Planning a family sailing holiday with your kids is easier than you think. Benjamin Sturges explains why his family holiday in Sardinia with boats in the mix was so perfect.
Making memories, family sailing holiday in Sardinia
There are some holidays that stay with you forever, the ones where a place captures your imagination, kids are endlessly entertained, and the whole family finds something to love.
For us, every sailing trip can be that holiday. But this time it was found in a sailing adventure in the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, where my 12 year old son, Arthur, nine year old daughter, Mollie, my partner, Sophie, and I spent two weeks, combining beach days, water sports, and island-hopping aboard a sleek catamaran.
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Olbia, Sardinia
We kicked off our sailing holiday with a few days on land
Flying into Olbia in the north of Sardinia, an easy flight from London, we kicked off our family holiday in Sardinia with a few nights in a simple, but perfectly placed, apartment we’d found online. The terrace looked straight out across the sea to the La Maddalena islands where we could see a myriad of motor and sailing boats already cruising the turquoise waters. It was the kind of view you would never tire of, the sort that makes you exhale away all life’s stresses.
Normally on a charter we might have gone straight to the boat but a few days on land beforehand gave us a nice gentle start to settle into the island, get our bearings, and dip our toes in Sardinia’s famous turquoise waters before embarking on our family sailing holiday.
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Learning to sail, Porto Pollo
Water sports at Porto Pollo are a heavenly addition to a family holiday in Sardinia
Our first exploration of the island took us north to Porto Pollo, widely considered to be Sardinia’s water sports mecca.
With its steady winds, shallow bays, and wide sandy beaches, it’s a playground for everyone from beginners to seasoned kite surfers. Arthur and Mollie both learned to sail at the local sailing club, while windsurfing, wing-foiling, and kite surfing were all on offer too, with instruction if required and the schools cater brilliantly to children and adults alike.
I tried my hand at wing foiling which takes a bit of coordination but, for the determined, getting up on the foil can be achieved with a few day’s instruction even if you don’t stay up on it for long!
For those who prefer to spectate, the backdrop of multi-coloured sails, wings and kites piloted by highly skilled (and unskilled!) operators also make it a great place to relax and enjoy watching the activity from the comfort of a sun lounger.
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The contrasts of Porto Cervo
Rustic and glamorous, Sardinia is an island of contrasts
One of the things we liked most about Sardinia were its contrasts.
On one hand, it’s rustic, rugged, laid back, and affordable. Somewhere you can find reasonable accommodation, or pick up superb pizza for a few euros and eat it on a terrace overlooking the sea.
On the other, the amazing coast line means it’s the playground of the rich and glamorous, particularly around Porto Cervo in the Costa Smeralda. There, and in the surrounding bays, mega-yachts line the harbour and boutiques spill over with designer fashion. We enjoyed dipping into both sides on our family holiday in Sardinia: stopping for world-class gelato in Porto Rotondo one evening, moored up next to a super yacht, then heading into a local trattoria for a more family-style meal.
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Secret coves, family sailing holiday bonuses
Helm took wonderful care of the sailing part of our family holiday in Sardinia
After a few days on land, it was time to begin the sailing adventure we’d all been waiting for. We booked our yacht through Helm, a UK-based independent charter company we’d used before.
They recommended Veryta, a spotless 42-foot Lagoon catamaran with four double cabins: a very comfortable size for our family and skipper. The boat was managed locally by Adara Yachts, a young and energetic company based at Yacht Club Dei Sardi near Portisco, a short 20-minute cab ride from Olbia airport.
From the moment we stepped aboard, the crew’s professionalism shone through: fresh towels, gleaming decks, and a warm welcome from our skipper, Cristian. Calm, endlessly capable, and always flexible with our plans, he helped us shape an itinerary around the weather and our wish list. And online provisioning arranged ahead of time meant supplies were waiting for us on arrival, so within an hour of stepping aboard we were casting off.
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Arthur snorkelling, family sailing holiday, Sardinia
A boat is a dream playground for children of any age
For the children, the boat itself was the biggest playground imaginable. Both of them loved leaping from the bow into the crystalline water and swimming ashore to tiny beaches that often felt like our own private coves, despite the crowds in some popular locations.
In the islands to the north of Sardinia forming La Maddalena National Park, we found bay after bay of astonishing beauty. The waters here are brilliantly turquoise and absolutely crystal clear when you plunge in. There are myriad fish to keep you entertained as you explore, swimming or snorkelling, and they are extremely happy to hover around your boat in large shoals for any leftovers from lunch!
Unsurprisingly, fishing isn’t allowed inside the reserve, but once we sailed across the Strait of Bonifacio into open waters, rods were permitted again. The thrill of a tuna strike on our lure – even if we didn’t land it – had Arthur buzzing for days.
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Bonifacio Harbour, Corsica
Taking a dinghy ashore for dinner is always fun
Evenings normally mean mooring in a sheltered bay, with early evening aperitifs with the sunset before taking the dinghy ashore for dinner. That journey is always an adventure in itself, skimming across the water to your evening meal is always exhilarating!
Sometimes dinner was a simple family pizza, other nights something more elaborate and on other occasions we opted to cook on board. The food scene is one of the many highlights of a family holiday in Sardinia and, while it isn’t cheap, the surprise was how reasonable it could be if you avoid the glitzier spots. And always, without fail, there was gelato for dessert.
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Sailing into Bonifacio, Corsica
Adding Corsica to our family holiday in Sardinia was a thrill
Another of the highlights of our family sailing holiday was the crossing to Corsica, which is barely 7 miles north of Sardinia at its narrowest point.
Sailing into Bonifacio is an unforgettable experience: the medieval citadel perches dramatically on limestone cliffs, and the harbour itself is hidden within a narrow inlet, protected by towering walls of rock. The moment you glide through that passage, it feels like stepping back in time.
Around Bonifacio, we discovered a maze of calanques and marine reserves, perfect for snorkelling, and the children spotted every shape of fish imaginable, along with rays and the occasional jellyfish. Each bay felt like a natural swimming pool: wild, yet safe; adventurous, yet family-friendly.
On our return journey, we stopped at the Lavezzi Islands. Barren and fairly windswept, they don’t look like much from a distance. But they have lovely sandy beaches and, when you slip into the water, you enter another world: the clearest seas of the entire trip, teeming with marine life. It was like swimming in our own giant aquarium, a memory the kids still talk about!
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Our skipper, Christian, aboard Veryta
Practical tips from a family of seasoned sailors
A family sailing holiday does come with its share of logistics, from online food orders to planning moorings, but with the right skipper and operator, it’s all surprisingly seamless.
Cristian and the Adara Yachts team handled everything from dinner reservations to marinas and other local advice.
When to go? We travelled in August, which has the advantage of being generally reliably hot, with the sea at its warmest. However, Ferragosto in mid August is peak Italian holiday season, which means busier beaches and harbours. My advice would be to travel in the last week of August if you can, or even in June or September for the best balance of sunshine and serenity.
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Superyacht neighbours, family sailing holiday, Sardinia
Why you’ll love a family holiday in Sardinia as much as we did
Looking back, what made Sardinia so special for us was its versatility. We had the glamour of the Costa Smeralda and the chance to spot celebrities on their 100-metre gin palaces, coupled with the excitement of exploring two countries in one trip. But we also had simple pleasures: pedalos with slides, beach picnics, fish-spotting swims, and pizza nights that didn’t break the bank.
For Arthur and Mollie, this family holiday in Sardinia was the ultimate summer trip: part waterpark; part adventure camp; part wildlife safari. And for Sophie and me, it was a chance to slow down, savour stunning landscapes, and see the children thrive in a maritime adventure.
Sardinia might be famous for glamour, but as we discovered, it’s also a playground for families, one that offers adventure, relaxation, and memories to last a lifetime.
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Make It Happen
How to get there
Direct UK flights to Olbia from 2 hours
Helm Yacht Charter
7-night skippered yacht charter from £3,000 (2 adults, 2 children) including transfers, fuel and provisions
