Italian Summer Layover

Looking to leave my dear old Westerley for JULY and AUGUST somewhere on the Italian west coast.

Ideally south of Genoa, North of Rome (probably around the PISA area). Ashore if its easier /afloat if its cheap enough!! Flexible to achieve the aim.;)

Any ideas / info / most appreciated.

You've chosen the most expensive and overcrowded country, boatwise, in the Mediterranean in what is the most expensive area.

Leave it in France.

I was charged €88 for a 9.5m boat in Sept 2008 at Varrazze.
 
Looking to leave my dear old Westerley for JULY and AUGUST somewhere on the Italian west coast.

Ideally south of Genoa, North of Rome (probably around the PISA area). Ashore if its easier /afloat if its cheap enough!! Flexible to achieve the aim.;)

Any ideas / info / most appreciated.

in the same position a couple of years back and found availabilty a problem. ended up with best deal I could get which was actually at the new Rome Marina (Porto di Roma I think its called)
Couldn't even get a mooring for the night in Pisa. By Pisa I mean the place on the Elba river mouth on the coast, the name of which escapes me. Livorno may well be worth looking at. The yacht club there was very helpful with a short term mooring, don't know about 2 months though. You might be lucky for July/August as all the locals will be out to the islands.
 
We found this quite a problem as many boatyards use the spaces vacated by yachts in summer as car parks for the yacht owners.

I wonder when you plan to leave Sete. We left Hyeres at the end of April (2007) and were south of Naples by mid June. We were not hurrying but there are not that many harbours south of Salerno and you travel quickly south.

South of Naples Vibo Valentia is possible - contact Angela at Marina Stella del Sud for information, or try Tropea where there is a modern marina with travel hoist.

www.yachtvigdis.wordpress.com
 
Its a tough call as Italian prices are through the roof.
One prospect is Sardinia. You can go to Marina del Sole in Cagliari and get flights back to UK or there is another place on the East Coast called Arbatax where people have their boats lifted for July and August. You will really have to go to the south of Italy before the costs moderate.
 
Italian marinas

much as i thought - trouble is - we are en-route from Sete to Corfu and distance wise seemed a good plan!

If we get a move on and get South of Naples would that be a bit better in terms of cost?

You will find all marinas in Italy expensive for July and August. Those are the two months when they make most of their annual income. For instance you can leave your boat in Porto Rotonda in Sardinia all winter for virtually nothing, but July and August would cost you more than €200 a night.

On the west coast, Cala Galera is reasonable, also worth trying Anzio, Nettuno and the marinas around Gaeta. Torre del Greco is reasonable and near to Naples (if you're brave enough!) Vibo Valentia in Calabria is also reasonable. You will probably find most of the others a bit of a shock!

pm if you need more details

Good luck
 
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Looking to leave my dear old Westerley for JULY and AUGUST somewhere on the Italian west coast.

Ideally south of Genoa, North of Rome (probably around the PISA area). Ashore if its easier /afloat if its cheap enough!! Flexible to achieve the aim.;)

Any ideas / info / most appreciated.

another option might be to look for contacts to sail your boat on for you
 
The east coast of Sardinia is good value for money, even in high season. This is largely because some of the marinas are rather isolated. however, €100 on a taxi fare is easily saved if you're leaving the boat somewhere for two weeks or more. And isolated places rarely have security problems.

Have a look at my web site to see where the marinas are.
 
I'd look in Sardinia - away from the NE corner - too, but if you particularly want mainland Italy, the bluegrass is probably right with Ostia. When we passed through in (2005/6) we were surprised to discover that at both Ostia and the little marina on the N bank of the Fuimincina River just above it, that 'high/peak' season prices were charged in June and September, presumably because all the local boats are afloat then preparing for/laying up from their summer cruises; when they'd all headed off to peak-season marina prices in Sardinia & The Bay of Naples during July & August, the Rome marinas had space and would offer a discount for long stays; as a result they were only 'very', rather than 'unbelievably' expensive!
 
In August 2008 we stopped on the river at Rome (Fiumara Grande) for a week. The river has countless small boatyards along its length which can provide basic cheap moorings.
We stopped at 'DOD yachts' who charged us about €40/night (from memory) which whilst not being give away, is a lot better than most Italian marinas in August.
Facilities are basic but very friendly and helpfull with bus and train into the city.
 
much as i thought - trouble is - we are en-route from Sete to Corfu and distance wise seemed a good plan!

If we get a move on and get South of Naples would that be a bit better in terms of cost?

Not really, I'm afraid, I got into Acciaroli, but that was at end of season.

I'd keep seriously away from the mainland coast of Italy and head for Sardinia - Stintino, Cannigione or Olbia. Alghero has gone to the dogs and is prohibitively expensive.

There may be room in Bastia - but I doubt it.

Then try the N Coat of Sicilia - Portotosa will be your best bet - Marsala may be an alternative.

If those have no room get back to Costeira Amalfitana and try Cetara - though I hear they're "improving" this, which will be the kiss of death.
 
W Coast Italy

Obviously lots of detailed experience above. We spent summer 2009 on that coast and indeed marinas are scandalously expensive. We didn't find anywhere less than 40EU per night for a 12m monohull, which is okish for a few nights while you sight see but not for warehousing.

You appear to be suggesting this to cut your journey pressures, which is a reasonable basis. But also this is of course a historic and beautiful area to cruise and visiting Genoa, Pisa and Rome from your own yacht is fab - it seems a shame to rush it.

So it might be worth some serious phone/email research including looking at a haulout eg in the Tiber. Those boat yards get very busy in winter but are quieter in summer months, and may offer a good deal provided you're gone by mid-late September.

Otherwise - yes - get South!
 
Looking to leave my dear old Westerley for JULY and AUGUST somewhere on the Italian west coast.

Ideally south of Genoa, North of Rome (probably around the PISA area). Ashore if its easier /afloat if its cheap enough!! Flexible to achieve the aim.;)

Any ideas / info / most appreciated.

We cruised the whole Italian coast, including Elba and Sardinia, from San Remo all the way to the tip of the heel, in 2007 and 2008. The cheapest berthing we found, by a very big margin, was at Castelsardo on the north coats of Sardinia. Even in August we paid only about 12 Euros per night, compared with 80 and 100 that we were asked for (but declined) elsewhere. Despite this, there was plenty of space on the two occasions we visited. They have space ashore for layup and hoist rates, from memory, were also very reasonable.

There is an enquiry form here
 
Castelsardo

We cruised the whole Italian coast, including Elba and Sardinia, from San Remo all the way to the tip of the heel, in 2007 and 2008. The cheapest berthing we found, by a very big margin, was at Castelsardo on the north coats of Sardinia. Even in August we paid only about 12 Euros per night, compared with 80 and 100 that we were asked for (but declined) elsewhere. Despite this, there was plenty of space on the two occasions we visited. They have space ashore for layup and hoist rates, from memory, were also very reasonable.

There is an enquiry form here

I heard that the prices had gone up rather steeply in Castelsardo since the heyday!
 
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