Message Forums

Mandy

I don't suppose towing a boat is any more difficult than towing a caravan and lots of us here have been to Lake Garda. Where are you staying? Its just that the campsite/hotel might be able to give you the information you need. Are you aware that Lake Garda has some strange wind patterns which change direction throughout the day. It migh be worth checking on this to.

David

Mandy,

We go to Lake Garda every summer, though not with a boat, and not camping. I've searched through all the books and other literature I've got but not been able to find anything about using your own boat on the lake, nor have I been able to find any relevant websites. I don't know if there are any specific rules and regulations, but I do remember a tour guide once telling me that the bottom of the boat has to be washed before it's put into the water. I can only suggest that you contact the tourist information office for where you will be staying and ask them - if you let me know which town I can find the phone no. for you if you want. I don't know what sort of boat you've got, but do you really need to take your own? There are lots of places round Lake Garda where you can hire motorboats, with or without a licence depending on the type you want.

As far as the changing winds go, there are three main ones. The North wind, or "good weather" wind, starts around midnight and lasts for about 12 hours, it makes the surface of the lake ideal for windsurfing. It is constant and steady from June through to the end of September. The South wind (the Ora) starts when the North wind drops, between noon and 1.30pm, and ends at sunset. It's force varies from one end of the lake to the other, ie. the further up the lake it blows the stronger it gets. It is regular from spring through to autumn, though is stronger in the summer months. The third wind ( the Bali) can occur in summer after a strong temperature fall, and builds up in the North, where the mountains reflect it back to the middle of the lake. It can reach between 5 and 8 on the Beaufort scale and sometimes last two or three days. In summer it can occur after a thunderstorm, and on a late afternoon or after sunset it can increase by 2Bf, which makes it dangerous. These are the times when the greatest number of accidents occur - if you are out on the water you should get to the nearest harbour and wait till the wind gets stable. In summer, if an early morning light wind picks up from the South rather than the North, it will certainly rain before sunset - and when it rains it pours down! When this wind dies out the strong rainfall and low temperature can generate the Bali in the evening.

I hope this info is of some use to you - sorry I can't be more specific about the boat situation, but if there's anything else you want to know give me a shout, I may have the answer.

Eunice

Hi Mandy - I've managed to come up with the following info for you regarding boat rules and regs on Lake Garda -

Motor cruising is forbidden closer than 300 metres from the banks or shores of the lake, except in the Gulf of Salo where it is reduced to 150 metres. the maximum speed permitted is 20 knots during the day and 5 knots at night. When entering or leaving ports you must not exceed 3 knots.

The noise of engines must be limited so as not to disturb the peace.

It is absolutely forbidden to throw waste of any kind into the lake, including oil combustion residues.

Boats from areas outside the lake must be subjected to the washing of the hull before haulage.

Motor cruising is forbidden in the stretch of water around Riva and Torbole at the North end of the lake, that's where the majority of windsurfers are.

The use of windsurfing boards is allowed from one hour after dawn until sunset, and only in conditions of good visibility. A life jacket is compulsory.

If you are going to scuba dive from your boat you must indicate your presence with the use of a buoy and be assisted by a support unit.

You must have on-board equipment equivalent to what would be required if you were out at sea and sailing 3 miles from the coast, ie - a life jacket for each person actually on board, plus one lifesaver ring for every two people on board. Rings must have 30 centimetres of rope and an automatically activated lighted buoy.

You also need a hand pump, or similar device, and anchor with rope at least 30 metres long, a pair of oars with boat-hook, 2 red flares plus 2 red star-shaped hand signals, or a flare gun with 2 charges and a validity of 4 years, 2 smoke buoys (recommended but not compulsory) regulation headlights for night time navigation, at least 1 flashlight, a white light with 2 batteries, and a fire extinguisher - type 13B for engines up to 25hp, 21B for engines up to 200hp or 34B for engines over 200hp.

Foreign boats, ie those not registered in Italy, must comply with the laws and regulations issued by their country of origin.

There is also what's known as the Station Tax - all boat owners must pay this tax, based on the length of the boat, though it can be paid just for the summer period. I don't know how much it would be, but I'm not sure it would be worth it if you're only going to be there for a couple of weeks. I've not been able to find anything about insurance, I assume you would have to have at least third party.

If you have any doubts or need more info I'm sure some of the boatyards or sailing schools round the lake would help - you should be able to get relevant phone numbers from the tourist information office.

Azienda di Promozione Turistica (Tourist Information Office) Phone no. 04 57 58 01 14  Fax no. 04 57 58 10 40  Website www.info-lazise.it. Be aware that they may not be open during the winter months.

Tbh, I would be inclined to leave the boat at home and hire one when you get there - much less hassle I think!

Hope all this helps - by the way, when are you going? We will be in Malcesine for the first two weeks in July - can't wait!

Eunice