Spot Guide: Lago di Como, Italy

(Report: Christian Penning, surf 7/93)
(Translation: Renato Pajarola, Apr. 1996)

The basic ingredients for planning wind on Lago di Como are simple as for spaghetti and ravioli. Almost everyone knows it from Lago di Garda: much water, jammed between high mountains, deep and narrow, formed like a fjord, daily a few hours of sunshine - the more the better - and there stands the thermal wind. Perfectly completed by high pressure weather situations. Foam on the water increases the appetite for the titbit Breva, the counterpart of the Ora from Lago di Garda. Breva only exists in the northern part of Lago di Como, more or less from Dongo to the end of the lake. More south, the surfers barely get more speed than a dumpling of bacon in a plate of soup. Surf-city is Domaso, the Lombardic Torbole at the west shore. In comparison to the Trentinic original, it is a definitely calmer life in this former fisherman's village.

Location / Size

Behind the Lago di Garda and Lago Maggiore, Lago di Como is the third largest lake in the Alps of northern Italy. In its extend it outranges even the Lago di Garda. The water temperature reaches about 18 Celsius at the end of May. In summer, 23 to 24 degree Celsius are normal.
Arrival: From Bodensee through Switzerland on the highway (Vignette 40 Sfr) in the Rhein-valley, to and through the San Bernardino tunnel, continuing to Lugano, and there, east to Menaggio at the Lago di Como. Another route goes over pass of Spluegen and Chiavenna to the northern end of Lago di Como. In spring however, the pass of Spluegen is often still closed.

Wind

In the afternoon it's Breva time, first of all in high pressure weather situations. This south wind reaches 3 up to 6 beaufort and lasts until sundown. Best planning times are spring and early summer. In the mid-summer, when the temperatures don't get cold anymore during night, the heat paralyzes the wind.
The morning north wind Tivano reaches planning wind only at the southern end of the lake at Lecco.
From time to time the north wind Vento or San Vincenzo irregularly blows and gusts, when a low pressure region rages north of the Alps. In the northern part of the lake it's very gusty and helps surfers and boards learning to fly.
Windservice phone Surfin Progress +39 344 96 208. surf-Windphone +49 190 241 435. Windsurfcenter Domaso +41 79 330 50 42 or +39 344 97 490.

SPOTS

DOMASO

The In-spot at Lago di Como. Domaso is located at the west shore of the lake, two kilometers from Gravedona and it is the starting point for the cruise to the other side of the lake where the wind is usually stronger. The spit of land there with its gravel beach offers best Breva conditions.

GERA LARIO AND SORICO

Located at the north-end of the lake, three kilometers after Domaso near the rivers Mera and Adda, no lack of fresh water. The south-wind arrives here sloppy up-land.

COLICO

A good Breva spot and mekka of the Milan surf scene. The waterside south of Colico is a nature reserve. At the weekends the beach near the sporting ground (campground Communale) gets crowded.

PARE AT LECCO

Early spot for early sport. Between 6 and 9 am in the morning, the north wind Tivano won't let you sleep anymore. Within 20 minutes from Colico on the highway on the east side of the lake. Characterization: steep shore, few parking places.

DERVIO AND REZZONICO

North-wind spot at the lake narrowness 15 kilometers south of Domaso. Experts demonstrate Alpine Waveriding in front of the castle of Rezzonico in one and a half meter waves.

Security

Caution with North wind: the South shore is far away! There is no organized rescue team. Life-vests are obligatory. However, the controls are less rigorous than on Lago di Garda. A hydrofoil circulates between Gera Lario and Domaso. With a lot of windsurfers on the lake the hydrofoil slows down a little.

Shops

The shops are well equipped and also perform repair work. Chicca Sport 1, Via Stadale 31, Dongo, phone +39 344 81 138; Chicca Sport 2, Via Case Sparse, Domaso; Chicca Sport 3, Via Nazionale 57, Colico; Nautica Sport, Via Sacco 49, Colico, phone +39 341 94 0521.

Schools

Windsurfcenter Domaso (SWAV+VDWS), Via Case Sparse 14, Domaso 22013 (I), near Camping Paradiso, phone +39 380 70 000 10, (winter: +41 79 330 5042). Board, canu, bike and catamaran rental, small surfshop and repair service.
Surfin Progress, Via Case Sparse 54, Domaso 22013 (I), phone/fax +39 344 96 208, email masta@mclink.it. (winter: Via Regina 54, Gravedona 22015 (I), fax +39 344 89 262, cell. +39 335 6550287)

Campgrounds

Only in Domaso there are already nine campgrounds, all of them at the Via Case Sparse and at the lake. A few apartments exist for rental. One night on campgrounds is about 5000 Lira per person, 10000 per tent. More campgrounds exist in Gera Lario, Sorico and Colico. Mostly they have gravel beaches directly at the surf spot. Only Baia di Piona at Laghetto di Piona lies in the wind shadow.

Housing

Besides hotels, there exist numerous private apartments. Information: Tourist Office Domaso, I-22013 Domaso, phone +39 344 95 078 or 96 228. Real Estate Office, Via Montecchio, Colico, phone +39 341 93 0210 (daily only from mid June, otherwise partially served on weekends). Or try www.labreva.com on the internet.

23-Feb-1999 / pajarola@acm.org