Porto Garibaldi

From CruisersWiki

The canal port of Porto Garibaldi lies on the Adriatic coast of Italy, 14 miles N of the port of Ravenna and 40 miles S of Chioggia at the southernmost entrance to the lagoon of Venice. The harbour lies five kilometers E of the ancient town of Comacchio, originally an Etruscan settlement which was joined to the sea via a canal during the rule of the Roman emperor Augustus. The town and port was held by various rulers, including the Goths, Lombards, Franks and Venetians until becoming part of the Papal States in 1598. In 1866 they became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy. Today the area survives on fish farming and sea salt production, supplemented by a growing tourist industry. The harbour of Porto Garibaldi is relatively shallow and, like many of the canal ports along this coast, should only be entered close to high water and in settled conditions. Visiting yachts of shallow or moderate draft can berth alongside the canal quays or in the basins of the Marina degli Estensi or Assonautica di Ferrara just over half a mile upstream from the entrance. Vessels of over 2.5 metres draft are advised to avoid the harbour.

Charts

British Admiralty

220

1467

Italian

924

37

215

Weather

During the summer months the prevailing winds in the Adriatic are light to moderate coastal seabreezes. In spring and autumn, northerly winds are more frequent and can quickly rise to near gale force, especially in the northern Adriatic, where the much-feared “bora” is caused by high pressure over the mountains to the NE coupled with low pressure over southern Italy. Fortunately, the fiercest “bora” is normally to be expected in the winter months. Thunderstorms are occasionally experienced in spring and especially autumn and can be accompanied by violent winds of gale force and above. Luckily they are rarely long-lasting. In the southern Adriatic, the “scirocco”, a S/SE wind blowing up from North Africa which can last for several days, is more common. Unlike the “bora”, which can arrive without warning, a “scirocco” tends to build in strength over 24-48 hours, sometimes reaching gale force (especially in winter).

Sources for weather information:

• There is a continuous (computerised voice) weather forecast on VHF 68 - first in Italian and then followed with an English translation
• The same forecast is given in Italian and English on VHF coastal stations following a notification on channel 16
• Navtex weather forecasts covering the Adriatic are broadcast from stations at Roma, Trieste, Kerkyra (Greece) and Split (Croatia)

Passages

See Adriatic.

Islands

None.

Communication

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation

The coast around Porto Garibaldi is mostly low-lying with few distinctive features. A tall red and white painted tower with a microwave dish sited inland at Comacchio is the most visible feature on the approach. Closer in, a long southern breakwater and two shorter northern breakwaters are identifiable. Entry is between the two smaller breakwaters on a course of 255 degrees. Depths in the entrance are only around 3.5 - 4.0 metres, but can be as little as 2.5 metres at the lowest tides. A red light is shown on the starboard hand breakwater and on the S side of the canal 900 metres upstream when large commercial vessels are leaving or entering port and entry is prohibited at such times. In the approach from both N and S, a yacht should stay at least half a mile offshore to avoid shoals and underwater obstructions. No attempt should be made to enter of leave in strong onshore winds, which make the entrance dangerous.

Note: along this stretch of the Adriatic coast tidal ranges can exceed 1.0 metre at springs, so judging the tides right can make a significant difference to safe access in most of the shallower harbours.

Berthing

Visiting yachts have four possible options in Porto Garibaldi, in order of proximity to the entrance:

Nautica Estensi

The Nautica Estensi is a newly constructed small basin on the W side of the channel leading to Marina degli Estensi. The channel itself runs S from the main canal around 900 metres from the harbour entrance. The basin contains one long central pontoon (currently occupied by members of the Assonautica di Ferrara) and a series of berths on catwalks running round the N and S sides of the basin. Berths here are unsuitable for yachts of much over 12-13 metres and depths are only 2.0 – 3.0 metres in most of the basin. It is, however, also possible lie alongside the high quay on the S side, between the fuel station and the craning-out point, for short periods if no craning operation is under way. Note, however, that depths here at low water are barely 2.0 metres and the bollards are very widely spaced.

Assonautica di Ferrara

The Assonautica di Ferrara club also operates a small basin on the S side of the canal 100 metres beyond the side canal leading to Marina degli Estensi and 200 metres before the road bridge. This basin normally has around 70 berths on a single long pontoon and associated catwalks for vessels up to 15 metres. However, as at June 2015 this basin has been cleared for dredging, so berths are at a premium, even for members. Depths in the basin range from 3.0 - 4.0 metres. Water and electricity at the berths. Clubhouse with toilets and restaurant. The berths here are usually full of local craft but you may be lucky enough to get one by prior arrangement.

Marina degli Estensi

About 900 metres up the canal there is a narrow, tributary canal on port side marked with port and starboard markers which leads past the new basin of Nautica Estensi to the small marina of Marina degli Estensi. This marina has 300 berths on pontoons for yachts of up to 25 metres in depths of 3.0 - 4.0 metres. The access channel is dredged to a depth of 4.0 metres. See Marina degli Estensi for details.

Nautica del Porto

The shipyard of Nautica del Porto lies on the S bank of the canal just beyond the Assonautica di Ferrara basin. It has a 100 metre stretch of quay where up to 50 yachts of up to 13.0 metres can berth alongside, usually rafted 2/3 deep at busy periods. Depths are 2.5 - 3.0 metres. Water and electricity points on the quay. No other facilities.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Marina degli Estensi

Anchorages

No anchoring is permitted in the harbour.

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

Boatyard of Nautica del Porto. Facilities include: slipway; mobile crane (16 T); fixed crane (3.5 T); hard standing; engine repairs; wood, steel and fiberglass hull repairs.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel station on S side of the new basin of Nautica Estensi. Water and electricity in both basins and at quay of Nautica del Porto.

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The town of Comacchio five kilometres NW is very picturesque and has a famous 17th century Trepponti (triple) bridge crossing a canal junction. To the south, the lagoon of Comacchio is quiet and peaceful and supports thriving fishing and salt production industries.

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Several provisions shops in the town
• Better shops in Comacchio

Eateries

Bars and restaurants in the town

Internet/WiFi

None.

Laundry

None.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Rental outlets in Comacchio.

Garbage Disposal

Bins at both basins.

Transportation

• Buses to Comacchio and from there to most local and long-distance destinations
• Railway station at Ferrara (50 km) with connections to most destinations
• Airport at Bologna (95 km) with local and international flights

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

Links to relevant websites.

References & Publications

See Italy.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Porto Garibaldi and this page's details validated:

• May 2015 --Athene of Lymington

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Contributors to this page
Names: Athene of Lymington