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A 30 to 40m motor yacht in Sardinia in 2026 high season runs $130,000 to $220,000 per week plus a 30 percent APA, takes 8 to 10 guests, and is the right size for the Costa Smeralda and Maddalena Archipelago corridor. The bracket runs roughly 15 to 25 percent above the equivalent in Sicily or the Ionian. The premium reflects Porto Cervo berthing costs, Costa Smeralda fuel prices in August, and the simple supply pressure from owners and charter clients who are willing to pay for a Porto Cervo slip.
Why the bracket fits Sardinia specifically
Sardinia is a stops-driven cruising ground, not a passage-making one. The high-value run is roughly 40 nautical miles long: Porto Cervo, La Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi, Budelli (Spiaggia Rosa anchorage, no landing), Santa Maria, Razzoli, and back. The Costa Smeralda is a short, dense itinerary.
The 30 to 40m bracket sits in the sweet spot for the corridor. The boats can take Porto Cervo's deep-water slips, carry the toy load Costa Smeralda guests expect (two tenders, jet skis, seabobs, paddleboards, an inflatable slide is now standard), and still anchor inside the Maddalena park's tighter coves. Above 40m the Maddalena anchorages start to feel constrained, particularly on the Spargi and Budelli side, and the Porto Cervo slip count thins by August. Below 30m the toy garage gets tight.
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 Italian VAT (which applies on the portion of the charter spent in Italian waters).
| LOA bracket | Motor yacht (low to high) | Sailing yacht (low to high) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 33m | $130K to $165K per week | $95K to $130K per week |
| 33 to 36m | $150K to $190K per week | $110K to $150K per week |
| 36 to 40m | $175K to $220K per week | $135K to $175K per week |
Shoulder season (mid-May to mid-June, and after 5 September) drops these by 20 to 30 percent. June and September are the underrated Costa Smeralda windows. The water is warm enough, Porto Cervo is functional but not heaving, and slip costs ease.
For broader rate context, see Mediterranean charter weekly rates and the Costa Smeralda destination page.
What is in the bracket in the Sardinia fleet at this bracket
Cabins. The standard 30 to 40m Sardinia layout is 5 cabins for 10 guests: master, VIP, two doubles, one twin convertible. The Costa Smeralda demand profile skews family-and-friends groups of 8 to 10. A 4-cabin owner-spec layout is the second most common; rare in the charter fleet but appears at the upper end of the bracket on refit yachts.
Crew. 6 to 8. The chef is the single biggest crew variable in Sardinia. Costa Smeralda guests are eating in town two to three nights a week (Quattro Passi at Hotel Cala di Volpe, Phi Beach, Spinnaker), and the onboard chef has to hold up against that pace.
Tenders. Two main tenders is the Sardinia norm: a 7 to 8m Williams or Castoldi-class for shore runs and a smaller jet-drive tender for shallow Maddalena beach landings. Jet skis appear on roughly half the fleet at this size. The Maddalena park rules limit jet ski operation; check the briefing on day one.
At-anchor stabilizers. Strongly recommended. The Costa Smeralda is exposed to the maestrale (the northwesterly), which can build by mid-afternoon. Yachts without zero-speed stabilizers will spend evenings in less-protected anchorages with noticeable roll.
Beach club. Costa Smeralda is a beach club itinerary. Anchorages in the Maddalena are calm enough that the transom platform is in use most days. Yachts without a meaningful beach club have a real on-water experience gap.
Trip shapes that fit the bracket
The Costa Smeralda loop. Embark Porto Cervo, then Porto Rotondo, Maddalena (Cala Corsara, Cala Granara), Caprera (Cala Coticcio), Budelli, Santa Maria, Razzoli, Spargi, return Porto Cervo. Seven nights. The bracket fits everywhere.
The Sardinia-Corsica cross. Embark Porto Cervo, north through the Bonifacio Strait, up the Corsican east coast to Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio, return south to Sardinia via Spargi. Ten nights. The bracket handles the Strait crossing with no issue; the Sardinia-Corsica combination is the highest-value 10-day Western Med route in this size class.
The Olbia south route. Embark Olbia, south to Tavolara, Capo Coda Cavallo, the Costa Rei beaches, Villasimius, and on to Cagliari. Seven to ten nights. Lower port-fee total than the Costa Smeralda loop, slower pace, more anchorage-led.
For destination context, see Charter Sardinia and Charter Costa Smeralda.
What this bracket does not do well in Sardinia
Porto Cervo high-summer slip access. The Marina di Porto Cervo is functionally booked by mid-March for the 9 to 25 August window in this bracket. Charter clients who expect a Porto Cervo berth need their broker to confirm in writing before contracting. The fallback is Porto Rotondo, which is 6nm south and lighter on amenities. The yacht's slip is not the yacht's fault; it is the broker's job to secure it.
Solo-island deep dives. The Maddalena park's southern islands (Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli) are short stops, not destinations. Charter clients who want a multi-day single-anchorage trip should look at Corsica's Lavezzi or the Aeolian Islands, not the Maddalena.
Our pick
For a couples-only Sardinia week, two couples, seven days in late June: a 33m motor yacht with 4 cabins, Costa Smeralda loop. Budget $165K plus APA plus VAT, all-in roughly $260K. Booking lead time: 5 to 7 months.
For a family of 8 to 10, ten days in early August: a 38m motor yacht with 5 cabins, Sardinia-Corsica cross. Budget $210K plus APA plus VAT, all-in roughly $320K. Booking lead time: 8 to 10 months for August.
For a sailing-led trip, six guests, ten days in early September: a 38m sailing yacht out of Olbia, Maddalena-led with a Corsica day. Budget $135K plus APA plus VAT, all-in roughly $200K. Booking lead time: 4 to 6 months.
Build year, refit, condition
The Sardinia 30 to 40m charter fleet runs newer than the Greek or Croatian equivalents because Costa Smeralda demand pulls the strongest builds into the rotation. The realistic value zone is a 2014 to 2022 build with a refit in the last three years. Anything pre-2010 should be checked carefully on the at-anchor stabilizers and the air-conditioning capacity, which struggles on older builds in August.