Mainland Southern Italy - Overwintering

[Tiercel]

I am hoping to move our Westerly Falcon, Tiercel, from Messsolonghi to Southern Italy in 2015.We would prefer to be in the area between Leuca and Crotone rather than heading up into the Adriatic. Does anyone have any experience of overwintering in this area?

After a quick look at the pilot I am particularly drawn to Taranto and Sibari but would appreciate your views on any of the ports in the area.

 

[Carmel2]

Worth checking out, but I think from memory both Taranto and Sibari are prone to silting up.

 

[charles_reed]

I am hoping to move our Westerly Falcon, Tiercel, from Messsolonghi to Southern Italy in 2015.We would prefer to be in the area between Leuca and Crotone rather than heading up into the Adriatic. Does anyone have any experience of overwintering in this area?

After a quick look at the pilot I am particularly drawn to Taranto and Sibari but would appreciate your views on any of the ports in the area.

Yes, a couple of long stopovers @ laCastella. Utterly safe as it's the flooded quarry from which the castle was built, but the disadvantage of a 2.1m sill and a risk of grounding on the mooring weights.
It is the other side of the National Park from Crotone and quite considerably more pleasant.

 

[santelmo]

We spent a couple of winters in Sibari 2006/7 2007/8 I know that its a long time ago but I think that the fundemental problem of silting has not been resolved. The spring dredging is often delayed so dont count on getting out when YOU want to go. The marina is isolated (5 miles from the nearest town). They lay a minibus on twice a week for shopping (or did). In every other respect its a good marina. They have a good and well run yard where you could go on the hard but I wouldnt go back there its too risky in terms of getting stuck. Ive heard some good reports about Brindisi

 

[youp]

We left our boat in Sibari in the winter of 2012/2013. Friendly and helpful staff, very affordable and good engineer for motor maintenance but to leave the place was not easy. I went there in April '13 with my son and the silting was terrible. No way we could sail after having prepared the boat. Went back with the misses in May and after a frantic appeal to the public by an Italian friend in the local newspaper the dredging was finished. Her boat and ours just made it, bumping over the harbour entrance. After a fantastic night sail with 20+ knots of wind we stranded in the entrance of Santa Maria de Leuca. After a few hours the Guardia Costiera pulled us free us in exchange for a bottle of Bowmore. So, when you are not in a rush, great place to stay for the winter and keep to starboard when you enter Leuca.

 

[Tiercel]

Thanks for that, it seems that Sibari is out then as we will be wanting to get away in Early April so that we could have a comfy trip to the French canal system and make a start there in July.

 

[Carmel2]

Some seem to like Cagliari on Sardinia, that might work for you.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Policoro, half way between Sibari and Taranto. Holiday village development and marina with a well equipped modern hard, €2,000 for wintering 12m in 2014/15. See http://www.marinadipolicoro.it/

 

[Tiercel]

Some seem to like Cagliari on Sardinia, that might work for you.

Aye, we've stayed in Cagliari before. It's ok but a bit of a long hack from Messolonghi.

 

[Tiercel]

Policoro, half way between Sibari and Taranto. Holiday village development and marina with a well equipped modern hard, €2,000 for wintering 12m in 2014/15. See http://www.marinadipolicoro.it/

Thanks Jim, that looks like a possibility.