Circumnavigating Sicily is an experience of a lifetime. The captain and crew of YUK, a Hallberg-Rassy 62 foot sailing yacht, invite guests for an intimate journey into this land of extraordinary art and culture, fantastic landscapes and renowned cuisine. Sail 500 miles around Sicily while sampling the finest local food and wine both on shore and on board your luxury charter yacht. Explore the most interesting places on the coast and islands while sailing upon the crystal waters of three seas: the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Mediterranean.
Day 1: Depart from the capital city of Palermo to San Vito Lo Capo, a small town nestled between spectacular mountains, famous for the international Cous Cous Fest and dotted with charming seaside restaurants. Enjoy a classic dinner of fish couscous San Vito washed down by a fine local wine.
Day 2: Sail from San Vito to the historic town of Erice located 750 meters above sea level. There are two castles and impressive ancient ruins worth visiting. Savor luncheon al fresco at anchor before navigating to Favignana, popular for diving and snorkeling. Dive into the ocean in the afternoon then prepare to explore the town and anchor for the night.
Day 3: Favignana is famous for bluefin tuna caught using ancient Arab techniques, and caves of calcarenite rock. Visit the tuna factory, do a bit of shopping and play in the sparkling sea. In the afternoon depart for Marsala, a short distance of 10 miles. Drop anchor in Marsala Lagoon and visit the windmills of Mozia Aperitif. Visit the old town at sunset for spectacular views and explore the ancient market of Marsala.
Day 4: The cruise from Marsala to Porto Empedocle passes 66 miles of spectacular coastline. There are several port towns and lovely beaches that are perfect for shore excursions. Moor in Porto Empedocle that lies on the coast of the Strait of Sicily and is steeped in culture and history.
Day 5: This morning visit the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. The Greek pre-socratic philosopher Empedocles
was a citzen of this ancient Greek colony. Sail to Cala dei Turchi with its sweeping sandy beach and towering cliffs in a picturesque cove, the place of ancient Arab pirate landings in Sicily. The surrounding sea is incredibly transparent and offers superb grotto diving. Cocktails and dinner on board the yacht and a night transfer to reach Marina di Ragusa.
Day 6: Ragusa is listed with seven other cities in the Val di Noto as a UNESCO
Day 7: Depart Ragusa for Siracusa via Portopalo di Capo Passero, due to its location a crossroads of civilization and culture for seafarers that have challenged the Mediterranean Sea. Continue to Syracuse for a romantic dinner at a harbor restaurant in Ortigia.
Day 8: Syracuse, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an amazing repository of Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and is mentioned in the Bible because the Apostle Paul spent time here. There are also wonderful museums, shops and restaurants offering far more to do than can be done in a day.
Day 9: Navigate to Taormina
where the yacht will moor in the picturesque Bay of Giardini Naxos, a popular seaside resort. The village of Taormina is perched on a cliff overlooking the warm waters of the Ionian Sea. Visit the ancient Greek theatre, remarkable for its state of preservation and location. Stroll among buildings and churches centuries old, lively bars, fine restaurants and antique shops, all of which contribute to Taormina’s allure. Taormina is approximately a forty-five minute drive away from Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna.
Day 10: Depart for Messina, the third largest city on Sicily. Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BC, Messina is characterized by landmarks, museums, restaurants, shops, beautiful fountains and splendid squares at every turn.
Day 11: Embark upon the 35 mile passage
through the Straits of Messina to Capo di Milazzo, a thin peninsula that extends into the Tyrrhenian Sea. This is the site where several civilizations have settled beginning in the Neolithic age, and the site of Ulysses shipwreck and fated meeting with Polyphemus. The port of Milazzo is a departure point for ferries to the Aeolian Islands and Naples.
Day 12: The Aeolian Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea and a very popular tourist destination. Here the weather will help decide which islands to visit and what adventures to pursue. Visit the fascinating pumice quarry and plan for an excursion to Capofaro Malvasia Resort, situated under the lighthouse from which it takes its name, on Salina, the Aeolian Island with the greenest and most luxuriant vegetation. The Regaleali Estate is renowned for Tasca d’Almerita award winning wines and a restaurant offering typical Sicilian dishes prepared with estate grown produce.
Day 13: Depart the Aeolian Islands for the 55 mile journey to Cefalu. Enjoy a delicious lunch on board while docked in the Bay of Cefalu. The town is one of the major tourist attractions in the region with a young atmosphere and lively nightlife. The villages are attractive for artistic, cultural and historic reasons. Dinner can be enjoyed at a local restaurant on the sea.
Day 14: Time to return to Palermo and bid your captain and crew farewell. If possible plan to spend at least a day here in Sicily’s cultural, economic and tourist capital. Visitors delight in the extraordinary restaurants, splendid Romanesque and Gothic architecture, palaces, museums and theatres and fine shopping.
Visit this link for information on chartering YUK. Here are informative links to view Sailing and Yachting Itineraries and Worldwide Yachting Destinations.
America’s Cup World Series AC45 Catamaran: Spectacular Capsize During Media Event
Russell Coutts, the CEO of defending champion Oracle Racing, was racing skipper Jimmy Spithill as part of a media day to publicize the U.S. debut of the new AC45 catamarans. His boat was bearing away during the prestart maneuver when the bows buried in a wave and the cat lifted into the air and flipped over, forcing Grinder Shannon Falcone through the wing sail and into the chilly water along with another crewman.
The AC45 catamarans that raced around San Fransisco Bay debuted earlier this year in New Zealand where two capsized. The high tech, ultra light and extremely fast catamarans were expected to create gripping drama due to the inevitable risks involved in racing the boats.
Although dangerous, promoters of the AC World Series and the Americas Cup could not have orchestrated a more effective promotional stunt. With the video going viral, the AC World Series, in which the AC45s will compete in locations around the globe, and the 2013 America’s Cup, which will be sailed in even faster and more powerful 72-footers, are now more highly anticipated events than ever before.
Here is some helpful information on Regattas and Sailing Events and a Yachting Calendar of upcoming events.
Leek, Mushroom and Feta Filo Rolls: A Favorite Recipe from the Galley of Charter Catamaran NAUTICAT OF FOWEY
Leek, Mushroom and Feta Filo Rolls
- First make your filling.
- Wash and finely slice 3 leeks and a handful of Mushrooms.
- Gently sauté these in a pan in a little olive oil with a couple of sprigs of Thyme and seasoning to taste.
- Mix in 3 – 4 oz of crumbled Feta cheese or you can use goats’ cheese if you prefer and allow mixture to cool while you prepare your filo.
- Take one packet of filo and carefully open out the sheets and lay them on a board and cover with some cling wrap to keep them moist.
- Melt one stick of butter in the microwave.
- Take a sheet of filo and lay it on your work board – brush it carefully with the melted butter. Lay a second sheet on top. Cut the two sheets into three sections to give three oblongs and brush around the four edges of each one. At the top end of each place a small tight bundle of your leek mixture and fold in the top and the two sides all the way down. Roll these up into cigar shape parcels and place onto a baking sheet with the seam underneath.
- When all complete – brush the tops with beaten egg and chill down in the fridge of an hour or so. Then cook in a hot oven for about 20 minutes or until the tops have gone golden brown.
- Variations – you can make much bigger ones to make as a main veggie dish and you could use any combo of cooked /leftover veg and herbs and cheese – maybe Brie or Mozzarella to make them a little bit gooey – Enjoy!
NAUTICA OF FOWEY is a stylish and seaworthy Leopard 47, perfect for three couples and available for charter in the Caribbean Sea. Please visit these links for further destination information and to view a comprehensive selection of stunning Charter Yachts.
Officials Promote New World Destination: Forum to Boost Yacht Tourism in Colombia
Colombia shares maritime borders with Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, so it is no wonder that government officials are enthusiastic about integrating the country’s coast into existing Caribbean maritime routes. Recent efforts have created much excitement, particularly among cruising and racing sailors, who feel the development of a marine infrastructure, is long overdue.
According to Colombia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry andTourism, “the country aims to develop its nautical tourism industry to bring more tourists to its Caribbean coast.” A joint forum between public and private entities in the fields was held in the popular tourist destination of Santa Marta last Friday with the aim of including the Colombian coast in maritime routes between the Caribbean islands, Central and South America.
Although not mentioned during the forum by the Ministry, one of the most alluring yachting and diving destinations in Colombia is the Sea Flower Marine Protected Area in the Archipelago of San Andres and Providence. The site encompasses numerous islands and about 10% of the Caribbean Sea, amounting to a vast marine area of 120,000 sq mi. In 2000 it was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to ensure that the large biodiversity of the ecosystem is well preserved and conserved. The region, located approximately 470 miles from the Colombian main land and about 140 miles east of Nicaragua, is a paradise of picturesque beaches, coral reefs, pristine cays, lush greenery and towering native trees.
Here are some useful links to our Guide to the Caribbean Sea and comprehensive information on Luxury Yacht Charter.
WATCH AN ONLINE SCREENING OF ALIEN INVADERS TONIGHT – JUNE 2ND
By Alecia Adamson, REEF Field Operations Coordinator
Changing Seas, an original production of Miami’s public television station WPBT2, will host a live online screening event of Alien Invaders, the series’ latest episode focusing on the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic. Alien Invaders will be screened live on the Changing Seas website www.changingseas.tv/webcast on Thursday, June 2nd at 7:30 p.m. EST. During the screening, dive enthusiasts will have the opportunity to join an online chat with producers and the experts featured in the program. REEF’s Lad Akins and researcher Stephanie Green will be be online to answer questions live during the event.
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation is a grass-roots organization that seeks to conserve marine ecosystems by educating, enlisting and enabling divers and other marine enthusiasts to become active ocean stewards and citizen scientists.
Please visit the Caribbean or Florida and the Bahamas to explore the wonderful options that are available for dive charters.