Vieste, Italy - checking in and anchoring

[beormakate]

Hi folks

We are en route to Sicily and plan to leave Lastovo, Croatia tomorrow and head to Vieste. I'm getting conflicting information about whether you are allowed to anchor in the harbour at Vieste - some guides say you can, others say you can't. Does anyone know?

Also, we are UK citizens and have a UK flagged boat. We have to check out of Croatia as they are not part of Schengen (this is what we were told in Cavtat). Does this mean we have to check in at the first port in Italy or do we not need to seeing as we and the boat are UK? Has anyone experience of this since July?

Thanks as ever.

Katie of Monty B

 

[BrianH]

I'm getting conflicting information about whether you are allowed to anchor in the harbour at Vieste - some guides say you can, others say you can't. Does anyone know?

When I was there three years ago no one was anchored in what I would think would be the only possibility - in the NW corner - but it was quite bumpy there with a southerly wind. Sorry not to have the official line but I was not interested in anchoring.

Also, we are UK citizens and have a UK flagged boat. We have to check out of Croatia as they are not part of Schengen (this is what we were told in Cavtat). Does this mean we have to check in at the first port in Italy or do we not need to seeing as we and the boat are UK? Has anyone experience of this since July?

What you have to do in Croatia has no bearing on any other EU country - they maintain all the controls just to screw money out of you and I suspect that will continue even after signing the Schengen agreement in 2015.

No need for declaration on arrival in either Italy or Slovenia for a EU-registered boat with EU crew. I am based in the former and have visited the latter since July.

 

[tri39]

Some time since I spent the night anchored in Vieste and like you I have heard of boats being pressurised to use the pontoons.
However I have also spent the night in calm weather anchored off the beach south of Santa Eufemia.
Last year we just overnighted from Cavtat towards Brindisi and then continued without stopping to reach Otranto that evening,
where we also anchored altho there's not much room outside the Lega Navale moorings now.

 

[RupertW]

When I was there three years ago no one was anchored in what I would think would be the only possibility - in the NW corner - but it was quite bumpy there with a southerly wind. Sorry not to have the official line but I was not interested in anchoring.


What you have to do in Croatia has no bearing on any other EU country - they maintain all the controls just to screw money out of you and I suspect that will continue even after signing the Schengen agreement in 2015.

No need for declaration on arrival in either Italy or Slovenia for a EU-registered boat with EU crew. I am based in the former and have visited the latter since July.

I think it may vary - we are based in Croatia too, and had to check out (at Korcula), but to our surprise when we reached Italy (Pescara), the marina sent along some police to check us into Italy. When we inquired about checking out at our last Italian port (Venice) they thought we were mad and said there was no need.

 

[BrianH]

I think it may vary - we are based in Croatia too, and had to check out (at Korcula), but to our surprise when we reached Italy (Pescara), the marina sent along some police to check us into Italy. When we inquired about checking out at our last Italian port (Venice) they thought we were mad and said there was no need.

It would depend on your country of registration and crew nationalities. A UK-registered yacht arrived in my NE Italian marina for winter layup two weeks ago, having arrived from Croatia (after declaring out there), and needed no formalities whatsoever. That's exactly what it should be for EU registered craft. I come and go and have done so for many years with my UK Part 1 registered yacht, only the administration that handles my berthing wanted to make a copy of the registration document.

Italy should recognise all EU registered vessels the same as Italian registered ones - except we should be exempt from the recently introduced Mario Monte tax on all Italian registered yachts.

 

[beormakate]

We arrived in Vieste just before dark and went on the first pontoon. Greeted by very friendly Italian/Canadian woman and excellent assistance from the marinero. It is well lit and would be easy to get in at night too if necessary. However, we were charged €45 (in October) for 12m yacht (compared to €25 that we are paying in Trani down the coast which is a considerably nicer harbour). Also useful to note that they've built storm defences in an attempt to save the crumbling cliffs so the anchorage marked in our (4th edition) Adriatic Pilot to the south of the church is no longer viable and if you entered in the dark, you may not see them.

We didn't need to check in so thanks for all the advice and the police checked some boats yesterday in Trani, I waved and smiled and they didn't bother us.

Now onwards with our slow crawl to Sicily.

 

[Scath]

Hi, Ist. reply on the forum, Came through Vieste about 4 weeks ago, from Vis, used 1st pontoon on the left, helpful staff and paid the jolly Canadian lady who runs the pontoon in the bar at head of pontoon. 60E for a 14.5m yacht. asked about checking in and they fell about laughing! saying your in Italy now. There looked like plenty of room to anchor in outer harbour but exposed to the north. You can't use the south entrance due power lines to lighthouse. What a relief after the paper chase in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Carried on down the in hop's to Otranto before returning to Prevesa and winter lift out.