Choose between a 7-day and a 10-day itinerary aboard the yacht El Safir and take in the magnificent volcanic islands and bright seas off the South of Italy.

Full details can be found on the website rossomediterraneo.it or by writing to info@rossomediterraneo.it

It’s summer and the heady scent of spices, mint and incense from the Red Sea is replaced by that of orange blossom, rosemary and thyme from the shores of the Med…
The Boreas returns closer to home to sail the crystal waters between the beaches and jetties of this equally wonderful sea.

Exclusive sea cruise
8 days full board - departures every Saturday

Day 1: Saturday - flight to Lampedusa

Flights to the island of Lampedusa leave the following mainland Italian airports: Bergamo, Bologna, Malpensa, Linate, Rimini, Verona, Roma. Lampedusa is the largest island in the Pelagie arcipelago, a groups of islands in the Mediterranean, South of Sicily, West of Malta, East of Tunisia. Upon arriving at Lampedusa you will be brought to the port to board the Boreas of Katharina
Dinner, then first night in your berth.

Day 2 to 7: Sunday to Friday - sailing among the Pelagie islands – Lampedusa – Lampione - Linosa

The islands are a piece of Africa in the middle of the Mediterranean; Lampedusa is fascinating and mysterious, with rugged coastlines and romantic inlets and coves, lying closer to the coast of Tunisia than to that of Italy. The landscape is exotic and unique, set against a backdrop that fades towards Africa. Its marine wildlife is rich and tropical, and its climate is especially mild for much of the year.

The Captain, Maurizio Pazzelli, guides the yacht through the clear waters, around the South-West coast of Lampedusa where the bays and inlets are inviting, a feast for the eye as the fine white sand of the sea bottom enhances every shade and every colour of the sea. We arrive at Isola dei Conigli (literally, Rabbit Island) - one of the most beautiful not only of the Pelagie, but of the whole of the Med. It is here that the Caretta Caretta turtles come en masse to lay their eggs, an extraordinary and timeless event that has taken place every year for thousands of years, with the punctuality of a Swiss watch.

The Caretta Caretta breeding season coincides with the Summer sailing season… the eggs are laid at the beginning of the Summer and then hatch about two months later, the tiny turtles immediately struggling down the beach to the sea. This area was declared a nature reserve several years ago in order to protect the precious habitat… access to the bay during daylight hours is possible, but there are rules to respect.

The North East coast rises high and majestic from the sea, creating caves at the foot of its cliffs. The sea bottom varies between sand, rocks, seaweed and marine flora of every type, again giving the sea a rainbow-range of colours from turquoise to blue to green. Keen underwater photographers will be captivated by Lampedusa - home to a rich quantity of sponges, corals, moluscs and shells, starfish and marine plants. Then there’s Linosa, sculpted from black volcanic rock with three peaks rising against the crisp blue sky. The now-extinct volcanoes have given the island a mysterious appearance, and the only inhabited part is gathered around the tiny port, the houses characterised by their simple and gracious architecture and their pastel colours. Bordered with sharp lava cliffs, Linosa is a paradise for divers and sea-watchers. We reach Fili, cliffs that outline a kind of natural swimming pool closed, on the landward side by impressive rock walls weathered by time. Once past the Faraglioni we catch sight of the lighthouse, then Cala Pozzolana - the island’s only beach, crowned with incredible colours from sulphur yellow to iron red. On the Boreas of Katharina you feel at home… the Captain and Crew are on hand to organise the day and help you get the most from your trip. In the evening, under a canopy of stars or sat at the bar in the main saloon room, guests share their day’s discoveries, put together an evening of entertainment or music or just have a quiet game of backgammon.
Full board and all nights spent berthed on the Boreas.

Day 8: Saturday - Lampedusa and departure

We leave the Boreas and her crew and head back to the airport for flights back to the mainland.

USEFUL INFORMATION

• The exact jurney through the Pelagie islands will be at the discretion of the crew. The day-to-day programme is decided by the Captain during the trip, taking into account weather, wind and sea conditions. This means the itinerary may be modified, the order of stops may change or visits to specific places may be substituted by others. Therefore the above trip plan is only to be considered provisional. To guarantee the safety of the yacht, crew and passengers, the Captain has full and unarguable control over the trip!
• This is a boat holiday therefore it is useful to remember that even though the boat is relatively big and steady in the water, it is never completely still, even when at anchor.
• The sleeping berths on board are of a good standard: a fact sheet is available on request.
• If you have a diving certificate/qualification, bring it with you as it is possible to dive from the boat.
• Activities available on board (not included in the cost of the trip): sea diving including loan of diving gear and suit. Dives are organised by the Captain.
• Luggage must consist of soft bags (to allow storage below deck) weighing a maximum of 20kg. Bring simple clothes suitable for life on the boat and on shore. Waterproofs may be useful.

Sea cruise aboard the Boreas of Katharina!
8 days full board, departure every Saturday
Mimum 4 people

On the night of the fourth day we sail towards the Zubayr islands, an arcipelago slightly South-West of Kamaran. The morning greets us by unveiling the volcanoes that make up the arcipelago. These are untamed, uninhabited islands: 23 volcanoes and steep drops to the sea, populated by large manta and whale sharks.

The eighth day, our last, is spent travelling back to Salif. Days aboard the Boreas are spent swimming, snorkelling or diving (the boat is fully equipped with scuba gear and an air compressor - in short, everything needed to set out and discover the underwater panorama. The Captain, himself a trained scuba-diving instructor with a vast knowledge of these waters, is happy to accompany and advise those who wish to see first-hand these most beautiful of places, with their majestic corals.

The second land journey of the cruise takes place on the ninth day and takes us back from Salif to Sana’a. We stop for lunch in the village of Hajja, then reach Sana’a as the sun sets. A whole day is dedicated to visiting Sana’a. As we enter the city via the principal gate, Bab el Yemen, it’s as if we had stepped back in time and into a fable from One Thousand and One Nights: the wondeful mediaeval architecture, the clay houses with their multicoloured windows, the facades decorated with white and ocre arabesques, the alabaster, the white domes and the slender minarets. Naturally we pass through the bazar, where the scent of mountains of spices, sold next to fruit, twine, silver bracelets. In the evening, back to the airport.

The trip can be organised for between 6 and 18 particpants. The visit to Sana’a can either be made before or after the sea trip.