38:13.12N 15:14.58E

23 June 2011

We fueled up at Riposto before we left.  Another 120 liters at 1.49 Euro per liter.  Left in calm seas and began the trip north through the Straits of Messina again.  The Straits are not predictable in the local weather forecast but generally if there is a 5 knot southerly wind north of the Straits it builds to 25 knots inside the Straits as it did this time again.  So wind on the nose and no choice but to motor through it.  I gave up on trying to time the passage with the local tide because the winds really dominate the passage.  Plus it takes so long to make it through the tides change halfway into it.

So small choppy seas with on idiot small catamaran weaving around in the middle of everything making no progress and not using the engine.  He must have thought he could wait out the winds and make it north, but get out of the middle of everything.

Again we successfully dodged all the ferries crossing the straits.  They are timed to cross so that berths are open when they arrive on the other side so it is not too bad.  Once we popped out the north side there was effectively no wind again so motoring to Milazzo on the north coast of Sicily continued.

Milazzo is a industrial town with an oil refinery and power station.  The harbor is one of the main departure points for ferries to the Aeolian Islands so it can be very busy.  However, along the north coast there are few secure places to berth for the night.  The small marina is very well kept with attentive dock workers to assist in berthing.  Tucked into the northwest corner it is a place to be for a storm.  During the day it can be choppy from the ferries and fishing boats coming and going.  The ferries do keep the speed down but there still are some wakes to rock the boat.  Nothing like Capri, Split (Croatia) or Siracusa.  After about 8:00 at night things are quiet and the marina is very calm.  Free Wi-Fi which is unusual in Europe.  Nice family run place.

Leaving the marina heading to the left is commercial and to the right is the old town, shops and residential areas.  We came at the end of a bike race so the waterfront street was closed to traffic and they were taking down the stands and associated items.  That made for a nice walk along the waterfront.

Nothing of real interest to bring a boat here except for the nice harbor and marina.  The town is a bit dirty and not much to offer.  They did have a small archeological museum and a couple of large churches up the hill (no we did not walk uphill again).

Nice fountain in town and clean streets.

Interesting apartment building along the water.

Church up the hill with a wedding.  We went up to take a look and nice large crowd including many locals who seem to come over to see weddings.

Persevere at its berth with one of the large car ferries in the background.

Big church up on the hill and fortification walls as required a few hundred years ago.

The oil refinery to mark the entrance to the harbor.  I was surprised to see a cooling tower and no flaring or high sulfur plumes from the heaters.  All berths are exposed to the Med to the north.  Must have issues at times unloading crude and loading products especially during winter storms.  Lots of chatter on the radio between the agents for the ships and the dock workers.  Even getting garbage collected required a conversation.