Strait of Messina

[RobGill]

I will be heading northwards through the Strait of Messina this year. The pilot book advises avoiding springs but not sure how many days before or after springs should be OK? Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Sea Devil]

I've been through a few times - never seen anything like the pilot books warn but I guess at springs I would go through but try to avoid the charted whirlpool areas - biggest problem I found were the hundreds of little drifting fishing boats that you have to weave between...

 

[jimbaerselman]

Agree about the threat of those fishing boats. Also the sword fishing boats with their high level lookouts. They'll throw a net around a shoal of fish, whether you're in among them or not, and expect you to get out quick!

Watch out for the recently introduced 'roundabout' traffic scheme.

The tidal effects are trivial if you compare them to streams in the English Channel. They are just strong compared to the Mediterranean.

 

[Tranona]

Watch out for the recently introduced 'roundabout' traffic scheme.

Hi Jim

Any information on this? I am going through northwards in early may

Thanks

Stewart

 

[Alyssa]

An English language translation of the TSS changes is available from this site.......

http://www.guardiacostiera.it/capitanerieonline/ordinanze.cfm?id=919

It's not a particularly easy read, but essentially a roundabout system has been introduced into the existing TSS for those large vessels who wish to cross the other "lane"

 

[Tranona]

Many thanks

Downloaded for reference

Stewart

 

[Richard10002]

The tidal effects are trivial if you compare them to streams in the English Channel. They are just strong compared to the Mediterranean.

I asked a similar question before my "first time" in 2007. The conclusion was that if I could handle the passage between Bardsey Island and mainland Wales, and the tidal gate at South Stack, off Anglesey, I would hardly notice the tide through Messina - and so it was.

I cant remember where we were in the tidal range, but we went with the tide, and it was something and nothing. We saw some whirlpools, but nothing to write home about.

IMHO, I cant see why there should be an issue at springs - you'll just go faster.

 

[jimbaerselman]

It's not a particularly easy read, but essentially a roundabout system has been introduced into the existing TSS for those large vessels who wish to cross the other "lane"

Errrm. Actually, I think it was to combine cross straits ferry traffic with the through straits traffic.

 

[djk]

Agree with all of the above. Probably been thru the straits 20 odd times in my yacht delivery days usually late April early May.
It's a fascinating stretch of water and I found the landing craft type ferries were the ones to watch coming out between the fuel pontoon and the marina just outside messina.
A night passage may have little or no wind. I'd leave early morning before the wind picks around late morning. Only saw a sword fishing boat once and wasn't a problem.

 

[jeremyshaw]

I've only been through Messina a couple of times, but coming from the North. The only thing I'd add to the comprehensive comments here is that both times we cam through we had very strong winds round the headland. These died away once we turned the corner. I have no idea how common this is but mention it as something to look out for if you are coming the other way so as not to be taken by surprise as the change was quite dramatic.

Dodging the ferries was the only other hazard. I recall being told the whirlpools used to be much stronger before an earthquake maybe a century ago.

 

[vyv_cox]

I agree about the northerly wind. We left from Riposto a day late after wind coming down the strait was up to about F7 on the intended day. Left early next day but by about noon we were beating into F6 or so. We headed for Saline, only a mile or so east of the strait entrance. We could see a cut-off line on the water but were very surprised by how suddenly the wind went from 25 knots to nothing. We motored the last mile.

 

[MapisM]

Nothing to worry about, also in my experience.
I'd just cross at daytime and watch around with some attention, because floating objects and lines are quite frequent around there.
That's actually the only place where I've ever had a stabiliser fin grabbing a line, in spite of the fact that I was indeed being careful.