S2.8 - Our Journey to Sicily
May 20 – Birds, Dolphins, and a Turbocharged Code D
We left the dock at 8 AM, gliding smoothly into the day. Our speed over ground (SOG) was a leisurely 5.2 knots, setting us up for what looked like a 12-hour sail. But we had a secret weapon—enter the Code D. With it flying and one engine down to 1400 rpm, we hit 7.3 knots, saved on fuel and shaved four hours off the day! Not bad, right?
Halfway through our journey, we made some unexpected feathered friends. One bird decided our starboard side looked cozy, and soon it had a buddy (or a girlfriend) who perched herself on our lines.
I haven’t been able to figure out what kind of bird this might be.
They were very pretty birds.
Then, in true Hitchcock style, one flew into the house. Luckily, Ryan’s ball cap became a bird-catching device, and our feathered stowaway was safely released. I wish I could have captured a video or photo, but the event happened all too quickly. They hung out a bit longer before flying off, leaving us with another surprise—a pod of dolphins! We caught a quick pic of a mama and her baby before they disappeared into the blue.
Magical Sight!
We arrived at Porto Delle Grazie-Marina di Roccella, getting a warm welcome for our second time here.
Last time we docked here was the night prior to our first solo passage crossing the Ionian to Greece (See S1.24). This time around, we took the scenic route back from Greece through the Straits of Otranto and along the Taranto Valley, continuing our journey out of the Med. I have to say, this was a much more pleasant route.
May 21 – Hockey and Housekeeping We woke up early for Game 7—and what a nail-biter! A 3-2 win took us into Round 3. But now… we’re up against the Dallas Stars?! Yikes. After the intense excitement, we spent the rest of the day "relaxing"—which meant five hours of cleaning the interior, laundry, and scrubbing down the exterior.
Making a Friend at the Laundromat
But hey, at least we wrapped up the day chilling on board, soaking in some well-deserved relaxation and a few games of crib.
May 22 – Kite Surfers and a Chaotic Docking
Farewell Rocella
We left the marina at 8 AM with a simple plan: sail, anchor, and maybe catch a mooring ball. As soon as we turned the corner, we hoisted the Code D and shut off the engines.
Boom! 10.4 knots!
We were soaring for about 2.5 hours... until the wind totally ghosted us. Then, just to keep things interesting, it came roaring back—30 knots, but from the wrong direction.
Despite the wind's antics, the ride was smooth, and the scenery heading towards the Strait of Messina was breathtaking.
Motta San Giovanni
Kite surfers were out, adding a little extra flair to the view.
We decided to med-moor at Reggio Calabria (Marina Queen 88), where the marineros seemed utterly bewildered vs helpful. Thankfully, our new neighbors helped us sort things out. They had just taken delivery of their boat and were headed for Croatia. We ended the night watching a lightning storm in the distance, with the Canadian flag flapping proudly in the background.
May 23 – Swordfish Ships and a Smooth Sail to Sicily
We set off at 7 AM, hoping to catch a favorable current through the Strait of Messina. And we did! For a while, at least. Then, as usual, the current shifted and slowed us down. But compared to last year’s chaos in the busy strait, this crossing was a breeze.
I even managed to snap a photo of the traffic separation zones I mentioned in a previous post (S1.23).
During the crossing, we encountered the bizarre swordfish vessels unique to the Messina Strait. These things are straight out of a steampunk dream—high towers for spotting and gangways for harpooning. They're like ancient warships plowing through the water with zero regard for who has right of way. May-August is their season, which is why we didn’t see them last year when we were coming in, so if you’re sailing here, watch out!
Last year we came down from Torpea. This year, we turned left entering new territory towards Sicily and the volcanic islands.
Keeping an eye out for those sneaky super ferries that cruise by at 33.98 knots (seriously, blink and they’re on you),
Ahhh.. I’ve always wanted to come to Sicily!
We anchored at Baia Del Tono and spent the afternoon lounging on the patio on our Fatboy’s (Best Patio Investment Ever), with drinks, enjoying the views, and snapping some epic drone footage of the sunset.
Showing off our epic underwater lights!