Messina

We left Vibo's wooded slopes and sandy beaches before 0700 and by 1000, we could see Sicily in the distance through the haze. As we got closer to the Strait, the wind picked up so we motorsailed. A moth/butterfly flitted about us and kept up at 6 knots! Off in the distance we could see Isola Stromboli with perhaps the oldest lighthouse in the world and a volcano in constant activity, releasing pressure daily instead of with a big bang. A number of big freighters, military and one other sailboat headed into the Strait between the mainland and Sicily. The tide current got up to 2.8 knots with us and there was a lot of chop in spots where the sea floor rises dramatically causing whirls. Lots of people on the Sicilian beach but I'd be leery of swimming with the current. We saw fish jumping and lots of jellyfish along with ferries and small boats but it was easy navigating even when the tide switched and was against us. We came into Reggio Calabria harbour choosing the small harbour at the north end with a fuel dock. Well protected by a high wall but not an attractive harbour as the trains, a highway overpass, tall apartments and the ferries make it very industrial and somewhat noisy. It was a necessary stop though for fuel and a safe stop between long passages. As it was our 40th wedding anniversary (😍🤪🤯) we decided to go out for dinner. Sadly, there were no restaurants nearby that opened before 2000 or that were more than bars or pizza takeouts. We walked the promenade and through a pedestrian shopping street, both busy with people and families out for a Sun. evening stroll. We walked back to the boat and made dinner and decided to take a raincheck. Reggio is in an earthquake zone with the last severe one in 1980. It was heavily bombed in WWII. It is also reputed to be a recruiting area for the Calabrian Ndrangheta (mafia)...be careful not to offend!Read more