Stintino — Rada di Stintino
Golfo dell'Asinara roadstead · Stintino Bay
40°56.4'N 08°13.5'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m covers typical swing in 4–8m with 4:1 scope. Maestrale funnels around Capo Falcone and can spike to F7+ with short warning — if anchored here and Maestrale builds, either move inside the marina or depart to the S. La Pelosa day anchor needs 60m radius minimum; do not stay overnight.
About This Anchorage
Stintino is a small fishing village on the NW tip of Sardinia, gateway to the Asinara National Park. The Spiaggia della Pelosa — consistently rated among Italy's top beaches — lies 2km north at Capo Falcone. The main anchorage in the Rada di Stintino provides reasonable shelter from E/NE but is fully exposed to the dominant Maestrale from NW. The marina offers limited visitor berths (call ahead Ch 16). The area falls within the Asinara AMP buffer zone — no specific anchoring permit required for the main roadstead, but the Asinara island itself (5nm N) has strict Zone A/B restrictions with no landing without park authorization. Best used as a staging post en route to or from the Bonifacio Strait.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE
Exposed To
W · NW · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free in main anchorage. La Pelosa beach entry fee in summer (~€3.50/person).
- Maximum stay
- 5 days
- Permit required
- No
- Permit details
- No permit required for the Stintino main anchorage. Asinara National Park (5nm north) requires specific authorization for landing or entry into restricted zones — contact the park authority (parcoasinara.org) for boat visits.
Restrictions: No anchoring within Asinara AMP Zone A/B without authorization. La Pelosa day anchoring only — do not overnight. Stay outside the 100m beach exclusion at La Pelosa (enforced in summer).
Hazards
- !Maestrale (NW): Strongest and most frequent wind hazard; builds rapidly around Capo Falcone; can reach F7–9 in severe episodes; the anchorage becomes untenable in Maestrale above F5
- !Capo Falcone rocks and shoals: Give the cape a minimum 0.5nm offing when rounding from N; numerous unmarked rocks extend to the SW
- !La Pelosa beach: Extremely crowded summer anchorage with tourist boats, jet skis and ferries; difficult to maintain safe swing room in peak July–August
- !Shoaling south of La Pelosa tower: Bottom rises sharply to 1.5m in patches — check approach chart carefully
Skipper's Tips
- →Stintino fish market (early morning) provides excellent fresh seafood; arrive by 07:00 for best selection
- →For Asinara day trips, local operators in Stintino run authorized excursions to the national park — ideal alternative to sailing there independently given Zone A restrictions
- →In settled summer conditions, the 10nm passage north past Capo Falcone to visit the Asinara anchorages (Cala Reale, Cala d'Oliva) is spectacular but requires the park visitor permit
- →Monitor Ch 16 and weather forecast before settling for the night — the Maestrale often develops overnight from an initially calm evening
Facilities
Several restaurants and bars in Stintino village. Fresh lobster (aragosta) is the local specialty.
Nearest provisions: Stintino village (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, September, October
May and June offer calm conditions before the summer Maestrale season. July–August: Maestrale regular, F4–6 most afternoons, gustier near the cape. September–October: Libeccio risk increases; check forecasts carefully. Winter anchoring not recommended — Maestrale and Tramontana create extremely rough conditions.
Recommended Anchor Types
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
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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