Sardinia – the Med’s top sunspot for Supermodels & luxury charter yachts

Sardinia is definitely the place to see and be seen this summer, whether you’re a superstar celebrity or a top-flight superyacht.  

This decidedly upmarket holiday destination, second-largest island in the Mediterranean, has hardly been off the front pages of the tabloids all summer!

Several celebs at the centre of the hottest scandals and sensational news stories in recent weeks all seem to have just returned from, or be holidaying in sunny Sardinia. And of course, as celebs tend to move in shoals, where one goes the rest follow, trailing along an entire media circus in their wake.

Sardinia’s attractions include ruggedly beautiful mountain scenery, the fabulous beaches of the Costa Smerelda, fashionable clubs, exclusive restaurants, chic boutiques, quaint medieval towns and the obligatory ‘picturesque’ fishing villages, without which no self-respecting holiday island could possibly make do.

So who’s been seen this month enjoying this haven of superyachts and superstars?  

Let’s start at the top with Royalty – and who better than the playboy Prince himself, ‘Airmiles Andy’? Prince Andrew was spotted on board a superyacht off the Sardinian coast along with Spanish supermodel Alexandra Escat, which set rumours flying in the UK press, and provided a little silly season employment for publicity expert Max Clifford.

Meanwhile, high street royalty in the form of retail supremo Sir Philip Green hosted a clutch of celebs on board his 200-foot, £20million superyacht Lionheart in the Marina at Porto Cervo (PC) including Leonardo di Caprio and long-time girlfriend, Bar Refaeli. They were joined by Naomi Campbell (recuperating after her the ‘blood diamonds’ courtroom ordeal) and her Russian billionaire boyfriend Vladimir Doronin, at the Billionaires night club in PC.

The party were guests of the club’s owner (and Campbell’s ex), Italian tycoon and former Renault Formula 1 team boss Salvio Briatore, whose own 200-foot superyacht, Force Blue, has been unavailable for charter following regulatory dispute with the Italian authorities. Briatore and his wife, model Elisabetta Gregoraci, are reduced to ‘making do’ with living aboard their 37-foot tender, Force Blue One, where they recently had lunch with Bernie Ecclestone’s daughter Tamara and her boyfriend.    

And back on dry land, other Sardinia superstars this month have included Janet Jackson, and singer and talent show judge Anastacia who relaxed in a gold bikini on the beach at the Hotel Pitrizza in Porto Cervo. Earlier this summer, Peter Crouch and fiancée Abbey Clancy enjoyed a romantic holiday in Sardinia – but ended up on the front pages shortly afterwards after Crouch’s alleged ‘dangerous liaison’ in Madrid.

If you fancy following in the footsteps of the famous to stunning Sardinia, there are a number of superb charter yachts currently sailing the azure waters around the Sardinian shoreline.

Chris Yates, MD of UK-based luxury yacht charter specialists Dream Marine says: ‘Sardinia is the hottest destination in the Med this year, bar none. Several of our favourite Dream Marine Elite yachts are chartering there, including Amanzi, Disco Inferno III, Blue Passion, Courosivo, Acheron and Tornado 7 – all around the 60-foot mark, which is an ideal size for a party of six to eight people.  

We can offer some wonderful deals in September, while the weather is still fantastic and the crowds are starting to thin out a little. You can get to see some of the island traditions too as it’s the festival season in the mountains – and the beaches are almost empty.

It’s my favourite time to go sailing in Sardinia -  when the papparazzi have all gone home!”