Strait of Bonifacio

Between the southern tip of Corsica and the northern coast of Sardinia, the Strait of Bonifacio measures 11.9 km (7.4 mi) between the coast of Capo Pertusato and Punta Falcone: this is the shortest distance between the starting and finishing stretches of coastline, as measured by us along the shoreline. In the water, you cover more. Those who assist the crossings speak of 7-8 miles swum, depending on the currents.

Where you start, where you arrive

Usually, you start from Corsica because the current helps: the boats leave Santa Teresa Gallura early in the morning, reach the Corsican coast, and the crossing begins from there. The most commonly used starting point is Punta Sperone, east of Bonifacio; others start from Capo Pertusato. In Sardinia, you arrive at the beach of Rena Bianca, below Santa Teresa, at Porto Quadro, or at Punta Falcone. When the easterly current pushes toward the west, you end up further away, at Capo Testa. Many also do the opposite route, from Sardinia to Corsica, which has its own page and ranking.

From the lighthouse on the island of Lavezzi, the crossing is shorter, just over 5 miles. An island is land and counts as a starting point, but the route is different: times from Lavezzi are not compared with those from Punta Sperone.

Currents and wind

The Strait is famous among sailors for its weather, currents, and shallows. In the crossing logs, all the winds reappear: Grecale (northeasterly), Levante (easterly), Maestrale (northwesterly), Ponente (westerly), and Libeccio (southwesterly). A Maestrale current can accompany a swimmer for the last four miles against them, while a Libeccio current can stop another halfway. The weather is unpredictable, and those who assist the crossings advise staying in the area for at least five days to find the right one.

Ships and permits

The Strait is a shipping lane. Since 1993, oil tankers and ships carrying dangerous goods have been prohibited from passing through it; since 1998, there has been a recommended two-way route, with two precautionary zones at the ends, and commercial ships over 300 tons must announce themselves. The swimmer crosses that route.

Permits are issued by the port authorities of Bonifacio and Santa Teresa Gallura. In August, the La Maddalena Port Authority does not grant them: there is too much traffic from cruise ships, cargo ships, fishing boats, and pleasure craft. The season runs from May to October, with some crossings as early as March and up to November. In summer, the water is around 23-24 °C (73-75 °F).

How to swim

On board the inflatable boat are the captain and his assistants, a doctor with first-aid equipment, and divers for filming. Each boat follows a maximum of four swimmers. You must book at least fifteen days in advance, with a competitive medical certificate and an identity document. The maximum time is five hours, an average of 1.6 miles per hour.

Who records it

The crossings are assisted by Bocche Bonifacio Swimming, of the Diving Mediterraneo in Santa Teresa Gallura, founded in 1997 from an idea by Tommaso Muntoni and Umberto Pelizzari. For every swimmer, they issue a certificate with the starting and finishing points, distance, time, sea conditions, and an indication of whether a wetsuit was used or not. Crossings with and without a wetsuit are in the same list, each with its own indication: here we separate them in the rankings.