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At least one month (30 days) before the course begins, you must:
For your luggage, use soft bags that take up little space when folded (no hard-shell suitcases). Remember that cigarettes and tobacco products are not sold at the base.
For all courses:
Specifically for courses on dinghies:
Specifically for courses on cabin cruisers:
* items that can be purchased at the Caprera store
From the mainland > Olbia
By ship (arrival in Olbia or Golfo Aranci)
By plane (arrival in Olbia)
Olbia > Palau
Palau is 50 km from Olbia. Here are the transportation options (travel time: about 1 hour):
Palau > La Maddalena
From Palau to La Maddalena, take the scheduled ferry (about 15 minutes) – purchase your ticket at the ticket office before boarding.
La Maddalena > Caprera Base
Every Saturday at 1:45 p.m. in La Maddalena, on the Via Amendola waterfront, the Apollo II motorboat—marked with a CVC sign—will depart to take students to Caprera (please arrive 10–15 minutes early). Before May 1 and after October 31, the motorboat will be replaced by a bus, with the same departure time and meeting point.
Phone number to use only on the Saturday of arrival in case of emergency: 347/6749599.
If you arrive late, you can call a taxi from La Maddalena (see contact information under “Useful Phone Numbers”—average price 30–40 euros or more).
The Caprera Sailing Center does not organize group trips, but it does provide a Facebook page dedicated to arrivals and departuresso that participants can better plan their trips.
It is not recommended to drive to the Base
Access is permitted only as far as the gate at the Precrociera pier; from there, wait for the other students to arrive on the ferry from La Maddalena. You will not have the opportunity to use it at any time during the course. If you are arriving by car, we recommend leaving it in Palau.
The base has three settlements on the island's southern coast:
There is a CVC infirmary in Punta Coda.
Upon disembarking from the ferry, students from each course are gathered and assigned their rooms in the dormitories. Set up your bed and dress appropriately for the swimming test and swim cap (introductory sailing courses) or for activities on the boats. You will then gather in the classroom to receive instructions from the Head Instructor (Shift Leader) and the base staff.
The Punta Coda Introductory Camp features individual lockers. You will be given a key upon payment of a 50-euro deposit. At the other facilities, there are communal safes. The School is not liable for the theft of items left unattended. Avoid bringing valuables or large amounts of cash.
Schedules
Life on Caprera follows these schedules:
6:30 a.m. wake-up call
7:00 a.m. breakfast
7:45 a.m. class
9:00 a.m. boarding
12:30 p.m. disembarkation
1:00 p.m. lunch
1:45 p.m. class
2:30 p.m. boarding
6:30 p.m. disembarkation
8:00 p.m. dinner
9:00 p.m. discussion of the day
10:30 p.m. quiet time
It is recommended that you pay special attention to getting enough sleep at night: very intense physical activity should not cause you to lose sleep.
In addition to personal phone numbers, to contact students from May through October, you can call the La Maddalena Office (tel. 0789/738529). Cell phones are not allowed on the boat or during classes on shore. Their use is permitted only during free time.
All students participate in communal activities (serving meals, cleaning the dining hall, dormitories, and restrooms, and helping out in the sail-making workshop and on the small boats). This will help them develop the mindset required for communal life on a boat, where the entire crew contributes to onboard activities. For one day during the weekly courses, or two days during the biweekly courses, each student is assigned to the “comandata.”
The CVC store is located in Punta Coda and at Precrociera and is open every day (including Sundays). Hours: Punta Coda 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (Saturdays 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.). Precrociera: 6:45–8:00 p.m. (Saturdays 9:30–11:00 a.m.). At the store, you can pay with cash, debit cards, or credit cards.
At the store, you can find:
If there are any special needs (medications, etc.), the store clerk can purchase what is needed on a case-by-case basis in La Maddalena.
From week 23 through week 31, the Punta Coda store will not sell alcoholic beverages.
Coca-Cola, beer, wine, and other beverages can be purchased from the store staff. Water is provided free of charge at the tables and on the boat.
For personal use, you can always refill your water bottles at the designated dispensers located at the bases.
The CVC is organized to accommodate the dietary needs of people with celiac disease or severe food allergies (which must be reported to the Secretariat before the start of the course).
In the case of dietary preferences, however, a specific meal cannot be provided; instead, participants may choose from among the available food options those that are compatible with their intolerance, provided that this is promptly reported and documented at the time of registration.
We recommend that you bring your ASL health card. There is a first-aid station on Caprera.
If you need to be transferred to a hospital in La Maddalena or Olbia, you will be responsible for paying for transportation back to the Base.
The last morning of your stay in Caprera is set aside for tidying up the boats, sails, and dorms, as well as taking care of the final administrative formalities, including filling out the QUESTIONNAIRE, where you can share your feedback on the school’s activities and offer suggestions for improvement: we really value your opinion! After filling out the questionnaire, you’ll need to pack your bags.
Students are taken back to La Maddalena around 12:00 p.m. by motorboat (before May 1 and after October 31, the motorboat will be replaced by a bus). From La Maddalena, you can take a ferry to Palau and from Palau, the local bus to Olbia. We recommend booking a flight or ferry departing from Olbia at 6:00 p.m. or later.
ARST and TURMOTRAVEL Bus Schedules: Olbia–Palau–Olbia
Milan Office 02/86452191
La Maddalena Office 0789/738529
La Maddalena Hospital 0789/737732
Aisoni Taxi (Olbia/Palau) (including minivans) 348/7988280
Acciaro Taxi (including 6-passenger minivans) 340/1554000
Roberto Musa Taxi (including minivans) 347/3706074
Giuseppe Meo Taxi 340/3616466 (taxis and minivans)
Taxis in Palau: Roberto 347/7520270 – 4-passenger car 80.00, 8-passenger minivan 100.00 (to be confirmed)
Phone number to call only on the Saturday of arrival in case of emergency: 347/6749599