Cortellazzo — Foce del Tagliamento Anchorage
Foce del Tagliamento · Bibione Pineda approaches · Cortellazzo coastal anchorage
45°33.3'N 12°47.5'E
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Good holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m on firm sand in 3–6m. A purely fair-weather coastal anchorage on the flat Northern Adriatic coast. The entire coast here is a lee shore in any N/NE/E wind — Bora or Scirocco from these directions demand immediate departure. Used as a daytime stop or short overnight only in stable settled high-pressure conditions.
About This Anchorage
The Tagliamento river mouth (Foce del Tagliamento) at Cortellazzo marks the boundary between the Venice Lagoon coastal zone and the start of the Friuli Venezia Giulia coast. The beach is wide, sandy, and less developed than the Venice area beaches. The anchorage is primarily a fair-weather coastal stop — pleasant in settled conditions for swimming and resting between coastal passages. The Tagliamento lagoon mouth area has a small nature reserve. The nearby resort of Bibione (5km NE) is a popular Italian family beach destination but far less visited by cruising sailors. Cortellazzo is midway between Punta Sabbioni (Venice approaches) and Caorle — convenient for splitting a coastal passage.
Protected From
W · NW · SW
Exposed To
N · NE · E · SE
Setting Your Anchor
Anchoring on Posidonia oceanica meadows is prohibited throughout Italian waters under the EU Habitats Directive and is actively enforced — fines range from €500–€3,000. In the Venice Lagoon, always navigate within marked channels (bricole); mud banks outside channels can be as shallow as 0.3m. In AMP zones throughout Italy, check for Zone A/B/C designations before anchoring.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Maximum stay
- 2 days
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Maintain 200m exclusion from the beach in summer (swimming zone buoys). Keep clear of fishing boat access to the Tagliamento river mouth. Avoid the river mouth itself (turbulent, shallow, strong currents from river flow).
Hazards
- !Lee shore: The entire Northern Adriatic coast is a lee shore in NE/E/SE winds — this is purely a settled-weather anchorage; departure is mandatory on any Bora or Scirocco forecast
- !Tagliamento river current: In spring (snowmelt) and after heavy rain, the Tagliamento discharges significant volumes of fresh water and floating debris (logs, branches) — approach with caution and keep clear of the river mouth
- !Fishing nets: The area is heavily used by artisanal fishermen with fixed and drift nets; proceed slowly and keep a dedicated watch for net buoys, especially at night
- !Featureless coast: The flat, sandy Northern Adriatic coast provides few navigation landmarks — GPS-only navigation risk; maintain careful chart-plot of position
Skipper's Tips
- →A convenient overnight between Punta Sabbioni (Venice) and the Friuli lagoons — breaks the coastal passage into comfortable day-sail legs of 25–35nm
- →The beach at Cortellazzo is significantly less crowded than the Venice Lido or Bibione — a pleasant swimming stop on a coastal passage
- →Monitor the Trieste/Venice offshore wind forecasts continuously when on this coast — the Bora can develop with little warning; have a departure plan ready at all times
- →The mouth of the Tagliamento attracts excellent birdlife including terns, waders, and herons — a quiet dinghy approach early morning is rewarding for birdwatchers
Facilities
Beach bars and restaurants at Cortellazzo and Bibione — casual beach food and seafood. Not a destination for fine dining; treat it as a transit stop.
Nearest provisions: Bibione resort (5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August, September
June–September only for this fair-weather coastal stop. Spring and autumn are unsuitable due to Bora/Scirocco frequency. A transit anchorage only — not a destination in itself.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
In the Northern Adriatic, the Bora can build from calm to 60+ km/h while you sleep. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — alerting you the moment your anchor starts to drag.
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