Sicily - Climate, Winds and Sea

Climate, Winds and Sea

Weather Conditions

It is essential to keep yourself closely updated with regards to the weather conditions for a safe and enjoyable cruise. The weather here is not that much different than in the rest of the Mediterranean,

but with the relief's which are almost everywhere, changes in the weather conditions cannot always be precepted that easily. Therefore, you must foresee and keep yourself well informed about the general weather conditions within the area you are cruising.

April to September

During this season you will the majority of time encounter thermical breezes, starting in the morning and calming down by the end of the afternoon. Winds during the nights are low, and the anchorages will be calm. Violent wind strokes are generally either "Sirocco" (South/East) or "The Mistral" (From South/West to North/West) with speeds of up to 50 to 60 knots,which could rise even higher during this period. They generally do not last long (between 12 to 72 hours) and are announced well on time by all weather forecast stations, which will allow for you to comfortably join a shelter or return to the base.

Even if they are announced way on time, these winds rise very quickly (within a few hours) once the depression approaches. Take care in the Sicily channel, where the wind and sea could be forceful during this period (Islands "Egadi", "Pelagie" and "Eolie"). A storm could quickly arrive, but there is always a place to shelter in each island. Continuous consultation of the barometer and the registering of the measurements in the "Logbook" and the follow up of their evolution will always provide reliable information. Waters have a temperature of between 18° and 25°.

October to March

The weather during this period is sometimes influenced by the passage of depressions coming from the Northeast and Northwest. January and February are rainy months.

Should you decide to hire a sailing boat in Palermo for a one weeks cruise we would suggest one of the following 3 options:

N°1 Palermo : Cefalù Cefalù - Eolian Islands N°2 Palermo : Ustica - Eolian Islands N°3 Palermo-S.Vito Lo Capo : Egadi Islands

If you are considering a trip of two weeks then we would suggest either of the following options:

N° 1 Palermo : S.Vito Lo Capo- Egadi Islands- Pantelleria-Lampedusa N° 2 Palermo : S.Vito Lo Capo- Egadi Islands- Tunisia N° 3 Palermo : Cefalù-Eolian Islands- Ustica-S.Vito Lo Capo-Egadi Islands N° 4 Palermo-Messina-Catania-Siracusa-Malta-Egadi Islands-S.Vito Lo Capo-Palermo (500 miles)

One-Week Sailing Towards the Eolian Islands

Day 1 : Palermo / Cefalu

Palermo is a fast, brash and exciting city. The mix of arabic and viking influences is one of the strangest and unexpected surprises the city has to offer. Buildings dating from the 11th and 12th century, the heyDay of Medieval Sicily, offer this peculiar quality. The most noteworthy and an absolute must is the Palazzo dei Normanni. Among the most important tourist attractions of Palermo are the city's Norman Cattedrale and the Saracen-Norman-Spanish Palazzo Reale (or Palazzo dei Normanni),

a former royal palace added to and altered over the centuries, and now the seat of the local parliament. You can visit parts of the latter building, including the Cappella Palatina, an exquisite chapel containing rich mosaics. Other sights include La Martorana, a splendid Norman church with a Baroque facade and imposing Teatro. In the Vucciria quarter alleys are bustling with people selling spices, pine nuts, etc, especially wonderful to see as night falls and the red awnings are illuminated. Sampling street snacks is always fun in Palermo's liveliest market, BallarÃ², on Piazza Carmine.

Day 2 : Cefalu / Filicudi

Cefalù is strikingly situated at the foot of a rock halfway along the north coast of Sicily. It is an attractive little fishing town, dominated by its Norman cathedral, which in the last few years has developed into a popular holiDay resort. You will find an extremely good selection of fine shops and restuarants.

Day 3 : Filicudi / Vulcano

Filicudi and Alicudi are two small islands with only a small population which are not part of the mass tourism circuit. Filicudi once was called 'Phoenicusa': "rich in ferns", and a major area of the island is still covered with this type of vegetation. This island, measuring just under 10 km2, lies 9 miles from Alicudi and 19 miles from Lipari. It is the most ragged of this group of islands and geologists believe that its conformation is the product of six eruptive mouths, three of which represent toDay's peaks of the island. Alicudi is the island of heather due to the pink blanket that covers its lavic surface in spring- time. This island (5.2 km2) once called "Ericusa" is an extinct volcano that rises out of the sea to reach the summit of Monte Filo dell'Arpa (657 m; also known as Timpone della Montagnola). This is the smallest and western-most of the inhabited Aeolian islands and lies about 67 miles from Milazzo.

Day 4 : Vulcano / Stromboli

It was once called 'HierÃ " (the sacred), but also "Termessa" or "Terrasia". ToDay it is famous for the baths in the warm waters of its submarine springs. This 21 km2, 500 metre high (Monte Aria) isle is the Aeolian island closest to the Sicilian coast. Its name is a clear description of its geography: a land of lava and fumarole, yellow sulphur rocks and black sands all worth a visit. There are three volcanoes on the island: the first extinguished since the prehistoric age; the second is Vulcanello (123 metres high and dormant since 183 B.C.); the last is Fossa di Vulcano (only the fumaroles are still active). Also a visit to the "cave of Cavallo", an underground cave that one could enter by dinghy.

Day 5 : Stromboli / Panarea

This 924 metre high lava mountain (Serra Vancori) which drops abruptly down to 2000 metres below sea-level is Europe's biggest active volcano after Etna. Its area of 12.6 km2 is visually dominated by the crater: a sort of suggestive natural lighthouse situated in the easternmost Aeolian island. During the night, the glittering "sciara" of fire (the red-hot flow descending towards the sea) can be seen from the boats and from Panarea.

Day 6 : Panarea / Salina

The ancient island of "Euonimo" has a surface of only 3.5 km2, but it is the island highly admired by Ã©lite tourism. The main village, Contrada San Pietro, consists of a group of white houses clustered along the eastern side of the island. The built-up area is crowned with olive trees and protected by huge walls.

Day 7 : Salina / Palerme

This isle is the second largest Aeolian island. It was named after the little salted lake of Lingua lying at the south-eastern tip of Salma where the inhabitants once used to gather the salt needed to preserve capers and fish. This centrally located isle, lying two miles from Lipari, is the only Aeolian island (out of seven) covered with blooming vegetation suitable for agriculture thanks to its many water sources. Also worth a visit is Santa Marina a church dating back centuries.

Day 8 : Palerme

Disembarkation at the base.

Two-Weeks Cruising the Eolian and Egadi Islands

Day 1 : Palerme

Boarding at the base.

Day 2 : Cefalu / Filicudi

Day 3 : Filicudi / Vulcano

Day 4 : Vulcano / Stromboli

It was once called 'HierÃ " (the sacred), but also "Termessa" or "Terrasia". ToDay it is famous for the baths in the warm waters of its submarine springs. This 21 km2, 500 metre high (Monte Aria) isle is the Aeolian island closest to the Sicilian coast. Its name is a clear description of its geography: a land of lava and fumarole, yellow sulphur rocks and black sands all worth a visit. There are three volcanoes on the island: the first extinguished since the prehistoric age; the second is Vulcanello (123 metres high and dormant since 183 B.C.); the last is Fossa di Vulcano (only the fumaroles are still active). Also a visit to the "cave of Cavallo" an underground cave that one could enter by dinghy.

Day 5 : Stromboli / Panarea

Day 6 : Panarea / Salina

Day 7 : Salina / Ustica

This isle is the second largest Aeolian island (26.8 km2). It was named after the little salted lake of Lingua lying at the south-eastern tip of Salma where the inhabitants once used to gather the salt needed to preserve capers and fish. This centrally located isle, lying two miles from Lipari, is the only Aeolian island (out of seven) covered with blooming vegetation suitable for agriculture thanks to its many water sources.

Day 8 : Ustica

This is a solitary island (36 miles from Palermo), which has recovered its nature resources thanks to the Marine Reserve that protects its extraordinary seabeds. The under-water flora and fauna are multiplying their species and they can all be visited with guided tours.

Day 9 : Ustica / Santo Vito Lo Capo

Small island to the north of Palermo.An ideal destination thanks to its deep blue sea and fine white sandy beaches. Close to the Natural Reserve of Lo Zingaro. A trip to the aquarium will complete the visit of this picuresque island.

Day 10 : Santo Vito Lo Capo / Favignana

Favignana. This island is the largest of the archipelago of the Egadi and a popular tourist destination because of its wonderful sea characterised by numerous coves. It is an island rich in history, the famous naval battle between the Romans and the Carthaginians was fought here. Favignana is also famous all over the world for its "mattanza" (slaughter of tuna fish) tradition.

Day 11/12 : Favignana / Marettimo et Levanzo

Levanzo - The smallest of the Egadi Islands, is an ideal place for trekking. Marettimo is the furthest from Trapani and therefore this island still is a real natural paradise, with rugged and enchanting landscape and crystal clear water.

Day 13 : Levanzo / Palerme

Historical Palermo sits compactly around one central crossroads, the Quattro Canti, which is at the core of four distinct quarters. The Albergheria and the Capo quarter, the latter beyond the cathedral, lie roughly west of Via Maqueda; the Vucciria and old harbour of La Cala and the La Kalsa, lie to the east, closest to the water. In these areas you'll find virtually all the surviving ancient monuments and buildings of the city.

Day 14 : Palerme

Take time to explore Palermo and its ancient monuments. Palermo is a fast, brash and exciting city. The mix of arabic and viking influences is one of the strangest and unexpected surprises the city has to offer. Buildings dating from the 11th and 12th century, the heyDay of Medieval Sicily, offer this peculiar quality. The most noteworthy and an absolute must is the Palazzo dei Normanni. Among the most important tourist attractions of Palermo are the city's Norman Cattedrale and the Saracen-Norman-Spanish Palazzo Reale (or Palazzo dei Normanni), a former royal palace added to and altered over the centuries, and now the seat of the local parliament. You can visit parts of the latter building, including the Cappella Palatina, an exquisite chapel containing rich mosaics. Other sights include La Martorana, a splendid Norman church with a Baroque facade and imposing Teatro.

Day 15 : Palerme

Disembarkation at the base.

Distances

1. Distance from Palermo to Ustica:

Palermo- Ustica 35 nm (road 342°)

2. Distances from Palermo to the Eoliennes (lles):

Palermo- Alicudi distance 52 nm (road 063°)
Palermo- Filicudi distance 61 nm (road 065°)
Palermo- Salina distance 73 nm (road 070°)
Palermo- Lipari distance 75 nm (road 075°)
Palermo- Vulcano distance 76 nm (road 078°)
Palermo- Panarea distance 85 nm (road 070°)
Palermo- Stromboli distance 94 nm (road 065°)

The Eolian (islands) ] there are 7 in total and all are situated so closely together that you could practically navigate from one to the other by view alone. (Alicudi) Alicudi-Filicudi 8 nm - (Filicudi) Filicudi-Salina 10 nm- (Salina) Salina-Lipari 2 nm- (Lipari) Lipari-Vulcano 0.5 nm- (Vulcano) Vulcano-Panarea 13 nm- (Panarea) Panarea-Stromboli 10 nm. Sailing to the Iles Eoliennes can be achieved through the following stages:

Palermo- Cefalù distance 32 nm (road 101°)
Cefalù- Vulcano 43 nm (road 065)
Cefalù- Capo of Orlando distance 34 nm (road 077°)
Capo of Orlando- Vulcano distance 16 nm (road 037°)

3. Distances from Palermo to the Egadi [lles]:

Palerme - San Vito Lo Capo : 33 nm
San Vito Lo Capo - Favignana : 50 nm
Favignana - Levanzo : 2 nm
Levanzo - Marettimo : 11 nm

4. Distances from Palermo to the Pelagie [lles]:

Palermo- Pantelleria distance 130 nm
Palermo- Linosa 150 nm
Palermo- Lampedusa 155 nm