Best stopovers Rome to Corfu in June ?

[YKE]

Hello Cruisers,
Juts bought a boat in Rome and need to bring her to Corfu 3-4 weeks in June to park her there for 2 months.

Any suggestions of best stopovers , route to take and things avoid, etc for this period ??

Tks & rgds, YKE

[Franziska]

If you have time, visit Otranto. Awesome cathedral we'll worth seeing. Also a large sheltered harbour. Enjoy.

[Sojourner]

Just returned from Vulcano back to Palermo.... Vulcano is amazing, and on the way to messina. See stromboli as well. If you have a few days to spare, see Palermo, it has a very good feel....so good that we're coming back here after greece to winter If you do come to Palermo, I gotta plug our marina, Sitimar (ch 72). There are 4 or 5 others here but the guys here make you feel like family pretty dam fast, plus had the best rates for a berth 3 minute walk from the center of town. Great price for 6 months in the winter too, but I think we booked their last spot Oh, if you do come to palermo, the town of Cefalu on the north coast halfway between Vulcano and Palermo is a treat as well.

[YKE]

tks Sojourner,

altought it sounds really temting, not sure if we will have time for palermo this time. as i need to park the boat for 7-8 weed till end of august and pick her up agin for anotehr 2 months till end of season.

around sicily is quite expensive to park for 2 months at that time based on quotes i received. Corfu seems to be the cheapest at this stage, but need to also discuss with the ather-half..

tks for the feedback again & kind regards, yke

[meirriba]

As for prices, you may want to check marina di ragusa on the southern (to the west) coast of sicily.
36 46 63 n
14 32 87 e

[Goodall_M1]

Originally Posted by YKE

Hello Cruisers,
Juts bought a boat in Rome and need to bring her to Corfu 3-4 weeks in June to park her there for 2 months.

Any suggestions of best stopovers , route to take and things avoid, etc for this period ??

Tks & rgds, YKE

Stop-overs will depend to some extent on your budget. Are you ready for the costs for marina berths in Italy? Luckily most seem to start their "high" season in July but even at June prices they can soon add up.

It looks like you are planning a relaxing cruise over to Greece, but don't seem to want go to far off the track (hence not seeing Palermo).

As suggested by others the Lipari Islands are worth a visit.

The one thing that you will need to plan for is going through the Straits of Messina.

Folks say that the Mediterranean doesn't have tides, what they actually mean is that tidal movements are so small that you can ignore them in most parts of the Med. Messina is one of the places that you can't! Tidal streams here can top 7 knots so plan ahead so that you can get there at the right time.

On my last passage in that area we went from Vibo Marina to an anchorage at Scilla (just NE of the straits), then to an anchorage at Taormina / Nexus (SW of the straits) and then to an anchorage in Siracusa Harbour. Siracusa is well worth a visit. (Scilla and Taormina both have mooring balls available if you prefer them. Nexus and Siracusa both have marinas available.)

On a previous trip we went from Lipari to Millazzo (west of Messina) and then on to Gouvia in Corfu. Unfortunately that was a delivery and we didn't stop off anywhere between Milazzo and Corfu!

[bolbliksem]

when thru the Messina Strait,
don't forget to visit the Taormina Moorings
https://yachthotel.it/

[Quadrille in JB]

The Amalfi coast is one of the most Scenic places we’ve seen. Our favorite marina was in the cliff side town of Tropea. Friendly dock master and a truly gorgeous place. Also a short trip away from Pompeii via bus and train.

[AZUS]

YKE -

Are you in for a treat! If you need a good place to get the boat in order before you leave Rome, try Porto Turistico di Roma in Ostia. Good marina, the business "Boat Services" can arrange boat things, and a small but decent chandlery.

From there, sail down to Ponza (OK but kind of touristy), then don't miss the islands of Procida and Ischia. We've stopped at Capri, but I wouldn't again - small tight marina and huge prices, even for the Med.

Then you can head to the Amalfi Coast - mooring ball in Positano, and anchor off the swimming beaches in Amalfi. All time great sailing destinations. From there, I don't know the coast well, but 100nm away from Amalfi are the Aeolian Islands - Stromboli, Vulcano are interesting, but we really like Salina.

After the Straits of Messina, don't miss the mooring balls Giorgio runs at Taormina (if they are full, you can anchor behind the breakwater in the nearby port of Giardini). From there, Siracusa is a special place to stage for the passage across the boot of Italy. It is a spectacular Sicilian town, and you can either Med moor on the town quay, or anchor for free in the huge and secure anchorage.

On Valleycat, we are heading to Albania east from Siracusa about June 12th, and our plan is an overnight to Crotone, and then long day sails to Gallipoli and Otrano. That is about the same passage you will make. If you are going to be anywhere from Siracusa onward around June 11-16, let us know, and we'll sail with you.

[psp2psp2]

I made the following stopovers between Rome & Corfu,

Ventotene - one of the Pontian islands. Anchor for free outside the old harbor or inside the newer port after the ferry has left. (The coast guard will be there around 8 am to tell you to move on)

Ischia - great visit! Anchor for free under the old castle. A water taxi operates between the anchorage and the shore.

Agropoli - on the mainland south of the Amalfi coast. €30 for a berth on one of the pontoons. Ideal place for visiting the ruins at Paestum, a short train ride away.

Cetraro - on the mainland. Quite nice and also around €30 - 40 including all facilities

Vibo Valentia - Stella Del Sud. Excellent family-run marina with all facilities, mechanic, electrician, etc etc. Easy access to food markets. Fuel dock.

Scilla - on the mainland. Last stopover before the straits. Moorings are approx €30 per night including water taxi to and from the shore which operates 24hr. V pleasant place.

If you want to stop in Sicily without making a serious detour, the only real option is Messina - Marina del Nettuno, a full service marina but quite expensive. Palermo, Porto Rosso etc are all seriously out of your way.

After the straits, either strike out for Corfu or make your last Italian stop at Rocella Ionica (if you’re a non-EU flag you’ll have to stop here to clear out of Italy). Watch out for a sandbar near the entrance. This is a good place to wait for favorable weather to cross the Ionian. Great pizza restaurant.

And now for a few words on places I haven’t recommended 🤭

Gaetta - ok and you can anchor for free but no convenient place to dinghy ashore.

Procida - nice island but aforementioned Ischia is a better option

Napoli - never been with the boat.

Capri - expensive and always crowded .

Sorrento - even more expensive.

Amalfi - eye watering expensive.

Tropea- nice enough place but I preferred Vibo Valentia

Reggio Di Calabria - uncomfortable harbor and a long walk from anywhere.

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[YKE]

Wow, these are great advises, and appreciated them greatly. For sure, a pattern has emerged for the possible stopovers. Wish we had more time.
Yes, marinas are very expensive around that areas based on our chartering experience there previously, but we will mix it with some anchorages WP of course.
Tks again and kind regards, YKE.

[Kenomac]

Besides getting some terrible stopover advice so far regarding prices. You’ll need to check the weather frequently and carefully, and plan on loosing a several days to unfavorable winds.

The island of Ponza is one good stopover point, Volcano is also a good overnight place (but be prepared to hold your breath, the place smells like rotten eggs), then let me know where you end up keeping your boat in Corfu, as I’m also planning to arrive there in late July.

Capri has an excellent Anchorage on the south side, Naples (as in Pompei and Herculaneum) is a must see. Many excellent and free anchorages along the Almalfi coast.