Transporting yacht overland from northern Italy to a channel port

[chrischand]

Has anybody any experience of having their boat transported overland from Northern Italy to a port on the English Channel?
My boat is currently in Corfu. I sailed her there from the UK about 12 years ago and now want her back on the south coast. Sailing her back is obviously one option but I am keen to look at an alternative. I am thinking of sailing her to a port in Northern Italy and putting her on a lorry to take her north perhaps to Holland. I am looking for advice as to the best port to have the boat picked up from in Italy and the best place to take her to on the Channel coast also any recommendations for a suitable haulier.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Has anybody any experience of having their boat transported overland from Northern Italy to a port on the English Channel?
My boat is currently in Corfu. I sailed her there from the UK about 12 years ago and now want her back on the south coast. Sailing her back is obviously one option but I am keen to look at an alternative. I am thinking of sailing her to a port in Northern Italy and putting her on a lorry to take her north perhaps to Holland. I am looking for advice as to the best port to have the boat picked up from in Italy and the best place to take her to on the Channel coast also any recommendations for a suitable haulier.

Delivering yachts through Italy by road is very difficult/expensive due to their strict regulations (permissions required, police escorts etc). You would be much better off having her delivered by sea (either the whole way) or at least to S France.

The combination of a yacht delivery by sea from Corfu to somewhere like Frejus (850 Miles approx) and then road transport to somewhere like Calais would be much cheaper and easier than the Italian route.

Pete

 

[Metabarca]

I would think the best bet for northern Italy would be Monfalcone; there are plenty of yards with good lifts that can help. Hannibal, Ocean, Nautec, to mention just three, all of which accustomed to working with non-Italian owners. If Italy is indeed problematic as Halcyon mentions, then you might consider next-door Koper (or nearby Izola) in Slovenia, or Rijeka in Croatia, and taking the route through Austria and Germany.

 

[davidej]

I think getting it to the South of France by water is the answer, Road transport from there is a fraction of that from Italy.

 

[MapisM]

I think getting it to the South of France by water is the answer, Road transport from there is a fraction of that from Italy.

SoF not exactly round the corner from Corfù, though. Besides, we are missing the size.
It's true that road transport is expensive in IT for large stuff, but up to a somewhat decent size, it's the same as anywhere else, if not cheaper.
To the point that I wouldn't even bother sailing further N: just cross from Corfù to Apulia, and bring her by road wherever desired.
Not now, though: time being, no pleasure boat is allowed to enter any Italian harbour.

 

[LouisBrowne]

It is very expensive indeed to transport abnormal loads in Italy. The regulations are stringent and they are applied rigorously. I used to tow a Mumm 30 to events in Italy and it was a nightmare every time both in mainland Italy and Sardinia. If cost is an issue it would be far better to sail the boat to the South of France as has been suggested.

 

[MapisM]

I'm struggling with these sweeping generalizations. How can you say that without knowing the boat size the OP is talking about?
Regardless, even if she would exceed abnormal load limits, the suggestion of Metabarca is better than going to SoF anyway, since the boat is in Corfù.

 

[dom]

Friends of mine have quite happily over-landed their boats through Italy using professional haulage companies. Perhaps it's a question of local knowledge?

Either way, 100% agree with MapisM; the size of the vessel is most relevant here and a few quotes wouldn't go amiss before contemplating a major sea voyage.

 

[LouisBrowne]

The size is indeed important: if the width the tow is under 2.5 metres there are no special regulations. To put this in perspective a J24 has to be canted over on its trailer to comply. Most cruising boats will not be treated as a normal load.
If the OP is keen to use a road route through Italy or wherever else I might suggest he/ she asks Convoi Exceptionnel (founded by Tony Lovell well known sailor and race officer in the Solent) for advice or a quote.
Personally I think that, once lockdown has finished and if time allows, a trip from Gouvia round the toe of Italy to the Amalfi peninsular, through the Tuscan islands and the west coast of Corsica then on to Frejus or thereabouts as suggested by halcyon , would be a very enjoyable cruise

 

[LouisBrowne]

PS to my last post, if the original poster would like to discuss my experience of taking boats by road in Italy I’d be happy to answer a personal message

 

[MapisM]

Personally I think that, once lockdown has finished and if time allows, a trip from Gouvia round the toe of Italy to the Amalfi peninsular, through the Tuscan islands and the west coast of Corsica then on to Frejus or thereabouts as suggested by halcyon , would be a very enjoyable cruise

Agreed.
Going North up to Slovenia along the Croatian coast would actually be a better compromise between the transfer time and the pleasure of a nice route.
But the W coast of IT definitely has its merits, time permitting.
In that case, after Messina Strait, I would also include a short detour to the Aeolian Archipelago, before heading to Amalfi Peninsula!
You know, along the lines of in for a penny, in for a pound....

 

[jordanbasset]

I'm struggling with these sweeping generalizations. How can you say that without knowing the boat size the OP is talking about?
Regardless, even if she would exceed abnormal load limits, the suggestion of Metabarca is better than going to SoF anyway, since the boat is in Corfù.

Looking at the OP's previous posts it appears he has a Najad 361
Specs here

Length	11.20 m
Length waterline	9.25 m
Beam	3.50 m
Draft	1.83 m

My Najad 361 is in need of a new teak deck. She is currently berthed in Corfu. Does anybody know of a good company to undertake this work in Greece / Southern Italy?

 

[dom]

Looking at the OP's previous posts it appears he has a Najad 361
Specs here

Length	11.20 m
Length waterline	9.25 m
Beam	3.50 m
Draft	1.83 m

Golly, replacing a teak deck won't be cheaper to do in the UK!

 

[jordanbasset]

Golly, replacing a teak deck won't be cheaper to do in the UK!

It was 6 years ago so I expect it is done by now

 

[MapisM]

Looking at the OP's previous posts it appears he has a Najad 361

In this case yes, indeed road transport in Italy - albeit still feasible - is going to be expensive.

 

[chrischand]

Thanks everybody for your helpful suggestions. Sorry not to have replied sooner !
Boat Is indeed a Najad361 and I did have e new teak deck laid in 2014 by a peripatetic
German. Not sure if he is still in business but he did a great job. Happy to pass details to anybody who is interested.
As for getting my boat back to the UK does anybody have any experience of transport by sea on a large commercial vessel ? It may be that would be more practical in the current circumstances!

 

[Garold]

I’d be interested in the best route and prices for this journey too. Brexit, and now the covid19 threat have stripped away some of the idyllic ‘cruising the Med’ dream.

 

[MapisM]

That's because your reasoning is based on a paradigm which C19 made obsolete.
These days, you should drastically reduce your trips back home from the Med, not the other way round!
I was just mentioning elsewhere that myself and swmbo will probably NOT make 8 or 9 return flights towards home from the boat, this year...

 

[sailaboutvic]

Just saying Corfu to the toe is less then 48 hour sail add another 4 days and night if you really want to get a move on and your in the SOF in less then a week even If you broke the trip up and turn it into a nice little cruise you can Be there's within two weeks .
Of cause you may not have the time .

Any way the way things are going you need to be lucky this year .

Think of Port St Louis is an option , plus the rates use to be good if you need to leave it there for some time .

 

[fisherman]

Greg Powlesland brought Patna overland from S of F to Plymouth (along with some stowaway immigrants), bit bigger than you. I can PM a contact if needed.