Cala Gavetta — La Maddalena
Marina di Cala Gavetta · La Maddalena town harbour
41°12.7'N 009°24.3'E
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Good holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
In a Cala Gavetta berth no alarm radius applies — you are made fast. If you anchor in the outer roadstead instead, 90m suits 6–10m at 4:1 scope, but the holding is only fair over weed and the ferry wash works the anchor: set it properly and watch it. The park prohibits night anchoring outside designated buoys, so the roadstead is a daylight option only.
About This Anchorage
Cala Gavetta is the harbour of La Maddalena town and the only place in the archipelago with a proper high street. It cuts into the south coast of Isola Maddalena, immediately west of the ferry port, and its pontoons open straight onto Piazza Umberto I — provisions, chandlers, banks, restaurants and the park authority office are all within a few hundred metres. For most crews this is the one night of the week spent alongside: a shower, a restaurant, a full re-provision and reliable signal before heading out to the buoy fields of Spargi, Budelli and Santa Maria where none of that exists. Isola Maddalena itself has a strong naval history — the town grew around the Italian navy base, and Nelson's fleet watered here for months before Trafalgar. Note that the Passo della Moneta, the channel between Maddalena and Caprera, is crossed by a fixed causeway bridge: it is not a through route for a masted yacht, and any passage between the two islands must go round.
Protected From
N · NE · E · W · NW
Exposed To
S · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- No anchoring inside the harbour. Free (daylight only) in the outer roadstead, subject to park rules.
- Maximum stay
- 7 days
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- La Maddalena National Park permit required — all waters around the town are inside the park. Buy online at lamaddalenapark.it; fees scale with LOA and sailing yachts receive a discount. A berth in Cala Gavetta does not exempt you from the park permit once you move.
Restrictions: No anchoring within Cala Gavetta harbour. Keep clear of the ferry fairway and the naval base areas to the east — naval zones are marked and enforced. Park-wide night anchoring restrictions apply outside designated buoys.
Hazards
- !Passo della Moneta bridge: the Maddalena–Caprera channel is crossed by a fixed low causeway — masted yachts cannot pass and must route around the islands
- !Ferry fairway: heavy, frequent Palau ferry traffic immediately east of the harbour entrance; do not anchor or drift in it
- !Southerly swell: a fresh S or SE sends a short sea into the harbour entrance and makes the outer roadstead untenable
- !Berth availability: Cala Gavetta fills completely in July–August; arriving without a booking late in the day often means no space
Skipper's Tips
- →This is the last full re-provision on the route — the outer islands have no shops at all
- →The park authority office is in town if you need to sort a permit or ask about current zone rules face to face
- →Arrive before midday in high season if you want a berth, or call ahead the day before
- →Walk the Strada Panoramica or hire scooters for the 20km loop around Isola Maddalena — the north-coast beaches are worth the afternoon
Facilities
Dozens of restaurants and bars around Piazza Umberto I and along the harbour front, from pizzerias to proper seafood.
Nearest provisions: La Maddalena town centre (0.1nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, September, October
Open year-round; the town stays alive out of season, unlike the anchorages. May–June and September–October give you berths without booking and a far calmer harbour. July–August is packed and noisy well past midnight.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
In Sardinia, the Maestrale can build from calm to Force 8 while you sleep. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — alerting you the moment your anchor starts to drag.
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