Messina - General Info
Description:
An attractive stop on the extreme eastern end of the island. It is just 3 miles from Italy’s mainland.
The modern marina has greatly improved the yacht facilities at Messina, however, is open to the north so marina berths could become untenable in strong northerly winds.
See our transit report for the strait, as well as this useful website about currents in the strait at www.correntidellostretto.it.
Position:
38° 12.0’N, 15°33.63’E (marina entrance)
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Port Navigation
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Marina del Nettuno
I can not recommend this port. We paid 120 euros per night, water and electricity cost another 10 euros.
The location is not very comfortable due to the prevailing wind
Johan (SV ELENI)
Messina Italy, July 2017.
We would not recommend Marina Nettuno in the Messina Strait. We paid 110 euros for a 43ft sailing vessel for one night. This marina is not protected from ferries passing by. Staff is friendly though and the facilities are fine.
Cheers, Sailinglyra.com
Marina del Netuno. May 17. Still expensive, although got water and electric in with the price of the berth. Friendly, helpful staff. But, the outer marina berths are on a ‘wave breaker’ pontoon which offers limited wash protection from vessels entering/leaving Messina. Also, limited protection from wind and almost none from Northerlies, 20-knot gusts make the outer berths very uncomfortable, in stronger wind possibly untenable, and with insufficient cleats on the pontoon arranging lines is problematic. The marina is quite small so manoeuvering inside in strong winds will be challenging. Check your forecasts before using Nettuno.
The cruise ship Carnival Vista damaged piers and yachts at Messina Marina.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BlUOfynknc
Due to bad weather, we entered Marina Nettuno, A very friendly and helpful acceptance was ours.
But,
water ? Maybe 4 L/min. Electricity? Every hour to renew at 7,5 € and 110 € per day.
And then,
We went for a drink at Marina’s bar, 5 € for a beer and 7 € for a house wine which was served quite arrogantly. Sad.
It could be different.
We set sail from Milazzo Sicily transiting south through the straits in reasonable weather. We called up VTS radio to advise of our entry on approach but received no reply. We had a pleasant voyage as far as the south end of the TSS.
We were sailing along on passage to Roccella Ionica on the south coast of Italy, it was 21.00, the night was dark and visibility poor. We were north of Capo Spartivento when we heard the sound of powerful engines coming from behind. We could see no lights. As this vessel closed on us within a few meters we were becoming very concerned, then all of a sudden we were lit up by a powerful searchlight. We were studied for about ten minutes, no radio contact, no requests to board us, then the light went out and the vessel took off at high speed into the dark with no navigation lights on. We assumed it was the guardia costiera?
We arrived at the port of Ionica at 03.30 and grounded on the bar at the entrance to the port, we draw 2.2M. We rocked DeDanann off the bar and dropped the hook in 5M of water outside the port. Then, as before, we heard powerful engines coming from seaward, no lights showing, and again we were lit up and studied by the guardia costiera. They then took off into the dark as before.
Whilst it is reassuring to know this coast is being patrolled, it is un-nerving when they come upon you out of nowhere.