LAKE COMO
The Cumbàll route, the ancient cargo boats of Lake Como
DESCRIPTION
A wonderful, silent, and fascinating trip from Lecco to Colico, retracing the route of the cumbàll, the ancient Lake Como barges that carried heavy construction materials starting in the 13th century.
We’ll have the opportunity to paddle – to the present day – along steep coastlines with forests, villas, ancient docks, quaint villages, and hidden beaches, often inaccessible by land. We’ll spend the night in available campsites along the lake or set up a makeshift bivouac after sunset.
We’ll launch in Vercurago – south of Lecco – and paddle all the way north up to Colico, paddling for three consecutive days – provided fair weather conditions.
LEGS
Vercurago – Abbadia Lariana 7NM
Abbadia Lariana – Dervio 13NM
Dervio – Colico 7NM
EQUIPMENT
Paddling jacket and long john or dry suit (October to May), thermal bottle, lunch box, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat or woolen beanie, kayak shoes, enough dry bags to keep dry clothing and gear.
Food, water, clothing, and overnight gear (camping or bivouac) must be prepared (ask your Guide) weeks before boarding, depending on the season.
PREREQUISITES
Ability to swim 25 meters with kayak clothing and gear.
Good adaptability.
Individual skills equivalent to an EPP (Euro Paddle Pass) compliant level 2 sea kayak award (Pagaia Azzurra Sea Kayak Syllabus level 2).
Ability to effortlessly paddle for 5-6 hours and perform assisted rescues.
DATE and DURATION
Check our CALENDAR. You will find the planned dates for this sea kayaking trip.
Options for 1-2-3 days of paddling provided fair weather conditions.
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
The trip will run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 participants.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION
Food, accommodation, and travel expenses to and from the launching/landing spots are excluded.
Before launching you will be asked to sign our Kayaker Questionnaire (preview here).
REFUND POLICY
100% refund if you cancel before 20 days to the event.
No refund if you cancel within 20 days to the event.
THE CUMBÀLL
The comballo (cumbàll in the Larian – Como Lake – dialect) is a historic sailing vessel between 60′ and 90′ and with an about 20′ bmax, used for carrying heavy goods on Lake Como.
Already mentioned in a Latin text from 1218, it has not undergone substantial modifications over the centuries. The cumbàll spread along the lake shores, and local shipwrights passed down the construction technique from generation to generation. Today, only two remain in Bellagio.
The cumbàll was the quintessential cargo boat and could carry loads of up to 120 tons. It was primarily used for carrying heavy construction materials such as stone, sand, lime, or wood for the kilns.
Propulsion, provided by a square sail, allowed sailing in downwind conditions. In calm weather, four oars were used—two at the bow and two at the stern. Steering was achieved with a rudimentary paddle attached to the end of a long pole located on the starboard side. For docking maneuvers, the puntàal — a type of boat hook 20′-24′ long — was used.
At the stern, a 16’–18′ long wooden awning provided cooking and sleeping space during shifts. A pair of bunks with a straw mattress made of corn husks and a brazier for cooking polenta formed the interior of the cumbàll. The cumbàll’s cargo could be covered by a tarpaulin, supported — in some cases – by wooden hoops. When fully loaded, the vessel’s side barely rose above the surface of the water.
