About Us

Vertical Sailing Tour was born in 2013 from a powerful idea:

to blend the world of sailing with the world of mountain adventure.

We offer a unique experience that combines the freedom of the sea with the intensity of rock climbing, trekking, canyoning, and more.

It all started during a sailing trip around Corsica with a group of friends. None of us had much sailing experience, but we had a deep passion for the mountains.

 

So we set out to explore the coast, anchoring the boat in wild coves and heading inland to climb, hike, and discover the terrain. That was, unknowingly, the first Vertical Sailing Tour — and it was the beginning of everything.

 

Over time, I got my sailing license and started gaining real experience at sea. We scouted the Mediterranean for the perfect locations where this sail & climb concept could truly come to life — where cliffs rise straight from the sea, and adventure is just a swim or dinghy ride away.

The philosophy

What makes Vertical Sailing Tour special is not just the activities, but the philosophy behind them.

Whether climbing a wall or steering a sailboat through a storm, both require the same mindset: calm focus, adaptability, technical skills, and a sense of freedom. It’s about using only what’s necessary, trusting your instincts, working through challenges, and finding joy in the effort.

I love the technical side of both mountain and sea — knots, ropes, carabiners, maneuvers. I love the sense of movement and purpose. But above all, I love how these experiences connect us with nature, strip away the unnecessary, and remind us what it means to be fully alive: fishing for food, rationing water, diving deep to free an anchor, climbing fast before a thunderstorm, recovering a drifting tender by swimming through waves — because no one else will do it if not you.

Turning this passion into a business meant facing many challenges: not only at sea and in the mountains, but also in logistics, group management, communication, website building, and the bureaucratic side of running a company. Over time, Vertical Sailing Tour has grown, and today I work with a team of professionals — skippers and certified mountain guides — who share the same vision and values, and who can bring the spirit of VST on board even in my absence.

We now operate customized trips across the Mediterranean — Sardinia, Corsica, Kalymnos, Croatia, Spain — offering a mix of sailing, climbing, and raw adventure. Every tour is designed to be simple, wild, and human. This is not just a holiday: it’s a return to something real.

And when things don’t go according to plan? Even better — it’s just another mountain to climb.

 Our team 

Lorenzo Pernigotti

Founder & Skipper

Theo Chambert

Alpine Guide

Mark Pulejo

Alpine Guide

Alberto Trombetta

Alpine Guide

Alberto Broggi

Technical Director & Skipper

Luigi Berlendis

Skipper

World-Leading Sailing & Climbing Company

Why choose us

✔ Pioneers since 2013
✔ 500+ guests from 30+ nationalities onboard
✔ 10,500 nautical miles sailed
✔ 490,000 vertical meters climbed
✔ 19,000+ pitches conquered
✔ 5-star reviews on Google

Licensed Travel Agency & Easy Booking

Why choose us

✔ Certified travel agency – Book with confidence and security.
✔ Expert travel guidance – Our experienced travel agents help craft your perfect journey.
✔ Seamless booking – Our user-friendly platform makes planning your adventure effortless.

Licensed Travel Agency & Easy Booking

Why choose us

✔ Certified travel agency – Book with confidence and security.
✔ Expert travel guidance – Our experienced travel agents help craft your perfect journey.
✔ Seamless booking – Our user-friendly platform makes planning your adventure effortless.

Travel Safe with Us

Why choose us

✔ Certified Professionals – Skilled skippers and experienced crew ensure your safety.
✔ Stress-Free Adventure – We handle the details so you can fully relax and enjoy.
✔ Safety First – Well-maintained equipment and expert guidance at all times.

Plan your Private Tour with VST

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Adriano Trombetta

Co-Founder & Guide

We miss you Adri!

Co-founder and soul of VST, Adriano was a highly skilled alpine guide and visionary climber. His expertise and passion for exploration helped lay the foundation of VST.
He tragically passed away in 2017 with Antonio Lovato during a mountain expedition, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire every adventure at VST.

Certifications:

Theo Chambert

Skipper

Language:
English, German,French, Italian, Spanish

By chance Theo ended up on board and soon he joined the VST family. Passionate climber he is devoting his life to seek the spirit of the VST: having acquired the skipper license and training to become a climbing instructor.

His soul however is still in his home land, the countryside of Provence, making him a spirit deeply connected with nature.

Patrick Raspo

Mountain Guide

Language: English

Once addicted sport climber, now he finds his soul in travels, possibly with a ratio climbing-party of 30%-70%. Back at home he is not only known to be a great mountain guide, but also by being the head of the mountain rescue on the Italian side of the Mont Blane and Matterhorn.

Certifications:

Lorenzo Pernigotti

Founder, Skipper & Mountain Guide

Language:
English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian

A life dedicated to enjoying the mountains by doing all the possible mountain sports. In 2013, his vision opened up, discovering a new, immense and beautiful playground on the shores of the Med.

Ski instructor in the winter, he became a certified Mountain Guide in 2024, and he continues working full time for the VST while skippering the tours in the summer.

Don’t mess with him with the food, the parties, and all the beautiful things… As in life, there isn’t only climbing and sailing!

Certifications:

Luigi Berlendis

Skipper

Language:
English, German,French, Italian, Spanish

From Brescia, when he is not skippering for the VST he is sailing across the oceans and exploring the most remote archipelagos on heart, but always with that stylish look and his sly smile.

Alberto Trombetta

Mountain Guide since 2008

Language:
English, German,French, Italian, Spanish

Alberto is the chief guide at the VST, mountain guide since 2008. Since the beginning he has been on board with the VST and his kind personality, combined with his great expertise, are the things that make our guests love him.

 

From the point of Cerro Torre to the wall of El Capitan, from the desert of Saudi Arabia to the picks of Mt. Blanc, he has climbed in more than 25 countries and summited some of the most famous peaks in the world.

Certifications:

Mark Puleio

Mountain Guide since 2008

Language: English

From Vermont (USA), he probably discovered his real Sicilian blood only when he started to sail around. the Mediterranean sea with the VST. his guiding curriculum is impressive, the mountain guide badge hides a moder hippie with tons of love ready to be shared with everything and everyone around him.

Certifications: