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A 30 to 40m motor yacht in Corsica in 2026 high season runs $115,000 to $200,000 per week plus a 30 percent APA, takes 8 to 10 guests, and works the southern Corsica corridor between Porto-Vecchio, the Lavezzi Islands, and Bonifacio. Corsica rates sit roughly 8 to 12 percent below the equivalent in Costa Smeralda, even though most charter clients sail the two as one trip. The discount reflects the lower French port-fee load south of Bonifacio and the slightly older average build year in the French fleet versus the Italian charter fleet.
Why the bracket fits Corsica specifically
Corsica is the more rugged half of the Sardinia-Corsica pairing. The cruising spine is the southern third of the island: Bonifacio, the Lavezzi archipelago, the Cerbicale Islands, Porto-Vecchio, Pinarello, and Santa Giulia. Northern Corsica (Calvi, Saint-Florent, Cap Corse, the Scandola Nature Reserve) is a separate trip and a longer passage.
The 30 to 40m bracket fits the southern Corsica anchorages well. Bonifacio's harbor is the constraint everyone underestimates: the calanque inside the cliffs has limited slip inventory at this size, and high-season requests routinely get parked at the outer commercial mole. Bonifacio is a yacht's-eye view from anchor, not a stay-aboard berth. Above 40m the marina inventory thins further. Below 30m the bracket misses the Sardinia cross-over capability.
Weekly rate map for 2026
Ranges below are for high season (mid-July to late August) in 2026, before APA at 30 percent, gratuity at 10 percent, and French VAT (which applies on the portion of the charter spent in French waters under the French commercial exemption rules).
| LOA bracket | Motor yacht (low to high) | Sailing yacht (low to high) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 33m | $115K to $145K per week | $90K to $120K per week |
| 33 to 36m | $135K to $170K per week | $105K to $135K per week |
| 36 to 40m | $160K to $200K per week | $125K to $160K per week |
Shoulder season (mid-May to mid-June, and after 5 September) drops these by 25 to 35 percent. Late September is the best Corsica window of the year: water still warm, anchorages empty, day-boat traffic gone.
For rate context, see Mediterranean charter weekly rates and the Corsica destination page.
What is in the bracket in the Corsica fleet at this bracket
Cabins. Standard layout is 5 cabins for 10 guests, though the Corsica fleet has a higher share of 4-cabin owner-spec yachts than Costa Smeralda because more of the Corsica fleet comes from French and Italian private owners who charter selectively.
Crew. 6 to 8. The Corsica chef pool is shallower than the Costa Smeralda equivalent. Charter clients who care about onboard food should specify a chef placement on contract; do not assume the assigned chef has Bonifacio-quality sourcing relationships out of the gate.
Tenders. One main 7 to 8m tender and a small jet tender. Jet skis are less standard than in Costa Smeralda, partly because the Lavezzi reserve restricts jet ski operation entirely. The Lavezzi rules are not a soft guideline; the French maritime gendarmerie enforces them.
At-anchor stabilizers. Strongly recommended. The Strait of Bonifacio funnels wind, and Lavezzi anchorages are exposed when the libeccio (southwesterly) builds. Without zero-speed stabilizers, evenings at anchor get uncomfortable.
Tender garage. Useful in Corsica more than other Western Med destinations because afternoon swells can build at exposed anchorages, and an interior garage protects the tenders.
Trip shapes that fit the bracket
The Sardinia-Corsica cross (most-booked). Embark Porto Cervo, cross the Strait, Bonifacio anchorage, Lavezzi, Porto-Vecchio, Santa Giulia, return south via Spargi. Ten nights. The bracket fits everywhere.
The southern Corsica loop. Embark Porto-Vecchio, Cerbicale Islands, Bonifacio, Lavezzi, Cala di Roccapina, Campomoro, return Porto-Vecchio. Seven nights. Quieter and longer-anchorage than the Sardinia cross.
The full-island week. Embark Ajaccio (west coast), Scandola Nature Reserve, Calvi, Saint-Florent, Cap Corse, east coast down to Bastia. Seven to ten nights. The bracket fits, but this is a passage-heavy itinerary; the seakeeping demand goes up, and the at-anchor stabilizer kit matters more.
For destination context, see Charter Corsica and Charter Sardinia.
What this bracket does not do well in Corsica
Bonifacio overnight inside the calanque. As noted, the inner calanque slips are constrained at this size in July and August. The charter rate is not the issue; the slip is. A captain who has run Bonifacio for ten seasons will hold a slip relationship that helps; a captain new to the route will not. Ask before contracting.
Scandola reserve close-in cruising. The Scandola Nature Reserve restricts vessel operation inside its perimeter. The 30 to 40m bracket sees the reserve from outside, with tender excursions inside. Charter clients who want a hands-on Scandola visit should plan tender time, not yacht time.
Sailing-led downwind passage. The Corsica west coast in summer is mostly upwind from the south. Sailing-led trips should plan a south-to-north loop rather than west-to-south passage.
What to book
For a couples-only Corsica week, two couples, seven days in late June: a 33m motor yacht with 4 cabins, southern Corsica loop. Budget $145K plus APA plus VAT, all-in roughly $225K. Booking lead time: 4 to 6 months.
For a family of 8 to 10, ten days in early August: a 38m motor yacht with 5 cabins, Sardinia-Corsica cross. Budget $185K plus APA plus VAT, all-in roughly $285K. Booking lead time: 8 to 10 months for August.
For a sailing-led trip, six guests, ten days in late September: a 38m sailing yacht out of Ajaccio, west coast and Scandola-led. Budget $130K plus APA plus VAT, all-in roughly $195K. Booking lead time: 4 to 6 months.
Build year, refit, condition
The Corsica 30 to 40m fleet is on average two to three years older than the Costa Smeralda fleet because more of it comes from French private owners on selective charter. A 2010 to 2020 build with a 2022 or later refit is the realistic value zone. The older end of that range works in Corsica because the seakeeping demand on a Bonifacio-and-Lavezzi itinerary is modest; older builds without modern at-anchor stabilizers can still deliver if the anchorage selection is right.