In Punta Ala, luxury immediately strikes you. The yachts of the high society anchor here. Besides, the marina is an ideal starting point for a sailing trip to the islands of the Tuscan archipelago.
Location & Approach On a small promontory aptly named Punta Ala (Wing Point) off the western coast of the Italian peninsula which overlooks the island of Elba lies a very large and very well equipped marina, the Marina of Punta Ala, a haven for all lovers cruising this part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Approximately 120km from the Pisa airport, Punta Ala is certainly one of the biggest marinas and one of the most modern in Italy, capable of providing shelter to 893 boats at a time in its berths and wharfs. Apart from that, the marina is located in Tuscany which is one of the most beautiful rural parts of Italy, meaning there are a lot of Italian stereotypes to be enjoyed here by any visitor.
The marina’s coordinates are 42°48' N; 10°44' E and it’s located right on the tip of the promontory with an entrance facing towards the northeast, placed between the mainland and a straight breakwater that curves lightly towards the entry point to provide better protection from the currents of the open sea. However, there are some points which require your attention when performing an approach.
One of the zones to look out for is the region around the Porcelini rocks just of Punta Ala. Also, 42°48' N; 10°44' E skippers should take care of the shelves under the sea 200m north of Hidalgo Point which are signaled with a flashing buoy. These shelves make the seabed shallow (1-2m) which means that boats with a deeper draft can get straded.
Entry in the marina is made on a 24h/day basis, whereupon the captain must contact the control tower on VHF channel 09 and keep a speed of under 3 knots. The entry to the harbor is marked with white flashing lights (2 second intervals) on the elbow of the outer breakwater and red flashing lights (2 second intervals) on the head of the inner breakwater. Then there are green flashing lights (2 second intervals) on the north side of the breakwater.
Infrastructure & Ambience The marina has a grand total of 893 boats, out of which 90 are reserved for transit. The maximum length of boats that can moor here is 28m with a 4.5 meter draft since the depth in the berths is 5 meters, with a seabed made mostly out of sand and silt.
The degree of comfort of the guests staying at Punta Ala marina is increased by the presence of the local Yacht club which offers outstanding services to members such as panoramic lounges, bars, restaurants, swimming pools, solarium, roof garden and many more. Other people can benefit from these services if they request in advance.
Apart from that, the services of the Punta Ala marina are among the regular found at other locations around the Mediterranean: toilets and showers, electricity and water on the berth, waste collection, car park, nursery, video surveillance, restaurants, launderette, ATM, a bar and supermarket. In addition, there are also boat repair services available, including a petrol station, a 80t travel lift and a crane.
This particular stretch of Tuscan coastline is full of medieval fortifications and Renaissance buildings, as well as ancient Roman sites but there are also endless cultivated fields and forested regions, which make the scenery complete. Another reason to visit Punta Ala and maybe the neighboring town of Follonica, is the fact that they are close to the island of Elba, a favorite of the community.