Anchorages in Southern Sicily

[Mikedefieslife]

Looking through the threads all of which are a good few years old now, there seems to be some confusion surrounding anchorages in Southern Sicily.

I don't have time now to visit the fantastic islands of the north (getting too late in the season this year) and head through the Messina Straight, so I'm heading south (the fastest route according to Navionics) from Trapani to Siracusa.

Has anyone done that trip recently and know of some anchorages along the route to break up sail?

So far Porto Palo is the only one I've seen 2017 information on, and Sciacca is only one that shows an anchorage on the charts. Checked the Jimbsail website but he only lists marinas for that route.

 

[Richard10002]

Taormina, Syracuse, Porto Palo?

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Taormina is east Scilly, and Syracuse (also east) is where I'm headed.

I'm looking for anchorages in between Trapani and Syracuse on the south coast.

I will give Porto Palo a try, but would like to find something further along also.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Taormina is east Scilly, and Syracuse (also east) is where I'm headed.

I'm looking for anchorages in between Trapani and Syracuse on the south coast.

I will give Porto Palo a try, but would like to find something further along also.

Mike there use to be a few and we used all of them in the past but there been reports of fined since them days , how true they are is any body guess .
But here it goes , we have anchored out side Mazara harbour , we also found a free berth in Sciacca harbour , we anchored out side Empldeocle , again we use to be able to go onto the harbour wall in Licata but since the Marina open that one a no go , if you try you will be told to go into the Marina .
after that it's really the fishing harbour of Porto Paulo , you can anchor in the harbour ,
Or just around the corner on the east side you have anchor just behind the light house , after that it's Siracusa. You can still anchor in the bay or go onto the new quay , five days free , well not really you have to pay 10 euros for each day to the guy collection rubbish , even if you haven't got any , if you do use he Quay you have to call up the harbour master to get your place number , VHF 16 then VHF 11 .
Sorry not all good the south coast of sicily can be a little pain but worth visiting , off cause you could alway do an 130 NM cross to Malta then do another 55 MN cross back to Porto Paulo

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Thanks. Will take a look.

Yes Sicily seems to be a right pain for anchoring. Having done multiple over nighters I was hoping to day sail until it comes time to cross to Greece.

However since there is nothing in the south perhaps your suggestion going to Malta then Siracusa might work out better. It's only 11 hours more in total, but an easier sail since it doesn't hug the coast.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Our quickest cross from Malta to Siracusa was last March 13 hours in strong winds . As it happen we will be sailing back to Malta from Siracusa where we are now on Monday if the weather stays the same , a good strong NW , but it's the luck of the draw as we still four days away to get a good forecaster .

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Are you wintering in Malta? I've fired off an email to Msida marina, will see what they come back with. Siracusa wanted €2.700, Valetta Grand Harbour €4.000+ I'm probably headed to Lefkas eventually less than €2.000

Anyway, I have to leave Trapani tomorrow, as you only get 48hrs in the harbour. Unfortunately it looks like there is a SE blowing, which would make things very uncomfortable, so I will try to anchor around Marsala and wait it out.

Monday or Wednesday look good for you, but it's the Med so who knows.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Are you wintering in Malta? I've fired off an email to Msida marina, will see what they come back with. Siracusa wanted €2.700, Valetta Grand Harbour €4.000+ I'm probably headed to Lefkas eventually less than €2.000

Anyway, I have to leave Trapani tomorrow, as you only get 48hrs in the harbour. Unfortunately it looks like there is a SE blowing, which would make things very uncomfortable, so I will try to anchor around Marsala and wait it out.

Monday or Wednesday look good for you, but it's the Med so who knows.

Yes we will be back in Malta this year , it's be around 400 euros a month for 12 mts plus Ele and water ,in Misda .
you must have at less three months to get the discount , plus if you happen to be a member of the CA there a discount .
For us it's ideal as we only stop for around three months over the winter in a Marina .
Ragusa has one of the best price around , their are a seven months contact , it be a lot less then Lefkas , and if your staying on board , Greece can be very wet , as we know from two winters in Greece .
The other winter Marina , just taken shape is Rocella Ionica , but for us it's a bit of a dead end although there will be quite a few there this winter .

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Misda quoted me over €700 a month from October to April. They want to put me in a double berth. Must see euro signs when they hear the word catamaran even though my beam is only 4.5m

Ragussa doesn't sound like the place for me. I wanted somewhere lively with easy access to shops, bars and women but I need to do a lot of work on the boat and the prices in Lefkas are good, otherwise I'd give Siracusa more thought.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Misda quoted me over €700 a month from October to April. They want to put me in a double berth. Must see euro signs when they hear the word catamaran even though my beam is only 4.5m

Ragussa doesn't sound like the place for me. I wanted somewhere lively with easy access to shops, bars and women but I need to do a lot of work on the boat and the prices in Lefkas are good, otherwise I'd give Siracusa more thought.

Right Cat , that's the problem ,
First Ragusa , forget the stuff you read here , a lot of it is written by people who never been to the places .
Ragusa is lively , if any thing too lively , one reason we given it a miss after spending two winters there . There every thing you just said your looking for , well can't say about the women part .
But , if you want your boat on the hard , you can't work on it out side the boat although they do seen to be moving from that a bit , also chandlers not that great . In the water you can do what ever work you want to .
Lot of liveaboard , you always find someone who will help you sort out a problem .
Lefkas Marina , we had one winter there , small liveaboard but most have been there for some years and tend to group together and socially else where , that not to say there no socialling in the Marina .
What it does have are some very good chandlers discounting the one in the Marina if self , no going there .
Also the town is open all winter long .
But as I said it can be very wet at times and last year there was snows/ frost on some days .
Hope this help for you to make up your mind .

 

[Monique]

Just like Sailaboutvic said... we spent the winter there 2 years ago and it was great. Lively etc. One big advantage for me is the harbour has numerous fresh water springs and this lowers the salinity of the water to such an extent that we began the . season with a clean hull.

Chandler is pants but there is a very good one in Siracusa who will deliver to your boat.

Technical services are iffy in the yard but due to the V large agricultural economy there, top tier diesel specialists abound.

Don't hesitate. Ragusa is vGood.

 

[stiknstring]

Another big vote for Ragusa. Lively marina and town. There is a very good chandlery if you exit left from the marina and go up the hill next to the SPAR supermarket. It is called "vela e pesce" (or close) if I remember correctly. Carries good stock of real chandlery. The one in the marina is just not fit for purpose.

Another anchorage is just outside Marzamemi marina (a few miles east of Porto Palo). The town itself (particularly the town square) is charming and the "yacht clubs" in the marina itself are very friendly and relatively good value (for Sicily). We started off at St Vito and went the other way around to that you propose (taking advice from various pilot boats). Arrived early September. Escaped quite a few Westerly blasts that seemed to funnel through from the Alboran and had a long uninterrupted fetch before reaching Sicily.
Looking at the Predictwind since we returned (two weeks ago), looks like this is still going on - maybe the North about route offers more clement weather? Certainly Cefalu (anchorage), Portarosa (marina), Taormina (anchorage), Siracusa (anchorage), Marzamemi (both) and Ragusa provided decent stops. Lastly, we had an unexpectedly good time in Catania (marina) - a buzzy, fun town with Mount Etna looming over proceedings. We didn't have time for the islands (Stromboli etc), but the are on the list next time through. Apart from Agregento and Sciacci (which I haven't visited) there appears little of interest taking the Southern route.

happy sailing!

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Thanks guys. I'm in Malta now so no longer need anchorage in Sicily. . What a spectacular view from anchor in Marsamxett harbour.

For what it's worth, don't stay at pontoons A,C in Marsala marina. Complete rip of for what it is. Crumbling infrastructure and they don't even have rings or cleats to tidy up to, you have to pull up the floor, wrap your lines around the iron girders and get charged €50-60 a night for the privilege. Too be fair noonsite does warn about the owners bad attitude/poor service.

Now, onto the subject of wintering, I did get a good quote from Ragussa (same price as Lefkas), but I'm still swayed more towards the latter for the work that I need/want doing.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Thanks guys. I'm in Malta now so no longer need anchorage in Sicily. . What a spectacular view from anchor in Marsamxett harbour.

For what it's worth, don't stay at pontoons A,C in Marsala marina. Complete rip of for what it is. Crumbling infrastructure and they don't even have rings or cleats to tidy up to, you have to pull up the floor, wrap your lines around the iron girders and get charged €50-60 a night for the privilege. Too be fair noonsite does warn about the owners bad attitude/poor service.

Now, onto the subject of wintering, I did get a good quote from Ragussa (same price as Lefkas), but I'm still swayed more towards the latter for the work that I need/want doing.

Hi Mike and welcome to Malta , we just around the Cornor to you in Sleima .
You must be in the new Marina they are building , , be careful it's very open there if you get NE winds you will get a big swell , should had gone into Msida , bit late now to tell you .
Mike not sure if I told you last time , but if you have any work that need to be done out of the water , you will have a problem in Ragusa , other then that I would go for Ragusa , it's drying in the winter for a start . Plus normally a good liveaboard lots .

 

[Mikedefieslife]

I'm outside the Royal Malta Yacht club. There myself and a french boat anchored here. I'm told it's tolerated as the marinas are often full and boats sometimes anchor here for a night or two while waiting for a berth.

I'm expecting winds mostly from wwest-north west to north west.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Ok your anchorèd by the swimmer area , yes you should be ok there , the winds will start later to day , well there picking up now NW right through to night and all day to morrow drop to morrow night .gusting F 7 I think you be ok there , mite get a little bit lumpy .