• Day 1 – Arrival in Olbia and a Change of Plans
  

  Our original plan was simple: sail north to the beautiful La Maddalena Archipelago and spend the week exploring its famous turquoise waters. However, nature had a different idea. A strong Mistral was forecast for the first two days, making the northern route uncomfortable and less enjoyable.

  Instead, we decided to head south towards Tavolara and the San Teodoro lagoon, hoping to find calmer conditions and maybe even see the famous flamingos.

  After arriving in Olbia, we bought provisions, completed the safety briefing, and settled into the yacht. In the evening we enjoyed dinner in a local restaurant before getting some rest. Since the Mistral was expected to reach Olbia early the next morning, we planned an early departure at 06:00.

• Day 2 – Tavolara Island
  

  At sunrise we cast off and headed east. While sailing, the crew completed the usual onboard training to become familiar with the yacht, the sails, and the basic maneuvers. Once everyone felt comfortable, we continued towards Tavolara.

  Arriving early at the anchorage gave us the best choice of places to anchor. We dropped the anchor in deeper water close to the beach while carefully avoiding the protected seagrass. With the temperature already around 30°C, everyone jumped straight into the crystal-clear water. Cold drinks made the moment even better.

  Later we went ashore to explore Tavolara. We walked along the hiking paths, enjoyed the scenery, and of course rewarded ourselves with Italian ice cream.

  For the night we moved to the sheltered bay of Spalmatore di Sainedda. The calm evening was perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing under the Sardinian sky. During one of the swims I even met a curious stingray.

• Day 3 – Flamingos of San Teodoro
  

  The Mistral was still blowing, so sailing north was not yet an option. Instead, we sailed to San Teodoro Beach and anchored near the famous lagoon.

  After dinner on board we went ashore for a walk. Our plan worked perfectly—we saw several flamingos flying over the lagoon. Watching them at sunset was one of the highlights of the trip.

  With our southern adventure complete and the forecast improving, we were finally ready to turn north the next morning.

• Day 4 – North to La Maddalena
  

  As often happens after a strong Mistral, the wind almost disappeared. Like many sailors before us, we continued on our "iron sails"—the engine.

  Passing Tavolara once again, we admired its impressive northern cliffs and the huge natural rock arch standing high above the sea.

  Our destination was Porto Palma in the La Maddalena Archipelago. After studying the weather forecast, I chose this bay because it offered good protection even if the wind changed during the night.

  The bay is home to two sailing schools, so the water was full of colorful sails. In the afternoon we walked to Stagnali and finished the day with dinner at Bar Chiosco Garibaldi, where the burgers were surprisingly good.

  Back on board, the evening ended with a lively karaoke session.

• Day 5 – Birthday Between the Islands
  

  One of our crew members celebrated a birthday, so we dedicated the day to relaxing. We anchored between Budelli and Santa Maria and spent hours swimming in the amazingly clear turquoise water.

  In the evening we sailed to La Maddalena town. We bought a birthday cake and celebrated while walking through the cozy streets of the old town. It was a simple but unforgettable birthday.

• Day 6 – Back Towards Olbia
  

  One member of our crew had to catch a flight, so we started heading back towards Olbia.

  On the way we passed Cala Moresca. The bay looked too beautiful to ignore, so we dropped the anchor for a refreshing swim before continuing to the marina.

  After saying goodbye to our crew member—always a sad moment—we sailed back to Cala Moresca and spent another peaceful night at anchor.

• Day 7 – Last Swim and Return to the Marina
  

  >Our final morning was relaxed. We climbed the nearby hill for beautiful views over the coast, enjoyed one last swim, and made the most of our remaining time in Sardinia.

  Later we returned to Olbia. As expected, the fuel dock was crowded with almost the entire charter fleet returning on the same day. Refueling turned into a small adventure of its own, but eventually everything was done and another wonderful sailing week came to an end.

Our sailing week in Sardinia started with plans to explore the beautiful La Maddalena Archipelago. A strong Mistral forced us to change course, so we sailed south instead. We discovered the stunning island of Tavolara, enjoyed crystal-clear water, and spent peaceful nights at anchor. A visit to the San Teodoro lagoon rewarded us with the sight of flamingos flying overhead. Once the weather improved, we finally sailed north to La Maddalena. We explored quiet bays, swam in the famous turquoise waters between Budelli and Santa Maria, and celebrated a birthday with cake in the charming streets of La Maddalena town. On our way back, Cala Moresca tempted us into one last unforgettable swim. The trip ended with a final hike, plenty of smiles, and the usual fuel dock chaos in Olbia. Another week proving that the best sailing adventures often begin when the original plan changes.

To complement this report, we have also created a video capturing some of our favorite impressions from the journey.