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

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. 

Legislation for Yachts and Boats 

The Italian Coast Guard website provides comprehensive information in English (Safe Sea) 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

Harbours & Marinas around Lombardy

• For a list of harbours around Lake Garda: Click here
• For a list of harbours and facilities around Lake Maggiore: Click here

Sailing Associations in Lombardy

• Associazione Dilettantistica Velica Alto Sebino AVAS
  At: Porto Turistico di Lovere, 24065 Lovere (BG)
  Tel: 035 983 509
  Website (in Italian) 
• Associazione Nautico Sebino (ANS)
  At: Loc. Ambrosa, Sulzano Lago d'Iseo (BS)
  Tel: 030 985 732
  Website (in Italian)
• Federazione Italiana Vela, FIV (Italian Sailing Federation)
  At: Via Piranesi 44B, 20137 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 701 22970
  Fax: 02 701 22970
  e-mail
  Website (in Italian)

Water Sports Associations in Italy

Motor Boats:

• Federazione Italiana Motonautica, FIM (Italian Motor Boat Federation)
  At: Via Cavour 11A, 20064 Gorgonzola (MI)
  Tel: 02 951 3049
  Fax: 02 701 63325
  e-mail 
  Website (in Italian)

Water skiing:

• Federazione Italiana Sci Nautico (Italian Nautical Ski Federation)
  At: Via Piranesi 44/B, 20137 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 700 09657
  e-mail 
  Website 

Diving:

• Federazione Italiana Pesca Sportiva e Attivita Subacquee (Italian Sports Fishing and Underwater Sports Federation)
  At: Via G. Frank 11, 27100 Pavia (PV)
  Tel: 0382 539 423
  Website 

Canoe and Kayaking:

• Federazione Italiana Canottaggio, FIC (Italian Canoeing Federation)
  At: Via Piranesi 44B, 20137 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 714 842
  Fax: 701 00067
  e-mail 
  Website (in Italian)
• Federazione Italiana Canoe e Kayak, FICK (Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation)
  At: ia Beatrice d'Este 30, 20137 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 583 21546
  Website 
• Il Centro Nautico Turano, Viale del Lago, Colle di Torra, Rieti (RI)
  Tel: 0765 716228
  Website

Further Information

• World Port Source
• For a list of marinas and yacht clubs offering sailing courses see The AngloFILE Marinas & Yacht Clubs
  
  

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