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The Strait of Bonifacio: do you see that rock?
Just off the Lavezzi Islands lies Roche du Briquet — the rock that sank the French frigate La Sémillante in 1855, killing all 773 men onboard. Local pilots still point to it quietly. They don’t need to say more. (Photo: Wikipedia)
This narrow passage between Corsica and Sardinia may be just 11 km wide, but the real channel is far tighter.
The strait is laced with reefs and shoals, many of them uncharted. Any wind from east or west funnels between the two islands and accelerates fast — 15 knots in open water can become 25 in the channel. The Mistral can roar through without much warning, and near-gale conditions in summer are common. More than 28 accidents have been recorded since 1972.
Before you transit:
Go early — winds rise fast in the afternoon
Monitor VHF for real-time conditions (Pertusato / Maddalena)
Follow traffic separation schemes
Respect protected areas around Lavezzi
Don’t rely solely on charts — hazards remain uncharted
Sail it right, and you’re rewarded with one of the Mediterranean’s most striking routes — from Bonifacio’s limestone cliffs to the clear waters of Lavezzi and the coves of Sardinia.
