When sailors sit together in the cockpit or in the harbour pub, they like to spin yarns. It is not uncommon for people to talk about all the things they have "conquered" under sail. As a rule, the people involved mainly mention distant, exotic places that they have travelled to - and where hardly anyone else has been apart from them. That's obvious.
So far, so beautiful. But even here, in European waters, there are destinations that lie off the beaten track and are therefore forgotten by many skippers. Some of them are obscure little islands, usually without a charter base nearby or only accessible in good weather. They don't make it easy. Nevertheless, it is well worth putting them on your itinerary. The Îles Chausey north of Saint-Malo, for example, fall into this category. If you make the effort to wait for the ideal weather window and the right tide to visit them, you will love them forever.
We have already presented dream destinations like this in YACHT 4/2015. The response back then was unanimous: more of this! Now the time has come. The editorial team and skipper friends have compiled a list of the unknown places that have been on their itinerary since then. Kastellorizo, Rathlin or Ventotene, for example. Never heard of them? Then it's high time to broaden your horizons. Next time you're in the harbour pub, people will listen to your experiences with rapt attention. That's a promise!
Ventotene - Italy's pearl
Many crews leave this tiny spot in the Mediterranean, which is part of the Pontine Islands, behind. This is because they usually start from Naples and then sail around Ischia, Capri and on to the Amalfi Coast. The old volcanic island of Ventotene is a little gem. It has that special charm of seclusion. There are no Capri-style crowds here. On the contrary, it is pleasantly quiet and serene.
As you approach the island harbour in the north-east, the pastel-coloured houses of the old Roman complex glow in the sun. They are embedded in soft tufa stone, into which the locals have carved caves and even small houses. Even the mooring bollards were moulded from tufa. The historic harbour is a narrow tube that nestles into the rocks and is simply beautiful. However, only experienced crews with smaller boats should moor there. Everyone else should go to the modern northern harbour. It has floating jetties and a pier where the island ferry also docks.
Ventotene is still a lively, functioning island with around 700 inhabitants, and the fishing grounds around the strict marine reserve are rich. There are still valuable Posidonia meadows under water as well as a rich flora and fauna.
The island has that certain "lost island touch". You can spend days trying out the cosy restaurants and bars, relaxing on the beaches, swimming or even hiking around the plateau-like, very green island.
A magical place given the often hot and humid summer weather in the region.
Position
40° 47' 58'' N, 013° 25'52'' E
Size
approx. 1.5 x 0.5 nautical miles
Inhabitants
approx. 700
Harbours & bays
In the new harbour, floating jetties with water and electricity with mooring lines and berths at the entrance to the pier. The old Roman harbour has berths immediately to starboard after entering the harbour, with mooring lines. Rather something for yachts under 40 feet, it is very narrow. Beware of stones on the pier, better to moor bow first. There are numerous good anchorages with beautiful views of the houses along the old harbour until just before the entrance to Porto Nuovo. Sheltered in light winds from west to north-west. www.commune.ventotene.it
Observe the protected area around the island with some no-anchoring zones. www.riservaventotene.it
Tips
The former prison island of Santo Stefano can be visited. The nature reserve has a visitor centre. Around the old harbour there are many quaint, good restaurants and bars.
