Those setting sail from Lugano have plenty of options. Heading north-east takes you towards Porlezza and into the Italian arm of the lake; heading south takes you through the Melide basin towards Riva San Vitale, Porto Ceresio or further west to Ponte Tresa. At the narrows of Lavena, a special right-of-way rule applies: vessels heading for Ponte Tresa must give way to oncoming boats.
It is the lake’s many branches that give it its charm. At times, steep rocky slopes dominate the view; at others, Mediterranean gardens and villas. The view changes with every bend.
Tips for alpine boaters
Gandria and Morcote: two destinations well worth a visit
Gandria is one of the most beautiful waterfront destinations for a day trip. This former fishing village, with its narrow streets and colourful houses, nestles against the slopes of Monte Brè.
Morcote is also well worth a stop: patrician houses, the Church of Santa Maria del Sasso and the exotic Parco Scherrer are situated just above the water. In Oria, the Villa Fogazzaro Roi is well worth a visit; once the retreat and writing retreat of the writer of the same name, it is now a museum. Lake Lugano offers many interesting places to stop off at within a short distance.
Whether you’re a motorboater or a sailor, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the local wind patterns on Lake Lugano. In Lugano Bay, steady winds occasionally allow for regattas. Conditions are more changeable in the southern part of the lake: strong downbursts can occur along the steep mountain slopes. Thermal winds and summer thunderstorms mean that conditions vary throughout the day.
Regulations: 300-metre zone – no exceptions
As shown on the Lake Maggiore On Lake Lugano, too, a joint Swiss-Italian shipping regulation applies, which requires a local additional licence plate (Contrassegno). For motorised vessels, there is a strict 300-metre shore protection zone.
Unlike on Lake Maggiore, there is no relaxed 150-metre rule within this zone. Within the shoreline protection zone, vessels may only be operated for the purposes of mooring or unmooring, lying at anchor or passing through a narrow stretch, and only by taking the shortest route.
Anyone who already holds a local licence plate for Lake Maggiore does not need another one for Lake Lugano. The licence plates are mutually recognised. To moor in the Swiss part of the lake, a temporary permit is also required here. Driving licences, documents and third-party liability insurance are also checked. Anyone entering Switzerland should clarify the customs regulations.
Quagga mussel: Proof of detection is mandatory on the Swiss side
If you move your boat between lakes using a trailer, you must ensure it is kept clean. To prevent the spread of invasive species such as the quagga mussel, the hull, bilge and cooling water system must be thoroughly cleaned before the boat is launched again.
On the Italian side, this is largely the skipper’s own responsibility. Anyone launching their boat in the Swiss section of Lake Lugano or Lake Maggiore must provide proof of proper hot-water cleaning. Authorised boatyards on both lakes carry out the cleaning and issue the required certificate.
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Have you ever sailed on Lake Lugano? What has been your experience of the Swiss boat registration rules?
Antonia von Lamezan
Volontärin
