Sailing in Italy & Yacht Harbours and Marinas of Tuscany

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Sailing in Italy & Yacht Harbours and Marinas of Tuscany

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
• 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 Tuscany

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.

• Porto Ercole
  At: Marina Cala Galera, 58018 Grosseto (GR)
  Tel: 0564 831 019
• Marina di Punta
  At: Ala S.p.A., 58040 Punta Ala (GR)
  Tel: 0564 922 217
  Website (in Italian)
• Porto San Stefano
  At: Via G. Civinini n. 2, 58019 Porto Santo Stefano (GR)
  Tel: 0564 812 529 / 0564 810 400
• Porto della Maremma
  At: Via Porto Turistico N°16, 58046 Marina di Grosseto (GR)
  Tel: 0564 330 075
  Fax: 0564 330 903
  Website
• Livorno Port and Marina
  At: Capitaneria di Port 1, 57100 Livorno (LI)
  Tel: 0586 202 901
  Website 
• Viareggio Porto
  At: Viale Marconi 130, 55049 Viareggio (LU)
  Tel: 0584 407 550
  Fax: 0584 405 017
  Website 
• Portoferraio
  At: Calata Buccari 10, 57037 Livorno (LI)
  Tel: 0565 914 000

Sailing Associations in Tuscany

• Circolo Nautica Foce Cecina
  At: Località Porticciolo, 57023 Cecina Mare (LI)
  Tel: 0586 620 602
  Website 
• Circolo Velico Artiglio
  At: Porticciolo di Torre.del Lago, Viareggio (LU)
  Tel: 0584 351 211
  Website 
• Circolo Vela Mare ASD Viareggio
  At: UISP V. Leonida Repaci 1, 55049 Viareggio (LU)
  Tel: 0584 407 270
• Aquaria Natura Club
  At: via Lago di Varano 47, 58100 Grosseto (GR)
  Tel: 338 501 0513
  Website 
• Circolo della Vela Marciana Marina
  At: Viale Regina Margherita 52, 57033 Marciana Marina (LI)
  Tel: 0565 990 27
  Website

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
  Website (in Italian)
  e-mail 

Water skiing:

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

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 

Further Information

• World Port Source