The fleet
Our small fleet is at your disposal for tours along the coasts of the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco, among the most beautiful in southern Sardinia. Besides being safe and comfortable, the boats Annina II and Antioco il Moro Tre have two very interesting stories to tell.
Once upon a time...
Once upon a time ... in two distant ports of Sardinia, there were two very different sailboats: Annina and Antioco.
Annina was a boat born for hard work, ready to face the gale and set sail before dawn to retrieve nets and creels. A tireless worker, she never stopped, her purpose was simple and honorable: to feed the families in the harbor.
Antioco, on the other hand, was an elegant racing boat. Her noble polished hull shone in the summer sun and her sails swelled like wings. She challenged other boats in exciting races, plying the waves with grace and speed. Antioco's crew consisted of adventure enthusiasts who lived for the thrill of competition and the scent of unfailing victory.
Then came the storm of life, the years passed, and both Annina and Antioco were forgotten by their crews in the docks of the harbor. Their wood slowly stiffened affected by the cold mistral of winter and the magnificent hues faded covered with saltiness.
When a young sailor adopted them, freeing them from the ropes that held them to oblivion, Annina and Antioco became inseparable, proving that the true beauty of sea life lies in diversity and cooperation.
Today, in the port of Calasetta, the two boats have found their balance, working and having fun together, and are a symbol of friendship and respect.
Annina II
A story of sea and work
In the summer of 1968, in the heart of the small village of Carloforte, shipwright Francesco Biggio received a request from fisherman Salvatore Gulmanelli of Bosa for a boat “executed to perfection,” beautiful yet sturdy, capable of challenging the Mediterranean, its mistral and its waves for decades. After a year of hard work, the Biggio shipyard gave birth to a dream: Annina II, a typical 9-meter-long, lateen-sailed Carlofortine bilancella built with rare craftsmanship, white and elegant as few. Each of her wooden planks, each of her nails, told a story of dedication and seafaring tradition. Francesco “Checchin” Biggio, born in 1912, had inherited a passion for shipbuilding from his father Pasquale, working with him in the Spalmadoreddu shipyard from a young age. In over fifty years, he built hundreds of boats. In 1943, an air raid destroyed the shipyard, but Francesco did not give up and continued to pass on his love of the nautical art to new generations, keeping the Biggio family tradition alive in the new Stagnetto shipyard, located at the waterfront behind what is now Piazza Pegli, until 1983. Annina II's strong and durable Sardinian oak keel ensured stability and safety, while the bow wheel and stern starboard, also made of oak, gave the boat a timeless elegance. The ribs, curved and harmonious, were made of ash, oak and rock pine, while the planking of the live-work, dead-work and deck made of maritime pine created a sturdy and charming body, capable of withstanding gales and storms. For the first two decades, Annina II devoted herself to coral fishing in the waters of Alghero. Guided by experienced sailors, she explored seabeds rich with life, immersing herself in a world of color: the bright red of the coral mingled with the deep blue of the sea, and each day of fishing brought new adventures and challenges. Then times changed and Annina II adapted. From then on, she became the boat of choice for lobster fishermen, sailing between the same waters but in search of a new treasure. Her nets were intertwined with the stories of men and sea, creating unbreakable bonds between the fishermen and their beloved Mediterranean. As the years passed and the early 2000s arrived, Annina II was abandoned at the mouth of the Temo River awaiting major renovations. Today, back to new life, she continues to ply the waters that saw her birth, guided by Luca, a young fisherman who has inherited a passion for the sea and a respect for traditions. Together, they venture between the islands of Sant'Antioco and San Pietro, engaging in octopus and lobster fishing. The boat, with its planking is a witness to an era that lives on. Every sway and every sound of the sea tell stories of past adventures, challenges and achievements. Annina II is not just a boat; she is a symbol of resilience and passion, an unbreakable bond between generations of sailors and the sea they love. And so, as the sun sets on the horizon and the sky is tinged with golden colors, Annina II continues her course, cherishing the past and embracing the future, in an eternal dance with the waves and the breeze.
Antioco il Moro Tre
A story of men and victories
In 1993, in the yards by the Ponente Canal in Sant'Antioco, Sardinia, shipwright Dessi' completed a work of naval art: the boat Antioco il Moro Tre. Built with a mix of fine wood-oak, maritime pine, and iroko for the deck-each of its wooden planks was ready to write stories of sea and wind with grace and power. The design of the yard's living work was the result of decades of experience and study, conceived to offer the perfect combination of speed in racing and comfort in cruising. Inspired by the boats that once plied the waters between Sardinia, Tuscany and Liguria in small cabotage, the boat was reliable and sturdy. Her elegant lines were not only a tribute to seafaring tradition, but also an invitation to sail to new adventures, and it was clear from the outset that her ability to cut through the waves made Antioco il Moro Tre a formidable opponent in Latin races. Before Antico il Moro Tre, her ancestor, Antioco il Moro, had already won the hearts of sailing enthusiasts. By the 1980s, the Antiochus gozzo had triumphed in numerous regattas in the Mediterranean, becoming a symbol of pride for the Sant'Antioco seafaring community. The numerous victories made her a legend, inspiring an entire generation of sailors. As the years passed, Antioco il Moro Tre continued the tradition of excellence. Often with the same shipwright who had built her at the helm, she participated in prestigious regattas in Bosa, Alghero, Porto Cervo, Calasetta, Sant'Antioco and Stintino, challenging experienced opponents and proving her worth at every stage. His fame grew and, over the years, he won numerous trophies and awards. Each trip was an opportunity to admire the breathtaking panorama of the Sardinian coast, discover hidden coves, and share the beauty of the sea. Antiochus the Moor Three thus became not only a vessel, but a true ambassador of seafaring culture, capable of uniting past and present. With the end of the competitions, the glorious gozzo found rest at her native port, in the memory of regattas and cruises. To those who watched her from the dock, her shapes and timbers imbued with stories continued to tell of past adventures, but she rarely left her berth to welcome new passengers. Today, Antioco il Moro Tre, taking tourists and dreamers with her on unforgettable explorations, has found a new life in coastal cruising in southern Sardinia. This work of art from the Dessì shipyard represents not only a masterpiece of naval craftsmanship, but also the unbreakable link between tradition and innovation, a symbol of passion for the sea that continues to live on in the hearts of all those lucky enough to board her.
