This Italian beauty will leave you wanting more. There simply isn’t enough time on a sailing yacht charter to explore all the fantastic sailing terrain and go see all the stunning historical sites Sicily has to offer. Let us introduce you to some of them and tell you more about yacht charter in Sicily in detail.
What makes sailing holidays in Sicily so popular?
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. Together with the smaller surrounding islands, it constitutes the Region of Sicily, which is the largest autonomous region in Italy. With its favorable central location, it serves as a good transit station between the eastern and western Mediterranean. The large, jagged shoreline is well suited for safe anchorage and the prevailing northwesterly winds are ideal for sailing. In addition, you will find excellent sailing facilities and many ports, as well as mooring possibilities.
The island is easily accessible thanks to its 3 airports in Trapani, Palermo and Catania. The main ports are Trapani, Palermo, Messina and Catania, which are at the same time the capitals of their provinces. Messina is the busiest because of the ferry links to the Italian mainland and elsewhere in Sicily, and because it is a stopover for Mediterranean cruises. The distance to the Italian mainland from Messina is only 5 km. Traveling there by ferry from Civitavecchia, the closest port to Rome, can be much cheaper than flying there. The region of Calabria, which forms the southern tip of Italy, can also easily serve as a starting point for chartering an Aeolian yacht. It has its three main airports in Reggio, in Lamezia Terme and in Crotone.
Sicily benefits from a mild climate with no significant tides, a rich culture and history, as well as excellent seafood and cuisine. The spectacular rocky landscape due to the volcanic origin of the island is something to behold. There are fertile mountains, beautiful aquamarine waters and many hidden coves to anchor quietly.
On top of all that, Sicily boasts impressive natural attractions like Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, or the Stromboli volcano in the Aeolian Islands, as well as numerous ancient historical sites.
Some relevant information to rent a bareboat in Sicily:
Location: southern tip of the Italian peninsula
Capital: Palermo
Total length of coastline: 1,483.9 km (including minor islands)
Total area: 25,711 km²
Highest point: Mount Etna, 3,329 m
Main airports: Trapani; palermo; Catania
Population: approx. 5,100,000
Country code: +39
Climate: Temperate, Mediterranean
What are the main charter destinations in Sicily?
The main charter flight bases are in Marsala, Trapani, Terrasini, Palermo, Sant`Agata di Militello and Portorosa. It is very convenient to get to Terrasini, as it is located only 10 km west of Palermo airport. However, all of those ports are located only 2 hours or less from an airport. They are concentrated in the north as it is very popular for charterers to go from there to the Aeolian Islands. It is also possible to rent a yacht from Reggio Calabria on the mainland and cross the Strait of Messina to go to the Aeolian Islands. The Strait of Messina has a traffic separation system and for pleasure boats it is mandatory to notify the Coast Guard before crossing.
The western corner of Sicily has a steep coastline with many coves, beaches and anchorages.
From Trapani head to the three Egadi Islands, which are a nature reserve with mooring buoys and anchorages. Fees apply and park rangers who arrive at the boat will pick you up and tell you which places to visit.
In a stretch of about 10 nautical miles between Trapani and Palermo, on the north coast, are the beautiful port cities of San Vito lo Capo, Castellammare del Golfo, Balestrate and Terrasini. They all have pontoons to moor. Also on the north coast is Palermo. Better than going to its unpleasant and smelly main port would be to use the Marina Villa Igiea with 379 berths for boats up to 65m or the Marina Arenalla with 200 berths for yachts up to 30m. Continue along the north coast and visit the medieval town of Cefalu and the sheltered port town of Portarosa with good facilities, resorts and restaurants.
Sail through the beautiful Aeolian Islands. They boast a wonderfully rugged and picturesque coastline. The anchorages are quite exposed, so it is safer to spend the night in port. There is beautiful and tourist Lipari. Then Stromboli which erupts every 20 min releasing ash and lava into the air which is spectacular at night. Vulcano Island is a fascinating rental destination. You can go to the edge of the crater and smell the sulfuric acid fumes. Alikudi, Filikudi, Panarea and Salina are the smaller islands.
Cruise along the popular East Coast. From Messina, cover the approx. 25 nautical miles to Taormina. Sail along the steep cliffs with coves and sandy beaches and around the small Isola Bella, a nature reserve connected to Sicily through a sandbar. About 10 nautical miles further south is the small town of Riposto, where you can stock up at the excellent food market. About 20 nautical miles further south it reaches Catania and it is about 30 nautical miles further to Syracuse. This ancient city has a very good marina from where you can walk directly to the lively historic center.
Port cities worth mentioning in the south are Sciacca, Licata with its highly sheltered marina and the spa town of Ragusa with a marina of 800 berths for yachts up to 20m.
What important weather systems are there for sailing in Sicily?
Sicily has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Catania, on the east coast, boasts the highest average number of hours of sunshine in all of Europe at 2,492 per year. This breaks down to a pleasant 6.8 hours per day. On the island in general, July breaks the record with a whopping 14 hours of sunshine per day.
While the Sirocco brings hot air from Africa, the Mistral tempers and cools the summer heat. Winds from the northwest prevail with a force of 3 – 4.
There are tidal currents in the Strait of Messina, but they are quite weak compared to those in the Atlantic or other oceans.
Summary of weather conditions for sailing a yacht charter in Sicily:
Months with the highest average temperature: July, August, 26°
Months with the lowest average temperature: January/February, 12°
Month with highest average precipitation: December, 79 mm
Months with the lowest average rainfall: June/July, 10 mm
Average wind speed May – October: 8 – 12 knots
Month with the highest average water temperature: August, 27°
Months with the lowest average water temperature: February/March, 15°
Main season: mid-April – October
How much does it cost to rent a yacht in Sicily and what are the different types of charter?
You can rent a 12m sailboat, for example, from around €2,000 and up. Prices increase according to the size, model and equipment of the yacht. Day charter is available, mainly in the form of motor boat rentals. You can also choose between renting a catamaran and renting a sailboat or a motor yacht. Then there is bareboat or skippered yacht charter and you can opt for a crewed charter that includes a chef as well as hostesses and deckhands. The latter will undoubtedly be the case for large luxury yachts. In Italy, it is often common to rent a RIB to explore the area or just have a nice excursion on the water. And flotilla vacations are a very popular type of charter for family sailing vacations.
What activities besides sailing are there on a bareboat charter in Sicily?
If you’re into racing, check out the demanding and challenging ‘Middle Sea Race’ in October, a round-the-island regatta that starts in Malta and then circumnavigates Sicily.
Visit Cefalu, a beautiful medieval city on the north coast with an impressive Duomo dating from 1131.
In Catania, you can admire two Roman amphitheatres. Also visit the open-air market that sells amazing fish and the Piazza del Duomo with its impressive cathedral.
A must-see is the Aeolian Islands, an immensely beautiful archipelago and UNESCO world heritage site. There are active volcanoes and picturesque towns like Lipari with many dive companies and charming boutiques and restaurants.
In the hilltop town of Taormina near Mount Etna, visit the famous Teatro Antico, an ancient Greco-Roman theater still in use today. Stroll through the pretty cobbled streets and enjoy the magnificent views from the top of the high cliff.
Take a tour of Mount Etna on the east coast between Messina and Catania. It covers an area of 1,190 km² and is permanently active.
Syracuse is an old historic city with massive fortifications. It has a slightly faded charm, good shopping, and a large Baroque cathedral incorporating parts of a Greek temple built around 500BC. The nearby Necropolis of Pantalica dating from 700 to 1300 BC. C. is home to thousands of rock-cut tombs and is a spectacular sight.
In the Valley of the Temples, an archaeological site in Agrigento on the south coast, is the impressive ancient Greek Temple of Concordia, illuminated at night, as well as six other temples. It is one of the main attractions of Sicily.
Visit stunning Ragusa with many historical sights, churches and amazing architecture.
To soak up some pure, unspoiled nature, head to Sila National Park in Calabria, which is said to have the cleanest air in Europe.
Check out the nightlife, namely Palermo’s Kursaal Kalhesa bar in a restored aristocratic palace and the Caffe Internazionale. In Taormina experience it at the Daiquiri Lounge or at the Morgana Lounge Bar.
Try water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, water skiing, wake boarding, wind surfing, stand up paddle boarding and many more.
Try tasty and healthy cuisine that incorporates a wide variety of vegetables and seafood. There are also some very famous sweet dishes such as ice cream and many pastry specialties so go ahead and enjoy!
