Short answer: a yacht delivery in Italy follows one of three main routes: along the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian coast on the west side, through the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the mainland, or up and down the Adriatic. The best months are April–June and September–October. Italy is part of the EU and Schengen, so there is no customs clearance from other EU countries, but the skipper’s licence, insurance and the yacht’s papers must be in order.
Italy is the world’s largest builder of superyachts and one of the biggest builders of production yachts, with yards from Liguria and Tuscany to the Marche and Emilia-Romagna. That makes it a very common starting point for new-yacht deliveries from the shipyard. With more than 7,000 kilometres of coastline, Sardinia, Sicily and hundreds of marinas, it is also one of the busiest cruising and charter areas in the Mediterranean.
The main delivery routes
The Ligurian and Tyrrhenian coast
From the French Riviera, the route runs past Sanremo, Genoa and La Spezia to Viareggio, the Tuscan islands and Rome, then on to Naples, the Amalfi coast and Calabria. There are marinas every 20–40 miles for most of the way, which makes this coast well suited to deliveries in shorter legs.
Across to Sardinia and Corsica
Yachts heading to Sardinia usually cross from the Tuscan coast or from the south of France. The Strait of Bonifacio between Corsica and Sardinia is a marine reserve, and the wind is funnelled through it — a strong westerly there can be much stronger than in the open sea on either side.
Through the Strait of Messina
The Strait of Messina links the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas and is the key passage for yachts heading to Greece, Croatia or the Adriatic. It is less than two miles wide at its narrowest, with tidal currents that can run at several knots, local whirlpools and a constant stream of ferries between Messina and Villa San Giovanni. Ship traffic is monitored by a vessel traffic service, so we listen on VHF throughout the passage and time it with the current. The alternative, sailing around Sicily, adds well over a day.
The Adriatic coast
The Italian Adriatic coast, from Venice and the yards around Ravenna, Ancona and Pesaro down to Bari and Brindisi, is long and straight with fewer natural harbours. Many yachts built here cross directly to Croatia or Greece — see our guides to Croatia and Greece.
Weather around Italy
The mistral (maestrale) blows from the north-west down to Sardinia and the Strait of Bonifacio. The scirocco brings warm, humid south-easterlies and swell, the libeccio raises a heavy sea on the Ligurian and Tuscan coast, and in the Adriatic the bora can blow hard from the north-east. Summer brings thunderstorms and afternoon sea breezes, and July and August make marina berths hard to find. Read more in our guide to Mediterranean winds.
Paperwork for a yacht in Italy
- Skipper qualifications: the skipper must hold a licence recognised in Italy for the size and type of yacht.
- Third-party insurance: mandatory for motor yachts and most other recreational craft. Our delivery insurance checklist shows what to check.
- Foreign-flagged yachts of Italian residents: under a new rule in the Italian recreational boating code, foreign-flagged yachts up to 24 metres owned by Italian residents must carry proof of navigability — either a certificate from the flag state or an attestation from an Italian notified body.
- Marine protected areas: Italy has many marine reserves where anchoring, speed and navigation are restricted. We check the zones on the route before departure.
Yacht delivery in Italy with Nordic Crew Worldwide
Our Scandinavian captains deliver new and used sailing yachts, motor yachts and catamarans from Italian yards and marinas to the rest of the Mediterranean and Northern Europe — and from Northern Europe to Italy. All deliveries are covered by our own professional skipper insurance. Request a quote for a delivery to or from Italy — or read about our services in italiano.
Related guides
- Mediterranean yacht delivery routes
- Charter yacht repositioning
- How long a delivery takes
- Delivering a yacht to the Côte d’Azur
- Yacht delivery to Malta
Frequently asked questions
Is the Strait of Messina difficult for yachts?
It is busy and the tidal currents can run at several knots, but with the right timing and a good watch on the ferry traffic it is a routine passage for a professional crew.
Do I need to clear customs when delivering a yacht to Italy?
Not from another EU country. Yachts arriving from outside the EU must clear customs and immigration at their first Italian port.
When is the best time for a yacht delivery in Italy?
April–June and September–October give the most settled weather and the easiest berths. Winter deliveries are possible but need flexible timing.
Can you deliver a new yacht from an Italian shipyard?
Yes. We collect new yachts from the yard, run the delivery as the first sea trial and hand her over at the home port.