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Use La Spezia as the operating base
La Spezia is practical for handover, fuel, provisions and the final return. Portovenere is close for a first shakedown; confirm draft, shore power and checkout time with the base.
Cinque Terre is a zoned Marine Protected Area. Navigation in Zone B is limited; anchoring in designated Zone C areas needs authorisation, and mooring fields prohibit free anchoring. Treat a village stop as a pass-by or booked buoy.
| Day | Plan and overnight |
|---|---|
| 1 — La Spezia | Handover, fuel and base night. |
| 2 — Portovenere | ≈6–10 nm; shakedown and shore visit. |
| 3 — Cinque Terre pass | ≈12–18 nm; follow zones, no improvised anchorage. |
| 4 — Portofino | ≈22–30 nm; daylight arrival, confirmed buoy or marina. |
| 5 — La Spezia return | ≈28–34 nm; fuel and checkout margin. |
Portofino is the weather highlight
With settled sea, leave Portovenere early and arrive Portofino in daylight. With swell, fog or thunderstorm, stay in La Spezia or Portovenere, make Cinque Terre a shore visit and remove Portofino first.
Park-pass discipline
Slow down near swimmers, keep the chart plotter zoomed to the park boundaries and call the harbour before changing from a pass-by to a stop. This removes the most common last-minute mistake.
Budget, permits and booking
Separate yacht, fuel, marina or buoy fees, park permits, provisions, transfers and deposit. Check the park portal before departure. Match the boat in the [fleet](/fleet) and send dates through [Helm](/helm). Updated 14 September 2026.
Before leaving La Spezia
- Save the current Cinque Terre marine rules.
- Confirm Portofino berth or buoy.
- Set a low-speed passage plan.
Pre-brief the marine park zones
Before leaving La Spezia, mark Zone A, B and C on the chart plotter and save the park notice offline. The Cinque Terre rules distinguish navigation, anchoring and mooring; the same cove can be legal for a slow pass and illegal for an unplanned overnight stop.
Call the park or harbour when the plan changes. A confirmed buoy, field or marina is worth more than a last-minute anchor in a crowded village. Keep the skipper’s authorisation, registration and insurance accessible for any control.
| Leg | Daylight plan | Decision gate |
|---|---|---|
| La Spezia → Portovenere | 6–10 nm; systems check. | Berth or buoy confirmed. |
| Portovenere → Monterosso | 12–18 nm; low-speed pass. | No free anchoring. |
| Cinque Terre → Portofino | 22–30 nm; early departure. | Swell check at midday. |
| Portofino → La Spezia | 28–34 nm; keep return margin. | Fuel and checkout slot. |
Portovenere to Cinque Terre: make it a pass
The scenic villages are close together, so the temptation is to stop repeatedly. Instead, choose one shore visit and keep the rest as a low-speed coastal pass. This protects daylight, avoids repeated anchoring decisions and leaves time for the longer run to Portofino.
Keep the chart open for restricted pockets and swimming traffic. In a mooring field, take the assigned buoy, switch off the engine when required and do not treat the field as a place for free drifting or anchoring.
Portofino berth strategy
Portofino is the route’s highlight, not its guaranteed overnight. Call ahead with length, draft and arrival time. If the berth or buoy is unavailable, continue to a confirmed alternative rather than circling after sunset.
Keep one crew member on fender and line duty, one on lookout and one on radio. A simple role split makes the final approach calmer and gives the skipper a clean picture of traffic and depth.
Return to La Spezia without a rush
Leave Portofino with enough fuel for a second approach and a headwind leg. On arrival, photograph the inventory, note engine hours and report any damage before the base inspection. The final hour is for paperwork, not for discovering a missing line.
Budget yacht, fuel, marina or buoy fees, park permissions, provisions, transfers and deposit separately. Match the boat in the [fleet](/fleet), send dates through [Helm](/helm) and recheck the park portal on departure morning. Updated 14 September 2026.
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