From the Côte d’Azur to Tuscany Sailing Cruise

Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town – a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-colored houses and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometer-(3 miles)long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle-Époque and Art Deco styles.

Few and far between are the occasions, on which one can experience two fascinating windjammers together and directly compare their maneuvers. When both yachts glide along side by side under full sail, they offer a truly breathtaking spectacle.

In the 19th century, artists discovered this picturesque fishing village on the Côte d'Azur and made it their source of inspiration. They were followed by the aristocracy and moneyed classes, and around fifty years ago St. Tropez gained its international reputation as a refuge for the rich and famous. You can still find them today, in elegant Port Grimaud with its luxurious yachts from all over the world; in the upmarket bars and restaurants that line the promenade; on the elegant boulevards; in high class shops; or at the sophisticated beach clubs. Even with all these distinguished guests, St. Tropez has still managed to preserve its picturesque and sleepy atmosphere.

Few and far between are the occasions, on which one can experience two fascinating windjammers together and directly compare their maneuvers. When both yachts glide along side by side under full sail, they offer a truly breathtaking spectacle.

Even though Portovenere is not officially one of the colorful villages of the Cinque Terre, it is, like its pretty Ligurian sisters, part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The name of the pretty little harbor town is derived from the goddess of love Venus, who is said to have risen from the sea here. The mighty Castello Doria towers above the medieval seaside resort with its colorfully painted houses. With its fortress wall, in which the church of San Pietro is embedded, it bears witness to the fact that the harbor once served as a military outpost for La Spezia, some twelve kilometers away.

Some decisions are really not easy in Viareggio. On the one hand, the traditional seaside resort on the Liguarian Sea offers all the pleasures of an Italian vacation with small ice cream parlors, long sandy beaches and a promenade for strolling. On the other hand, there is charming Lucca, which is only about half an hour away. In Giacomo Puccinis birthplace, you can stroll along the city walls in the shade of old plane trees. And in the almost car-free center, an opulent panorama of Roman alleys, churches and domes, wide squares and proud palaces opens up.

He could, Napoléon Bonaparte once said, recognize his home island by the smell with his eyes closed. And indeed – as soon as the windjammer approaches Corsica, the sea breeze mixes with the spicy scent of the macchia, which covers the island like a green carpet. Sun, wind and sea have shaped the diverse island, where high peaks alternate with fertile valleys, rugged cliffs with gentle beaches. The port city of Bastia radiates a lot of Mediterranean flair. Its lively center is the square Saint-Nicolas, which – like the pretty old town at the harbor – can be easily reached on foot.

Although Elba is only a small Tuscan island, you will be surprised by how diverse it is. Imposing cliffs, white sandy beaches, avenues of cypresses, vineyards and olive groves, traditional villages and elegant beach resorts make the place of Napoleon's exile somewhere you would in fact like to be banished for longer. The beautiful old town of Portoferraio with its narrow streets of steps and medieval fortress is set high up on a rocky headland. In the enchanting town of Porto Azzurro, the palm-lined promenades, charming piazzas and small beach are at the center of the town's activities.

All roads lead to Rome. The stunningly beautiful city on the Tiber is around 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the port of Civitavecchia. The highlights of the "Eternal City" are not limited to the seven hills of antiquity. The historic center and the Vatican State in Rome are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the city of Vespas and "la dolce vita", painters, sculptors and architects have left behind innumerable works of art over three millennia. Ancient sites, Renaissance palaces, Baroque squares and fountains create a splendid backdrop for enjoying life in between the daily routine and eternity.

Itineraries are subject to change.