Routing around Sicily for best wind

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edsailing

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I will be delivering a boat from Menorca to Corfu in a weeks time. On previous deliveries the Straits of Messina were the shortest route but for this one there is virtually no difference in distance if I go south of Sicily.

I need to minimise passage time if possible and was thinking that South of Sicily may give me better winds......

Grateful any thoughts and the experience of others.
 
edsailing said:
I will be delivering a boat from Menorca to Corfu in a weeks time. On previous deliveries the Straits of Messina were the shortest route but for this one there is virtually no difference in distance if I go south of Sicily.

I need to minimise passage time if possible and was thinking that South of Sicily may give me better winds......

Grateful any thoughts and the experience of others.
Click to expand...

I agree that better winds are likely. Stay close to the Sardinian and Sicilian shore in order to avoid the rather crowded lanes of commercial ships but not too close in order to avoid the many tuna trap fisheries. The last leg, just south of the Italian heel towards Corfu, is a strip where strong winds are often present. In your case they should be favorable.

Daniel
 
It doesnt look like there is a favoured route

I'd see what the forecast was looking like and make a decision closer to the time that you need to make a decision. The forecast when you are South of Sardinia will be the time to decide.

If you can be somewhere where you can get a mobile Internet connection, so much the better.

Are you in a hurry, and proposing a non stop trip?
 
Yes, it'll be non-stop (it's only about a 6 day trip) except to refuel if necessary so once we leave the only forecasts will be via VHF. As we have limited fuel, and there are limited opportunities to top up, I would like to use the engine as little as possible.
 
I went along the Aeolian Islands north of Sicily 2 years ago in July from Cagliari to Vibo Valencia a bit north of Messina and had no wind for 2 weeks we had to motor almost all the way!

PS Off to Corfu tomorrow morning and coming back through Strts of Messina the other way and up to Fiumicino. Hope I do not take all the wind away again!
 
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