sky and that special sense of vastness. In Carloforte on the Isola di San Pietro a surprise awaits us: a Ligurian town in the middle of the Mediterranean, founded by coral fishermen from Genoa who came to Sardinia via Tunisia – still today with its own dialect, tuna tradition and Genoese lanes. From here we sail along Sardinia’s south coast past Porto Pino and the dream beaches of Chia to Nora, where Phoenician-Roman ruins lie right by the sea, partly underwater. Our voyage ends in Cagliari, the lively capital of Sardinia on the Gulf of Angels. Which harbours and bays we call at exactly, and how long we linger where, is decided – as in real sailing – by the wind, the weather and the crew together.
For everyone collecting miles for their next sailing licence: as we cross the open sea on this voyage, plenty of nautical miles go into the logbook. Of course we issue you an official mileage confirmation at the end of the trip.
Our Galini travels the world – and you can be part of it! With us you are not an anonymous guest on a standard route, but part of a real crew discovering new horizons together. We are not a classic charter company that runs the same tour every week. Instead we sail together, experience real boat life and embrace the adventure that the sea holds for us.
Step aboard a wonderfully equipped, lovingly maintained boat and enjoy something special: with us nothing is off the shelf. Every voyage is unique – sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned, always full of surprises. Unplanned experiences are just as much a part of it as relaxed days on deck.
Want more than just sailing along? We look after the boat’s technology together, and you can lend a hand yourself if you like. You can also turn it from a holiday trip into a real bluewater-yacht experience and become part of life at sea.
Our voyages combine holiday, adventure, mindfulness and real boat life. Become part of our crew and enjoy a special time on Galini – authentic, communal and full of a thirst for adventure.
The western Mediterranean offers ideal conditions for sailors. The route runs along the north-west coast of Sicily via the Aegadian Islands to southern Sardinia. In September/October temperatures are pleasant and the water still invites you to swim. The prevailing wind is mostly thermal and from the north-west (Maestrale) at 2–4 Bft, ensuring an enjoyable sailing experience.
In September/October conditions are pleasant on the west coast of Sicily and on Sardinia. Temperatures are around 24–28°C (air) and 23–25°C (water). Along Sicily’s north-west coast and the Aegadian Islands thermal winds and the Maestrale (NW) blow, typically at 2–4 Bft. The sea between Sicily and Sardinia can get stronger during Mistral conditions – which is exactly why we choose the departure time from Marettimo carefully. On Sardinia’s south coast the wind is usually moderate, with thermal breezes in the afternoon. September is considered one of the best sailing seasons in the western Mediterranean: stable high-pressure conditions, little rain and pleasant temperatures without the heat of high summer.
Our beautiful GALINI is a very fast, large and comfortable yacht. She spent the winter in the Caribbean and crosses the Atlantic in April/May.
She is a modern Hanse 575 with 4 double cabins and a skipper’s cabin. Each cabin has its own bathroom with an electric toilet. Wi-Fi via Starlink (optional), multimedia, generator 220 V / 7 kW (230 V in all cabins), washing machine, air fryer and coffee machine. She has large solar panels, radar, AIS, a watermaker, a hydraulic bathing platform and a dinghy with an outboard motor. An abundance of safety and navigation equipment and much more – everything you need to travel self-sufficiently without having to call at a supply harbour. A yacht that meets the highest standards of safety, design and comfort.
The sailing characteristics are outstanding too! The Hanse was designed by Volvo Ocean racers and is the fastest yacht in its class. Sailing pleasure is guaranteed!
✓ Included services
- Shared sailing trip with an experienced skipper
- Berth on the yacht
- Sailing instruction
- Mileage confirmation (on request)
+ Additional costs / boat fund
- Boat fund (harbour fees, provisions, diesel, final cleaning etc.): approx. 250 EUR per week/person
- Travel to/from the boat
What are the crew’s tasks?
Anyone who wants to can help with the sailing, take the helm now and then, or simply enjoy the beautiful nature and the day. In addition, everyone is jointly responsible for the crew’s catering. This means that everyone takes a turn preparing breakfast or taking care of dinner. Usually the hobby cooks on board quickly emerge, and whoever isn’t so keen on cooking simply holds back here and does the washing-up. When mooring and casting off, everyone usually lends a hand according to their abilities and after a briefing from the skipper. The crew keep the boat clean during the voyage. The final cleaning, however, is done by the marina staff.
What exactly is the boat fund?
All crew members (except the skipper) pay a jointly agreed amount into the boat fund. This fund covers all shared costs arising during the voyage (e.g. diesel, harbour fees, deposit insurance, transit log, visitor’s tax, national and nature park fees, a service pack for the provided bed linen, final cleaning, gas, marina fees for the first and last night in harbour, etc.). By old seafaring custom, the skipper is catered for by the crew during the voyage.
What does cabin charter mean?
Cabin charter is the best option for everyone who wants to get to know sailing life. No prior knowledge or sailing experience is required. But perhaps you have already gained some sailing experience, completed sailing training and want to deepen it? – Then the skipper will give you the chance to try things out yourself and help you gain confidence for the future. The crew can help shape the course of the voyage and their wishes will be heard, subject to safety and the weather. On a trip like this you meet like-minded people, can make pleasant new acquaintances and have an experienced skipper at your side who takes care of all nautical matters. The cabins on the yacht are mostly fitted out in different but very similar ways. The berths are allocated by the skipper taking the crew’s wishes into account. Whole cabins can be chartered by individuals, couples or families. Payment is per person and you don’t have to worry about anything else.
We want to make sailing more sustainable and environmentally friendly. On our GALINI we test innovative products in order to combine a great sailing experience with the smallest possible ecological footprint. Our small team of experienced skippers looks forward to experiencing real sailing adventure together with you. Our base is on Poros, Greece – from there we explore the most beautiful sailing areas in the world.
