Wintering in Venice?

[fliti]

Anyone got any thoughts and recommendations on wintering in Venice? Which marina and just how perishing will it be? How late would you leave it be out and about in the Adriatic?

 

[jaba]

There a member of this forum who has recently done that (mike_bryon) and I suggest you fetch some of his posts. I used to keep my boat in front of his, behind Giudecca island and even if I did not live aboard I personaly think there is no better place where to overwinter in Venice. It's not a marina, rather a yard... Info:
http://www.prontoimprese.it/veneto/venezia/venezia/rimessaggio|2166319.html
This is in a lively and authentic part of the town. If you find a berth (there are few) I would strongly recommend it.Winter price is the same for Isola della Certosa (www.ventodivenezia.it) which I find more isolated and definitely less interesting. I don't mention Compagnia della Vela o Diporto Velico cause you would probably not find a place ( yacht clubs). In short: overwintering in Venezia ( Giudecca) is something fascinating...if you don't mind the weather which can be foul... Sometimes. Best
J

 

[Metabarca]

Very nice, but don't expect lots of warmth: Venice is cold and damp, and often foggy, but when a crisp January day dawns and the sun shines, it's lovely. Ditto re Giudecca: that's the place to be. If no joy, you could try Grado further east, the 'original' Venice. Much quieter but a pleasant little town, and I know there are berths at the San Marco. Nearest airport: Trieste (Ryanair).

 

[mike_bryon]

Jaba’s post is spot on. We spent two schools years living aboard in the yard on the Guidecca . It is expensive and the work shops produce a fair bit of muck and noise. There are no facilities ashore except that they will hold your post. Only Italian is spoken in the office. The gate is locked early some evenings (when the restaurant is closed) so you must call the night guard to let you back in – he only speaks Italian too and with a strong accent. You can get work done to a good standard in the yard but expect to pay top prices. Chandlery for a sailing boat is very hard to find. You will probably be the only live aboards (a Dutch couple live on an ex-vapretto on one of the canels). The winter is shorter than the UK and colder but often there is more light.

You can’t live aboard more centrally and you really are in Venice proper. The views across the lagoon and across to Venice from the fondamenta are a joy and living afloat in Venice is amazing. There are some lovely anchorages in the lagoon just a few miles from the yard.

Best wishes

 

[fliti]

Thanks all-will definitely check out Giudecca though after a year in Spain, my Italian is pretty wonky. Question-how bad is the pong/pollution/stink?? I was told by one former long term resident of Aquileaia that it can do your raw water system quite a lot of damage. Second question-how late can you leave it be outside the lagoon? Early/mid/late November??

 

[jaba]

Stink: ok, not worst than a river (but then I was born in Venice ;-)). Don't worry for your raw water system imo. Second question, I would say that october is usually fair, november can be ok (mind the fog in north Adriatic sea, Italian side) but you can have interesting breezes, same for december. But if you choose the right weather window and are prepared to wait in harbours along the Adriatic coast, be it Croatia or Italy, I would not worry too much. For the Adriatic, I mean... But I would try to cross to Italy from Spain before then, if at all possible.
Best
J

 

[Monique]

Never been to Venice in a boat but was there often in the past. I can vouch for the extremely foul odour in summer. Venice is a very old city and the sewage system is as old as the city. (Bit like Manchester you know???)

GL

 

[Metabarca]

Pong: but if the boat is moored on the 'seaward' side of Giudecca, pong will not be an issue. You could sail all year in the Adriatic but it will be cold in winter and you will need to avoid the days when a (predictable) strong bora is blowing and (in the Venice area) when there is a strong scirocco.