Italy: the yard in winter,
Sardinia in summer.
The only neighbour of the French Riviera that combines the world's leading superyacht building and refit cluster — Genoa, Viareggio — with the fleet's summer cruising ground, from the Strait of Bonifacio to the Costa Smeralda. One page, two uses: we prepare both.
For a superyacht based between Cannes and Monaco, Italy is not one more port of call: it is the only neighbouring country that matters in both directions of a mandate — summer cruising grounds and refit capacity. Eastward, the world's leading building and refit cluster — Amico & Co in Genoa, the Azimut|Benetti group and Lusben in Viareggio. Southward, the fleet's summer migration to Sardinia, its passes and its now tightly regulated anchorages. Where each of our other areas serves one dominant use, Italy stacks two: technical wintering and summer cruising.
That Italy starts within sight of Monaco: Portosole, in Sanremo, the first major superyacht port past the border — 16 miles from Monte-Carlo by the port's own count — takes vessels up to 90 metres on 2.5 to 7 metres of water, with 24/7 berthing assistance on VHF 9, harbour-master watch on VHF 16 and fuel on the quay. A little further east, the Porto Maurizio basin in Imperia advertises around 1,300 berths for units from 5 to 90 metres, roughly 27 miles from Monaco. In practice, the Riviera di Ponente is an extension of our French Riviera area.
Due south, the reading changes: Sardinia is not reached on a day hop but on an overnight passage — in the order of 195 miles from Monaco to Porto Cervo, a night at sea at 12-14 knots — and the season there is prepared weeks before the first anchor goes down: park permits, moorings, harbour-master ordinances.
Three basins,
two working seasons.
Liguria — Genoa, XXL refit
In the heart of the historic port, Amico & Co has operated a 4,000-tonne shiplift since 2019, lifting yachts up to 95 metres, backed by 835- and 320-tonne hoists, a 102-metre covered dry dock and access to the Ente Bacini graving docks up to 200 metres LOA. Across 65,000 m², the technical marina holds 24 refit berths up to 110 metres; at the Molo Vecchio, the Waterfront Marina adds 26 berths from 20 to 110 metres inside the Porto Antico.
Tuscany — Viareggio, new builds
The Azimut|Benetti group, whose Benetti brand is based in Viareggio, leads the Global Order Book 2026 for the 26th consecutive year: 163 units in build, around 23% of the world market above 24 metres. Lusben, its refit brand founded in 1956 — 70 years old in 2026 — handles yachts from 20 to 140 metres: over 15,000 m² of quays in Viareggio for some 40 units of 20 to 65 metres, plus a hub under development in Livorno with 125,000 m² ashore and 120,000 m² of water.
Sardinia — Costa Smeralda, the summer
Marina di Porto Cervo (IGY network) lines up 700 berths including 100 for megayachts, 8 metres maximum draught, watch on VHF 16/11/9, 24-hour security and high-flow fuel pumps; the Marina Nuova is open year-round, the Porto Vecchio from June to September. In Cala di Volpe bay, an ecological mooring field reserved for yachts (VHF 74, by reservation) replaces the anchor over the posidonia meadow. And from 6 to 12 September 2026, the 36th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda gathers sailing yachts of 60 feet and over in the passes of the La Maddalena archipelago.
Four rules of the game
before the first anchorage.
The Costa Smeralda is not improvised. Four regimes frame the season — we build them into the passage plan well before departure:
- —Strait of Bonifacio — the passage falls under the BONIFREP mandatory ship reporting system (IMO resolution MSC.73(69)): vessels of 300 GT and above — which covers most superyachts of 50 metres plus — report to “Bonifacio Traffic” on VHF 10.
- —La Maddalena National Park — navigating the archipelago requires a mandatory paid permit, priced by boat length and season, issued through the park's official portal. Ordinance no. 33/2026 of the La Maddalena harbour master's office (2 April 2026) further prohibits anchoring on posidonia — sand or mud bottoms only — and caps speed at 7 knots within 500 metres of the coast, 10 knots between 500 and 1,000 metres, with summer measures from 1 June to 30 September. These texts are renewed every season: we re-verify them every spring.
- —Customs — temporary admission — a non-EU-flagged yacht, owned and used strictly privately by non-EU residents, may sail EU waters for up to 18 months free of VAT and import duties (Union Customs Code, art. 250-253); any commercial activity collapses the relief. The principle is simple, the practice is not: it is framed with your advisers, case by case.
- —Port State Control — Italy is a Paris MoU member; inspections are carried out by the Guardia Costiera (the harbour master corps), and commercial yachts are explicitly liable to inspection. An Italian call is approached with documents current and crew briefed — the core of our ISM/ISPS audit work.
Two seasons, four jobs.
Preparing the Sardinian summer — La Maddalena permit obtained through the park's official portal, Cala di Volpe mooring field reserved (VHF 74), the year's ordinances checked and briefed to the bridge, anchoring plan drawn on sand or mud bottoms. The first day of the cruise should not be spent discovering the rules.
Overseeing a Ligurian or Tuscan refit — from yard consultation to final acceptance, we carry the owner's voice at Amico & Co or Lusben: works specification, quote comparison, inspection milestones, budget reporting to the family office. All of it anchored in our yacht management mandate — or as a stand-alone mission.
Holding the route and the calls — passage plan with the BONIFREP report prepared, berths reserved from Portosole to Porto Cervo, local agents identified and bunkering agreed before arrival. A night at sea is won alongside, the day before.
Keeping the vessel compliant in Italian waters — temporary-admission file documented with your advisers, certificates and records ready for a Guardia Costiera inspection, DPA reachable throughout the season. Compliance takes no holiday in the Costa Smeralda.
A refit in Genoa, a summer in Sardinia — or both?
One hour is enough to frame your Italian project: yard, cruise, compliance. On board, in Le Cannet or by video call. Confidential, no commitment.
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