From Milazzo through the the Straits to Rocelle Jonica was a long day for us. We were underway for 14 hours with 30 minutes getting ready to leave and another 30 minutes to arrive. I had called the marina at Rocelle Jonica and told them our estimated arrival time: 5 minutes after sun set. They urged us to go as fast as we could so the could help us in before dark. The marina office usually closes at 18.00 but they waited especially for us to guide us in.

The marina has been dredged but it is still very shallow in the entrance. The wind had been up and blown the sand back again. Two local boats went aground just before we arrived. You have to follow the clear and precise instructions in the Italian Waters Pilot Book by Rod Heikell and then you will be fine. There was a big swell coming in and the wind was very gusty.

Our back up plan had we not arrived at 20.20 was to sail on. It would have been too windy to anchor safely there.

Our friends Marcia and David had come in earlier as they started off from the Italian side of the Straits so were much closer. It was nice to meet up with them again after their trip to Volcano and our road trip to Siracrusa. But we were all too tired to even have the first beer of the day!