10 Things To Know to Navigate Safely And Happily Around Lake Como in Italy
True navigation begins in the human heart. It's the most important map of all.
Elizabeth Kapu'uwailani Lindsey
Pic by Maria Orlova
Experiencing Lake Como directly on its waters is one of the best thing you can do when you visit our region!
You’ll be able to enjoy pretty unique views and landscapes surrounded by the glorious mountains of the Orobie Prealps: a real emotional experience!
What’s more, there are many extraordinary historic villas that can only be admired while sailing: quite a privilege, isn’t it?
Whether you're an experienced sailor or not, there are several rules to respect when you get in the water on Lake Como. There are some specific areas where precise speed limits must be respected, for example; there are spots where you can moor for a maximum of two hours, and others where you can find useful emergency buoys; priority must always be given to sailing units and those used for professional fishing.
Pic by Menaggio Water Limousine
Are you curious to know more? We’ve collected for you here in this article some key information disclosed by Autorità di Bacino del Lario e dei Laghi Minori, the public institution dealing with this important topic.
Read to the end, where there's a final tip you’ll appreciate for sure!
Public harbors
Pianello harbor, © Lakeside
A detailed overview of all the public harbors of Lake Como can be found on Portolano, a special website of Autorità di Bacino with plenty of useful resources about the navigation on our lake:
Colonno harbor, © Lakeside
Brienno harbor, © Lakeside
Temporary moorings
There are many temporary moorings at Lake Como, with a maximum stop of 2 hours: they will allow you to have a drink or lunch in different coastal locations!
Check them all the temporary docks here!
Riva boat moored in Tremezzina, © Lakeside
Emergency buoys
The emergency buoys on Lake Como are yellow with LED flashing lights and solar panels to ensure absolute autonomy. The use of these buoys is possible only in case of emergency and/or in case of adverse weather conditions. Bear in mind that you can’t abandon the boat (that is strictly forbidden!), except in cases of absolute necessity.
Check out the positions of these buoys on the Como branch and the Lecco one!
Refueling spots
No panic if you’re about to finish your fuel: there are some stations along both branches of the lake (Como - Lecco).
Priorities to bear in mind
All navigation units (except those which don’t govern on in difficulty) must give way to the supervisory/emergency units, commercial fishing units, sporting events units, and sailing units; the distance must always be minimum 50 meters.
Don’t follow in the wake of the units used to skiing at a distance less than 50 meters. Incoming units in ports should give precedence to outgoing units, and within the port you must always keep the minimum possible speed!
Pic by Menaggio Water Limousine
Onboard equipment and mandatory safety
Within 300 meters from the coast you don’t need any equipment except for fire extinguisher if the boat has the engine, and life jacket for canoas, sailboards, kite surfing, and similar. Within 1 mile (1.852 meters) from the coast you’ll need a lifebuoy with floating rope to mt. 30 or more, plus a lifejacket for each person on board, a pump, a fire extinguisher, and a 360° white light for night navigation.
© Lakeside
Some additional equipment you could need:
Auxiliary steering apparatus (e.g rowing);
Acustic signal (e.g. trumpet, whistle etc.);
Boat hook;
Fuel reserve (proportioned to the travel);
Mobile phone or other wireless transmitter.
Speed limits
© Lakeside
Within the coastline, from 0 to 50 meters, motor navigation is forbidden, except for the departure and landing, which must be made perpendicular to the coast and with speed limit of 5 knots (9 km/h). Navigation is allowed with rowing boats, sailing, pedals, and vessels with electric power engine not exceeding 3 Hp.
Within the coastline from 50 to 150 meters: max speed of 10 knots (18 km/h).
Over 150 mt from the coast: max speed of 27 knots (50 km/h).
In the night, the units under 7 mt equipped with single white light 360° must not exceed 7 knots - the other units, max 10 knots.
Within the area of Isola Comacina in Ossuccio and Piona bay in Colico, navigation gear is allowed (at the minimum speed possible) but it’s strictly forbidden to use jet skis, water skiing and all kinds of water sports.
Navigation is forbidden in all areas that are signposted for bathing or areas of particular naturalistic relevance.
Check all the speed limits here in detail.
Minor vessels
The watercraft rowing or pedal boat use is allowed only when the lake is calm, when there’s good weather and with daylight.
Only the max number of people indicated by the manufacturer (indicated on the label on each unit) can be carried on the vessels - normally one for each meter of the vessel length. These units must have on board life-jackets for all passenger. The use of watercraft rowing or pedal and windsurf boards is forbidden in launch corridors motor vessels, in ports and near their nozzles.
Jet skis
The use of these units are allowed between 9 am and 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm and outside line of 150 meters from the shore. You can cross the coast line perpendicularly to the shore, with gear engaged. A sail license, together with a life jacket permanently on, are required to all watercraft drivers. Passengers as well must wear a life jacket. It’s forbidden to deposit a jet ski on public beaches, at Isola Comacina and at Piona bay.
And finally… 5 unmissable restaurants with mooring!
Pic via Crotto dei Platani
We can’t even imagine a tour on Lake Como waters without stopping in one of the waterfront restaurants that are on its coasts!
Here are some suggestions to choose from:
Darsene di Loppia in Bellagio: you can moore in the little public harbor of the village
Tirlindana in Sala Comacina
Crotto dei pescatori (with private pontoon) in Lezzeno
Crotto dei Platani in Brienno
La Darsena in Tremezzo
Source: Autorità di Bacino del Lario e dei Laghi Minori
Contact: Piazzale Vittorio Emanuele, 4, 22017 Menaggio (CO)
Tel. (+39)034434161 | Email: protocollo@autoritabacinolario.it
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