Sailing & Boating In Italy

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Sailing & Boating In Italy

Did you know

• Italy has 7,600 Km of coastline
• Italy is surrounded by the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian and Mediterranean seas
• The largest of its lakes, Lake Garda measures 370 sq Km
• Apart from the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Italy also has many smaller islands including Capri, the Lipari Islands, Ischia, Ponza, the Aeolian Islands, Elba and the Tremiti Islands

Safety

It is important to check weather reports before setting out to sail, go boating or practice any other water sports as weather conditions can change very rapidly, particularly in the Ligurian sea, where the storms in autumn can be ferocious. 

• Italian sea forecast from Meteomar
• Italian forecasts from EuroMETEO

Sailing Areas

The most popular Italian waters include: 

• off Elba Island in Tuscany
• the Ponza Islands in Latina
• the Aeolian islands in Sicily
• the Archipelago della Maddalena between Corsica and Sardinia 
• the waters around Sardinia (there are seven main islands and the coastline is largely untouched) 
  • for information on all Sardinian ports: Click here 

Inland waters include:

• the Italian lake district in the north, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore
• Lake Bracciano near Rome (it serves as a Roman reservoir, no motor boats are allowed although sailboats are allowed and peddle boats may be rented)
  • for information on Lake Bracciano: Click here 

Legislation for Yachts and Boats 

The Italian Coast Guard website provides comprehensive information in English on the legislation and obligations and definitions of boats and yachts. 

Note: Craft defined as "boats" do not need to bear a flag.

• Boats: legislation, and documents required on board: Click here
• Yachts: legislation, and documents required on board: Click here
• See the Safe Sea index for more: Click here

Boat permits

A person must be 18 years and older to qualify for a boating license. 

The boating license is obligatory to:

• pilot all boats and yachts, when sailing beyond 6 nautical miles from the coast
• pilot all craft (motor boats and sail yachts) with a motor over 40.8 HP
• drive a jet ski

Jet ski regulations

The following rules apply to driving jet skis:

• the driver must be over 18 years and have a boat licence
• jet skis are allowed to operate during daylight hours only
• driver and passenger must wear a life vest or life belt
• special corridors must be used for launch and return
• the exhaust tube must be kept beneath the water
• the maximum speed limit in corridors is 3 knots

Certificate of Competence

International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (known in the UK as the International Certificate of Competence or ICC) was a European Union resolution (Resolution 40) introduced to impose legislation on powerboat owners and drivers. It proves skills in helmsmanship, navigation and collision avoidance. Italy is a signatory to Resolution 40 and requires an ICC. Those who already have some boating experience, skippering British flagged yachts in Italy, can follow a two day course provided by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The ICC is free for Royal Yachting Association.

• Further information from the RYA: Click here
• Resolution 40: Click here (PDF)

Protected Marine Areas

Italy has 18 protected marine areas of environmental interest. 

In these areas it is forbidden to:

• sail near the coast (minimum of 1,000 to 2,000 metres)
• fish, pick shellfish, sea plants or seafoods
• sail motor boats or anchor
• swim or practice water sports except in limited zones

The marine protected areas include: Cinque Terre, Arcipelago Toscano, Isole Tremiti, Miramare, Arcipelago di La Maddalena, Isole Egadi, Isole di Ustica, Porto Cesareo and Ventatene e Santo Stefano

Yacht Harbours & Marinas around Rome

The marinas of the west coast of Italy are well equipped with most of the big harbours providing a full range of services including re-fuelling facilities and parking. South of Rome there are fewer harbours of note.

• Civitavecchia Riva di Traiano
  At: Via Aurelia, 53000 Civitavecchia
  Tel: 0766 500762
  Fax: 0766 500696
  Website
  e-mail
• Civitavecchia Porto Santa Marinella
  At: Santa Marinella
  Tel: 0766 710484
• Fiumicino Porto Canale
  Tel: 06 6581911
• Fiumicino Porto Di Roma
  Tel: 06 56188236
  Fax: 06 56188506
  Website
• Gaeta Base Nautica Flavio Gioia
  At: Lungomare Giovanni Caboto, 93, 04024 Gaeta
  Tel: 0771 311 013 / 0773 11014
  Fax: 0771 464580
  Website
• Gaeta Porto Nuovo
  At: Formia
  Tel: 0771 21552

Sailing Associations in Lazio

• Circolo Vela Lazio
  At: Lungolago delle Muse
  Tel: 06 44235721
• Sporting Club Sabazia Canoa Vela
  At: Viale Reginaldo Belloni, 46.
  Tel: 06 9968989
• Associazione Velica Bracciano (Lake Bracciano)
  At: Via Circumlacuale 21., Bracciano
  Tel: 06 99803017
  Website
• Baia Vela Club Trevignano
  At: Via Garibaldi 126, Trevignano
  Tel: 06 9997223
• Associazione Velica Anguillara
  Website
  e-mail

Water Sports Associations in Italy

Water skiing:

• Federazione Italiana Sci Nautico (Italian Nautical Ski Federation)
  At: Via Piranesi 44/B, 20137 Milano:
  Website

Diving:

• Federazione Italiana Pesca Sportiva e Attivita Subacquee (Italian Sports Fishing and Underwater Sports Federation)
  At: Viale Tiziano, 70, 00196 Roma (RM)
  Website

Canoe and Kayaking:

• Federazione Italiana Canoe e Kayak (Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation)
  At: Viale Tiziano, 70, 00196 Roma (RM)
  Website
• Il Centro Nautico Turano, Viale del Lago, Colle di Torra, Rieti (RI)
  Tel: 0765 716228

Further Information

• World Port Source
  
  

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