The crossing from Sorrento to Capri under sail is one of the defining passages of the western Mediterranean. With the prevailing Libeccio from the southwest, the beat is comfortable; in calm conditions, the diesel runs for a few hours and the island still rises ahead with the same drama as it does under canvas. Seven sailing yachts in the Italian charter fleet make this passage regularly, and their crews know the tidal timing, the anchorages and the island approaches that the ferry timetable obscures.
Capri works particularly well for a sailing itinerary because the distances are short and the sailing directions predictable. From Sorrento the crossing runs three to five hours; from Positano on the Amalfi coast, two to four hours on a comfortable reach. Neither passage requires an overnight crossing. The island can be used as the midpoint of an Amalfi-to-Naples circuit, with Ischia and Procida closing the loop.
Charter rates for sailing yachts around Capri and the Gulf of Naples run from 85,000 to 245,000 euros per week. The advance provisioning allowance, at around 30 percent of the charter fee, covers provisions, port costs and crew gratuity. Fuel costs are lower on a sailing charter than a motor charter covering the same distances, making a sailing week around Capri proportionally more economical for guests who value the passage as much as the destination.
The island sailing circuit combines Capri with Ischia, Procida and the Amalfi coast in a week. Each destination is within a comfortable day sail of the others; the routes between them provide reliable sailing in the summer months, and the anchorages are distinct enough to prevent the week feeling repetitive.
