Chartering in Sicily from Syracuse: the east coast, the scirocco and the Plemmirio reserve

Syracuse sits on the east coast of Sicily, with its old town, Ortigia, on a peninsula between two harbours. From there most charters head south, past limestone cliffs and sea caves and fishing villages such as Marzamemi, to Portopalo at Capo Passero, the south eastern tip of the island. Chartering in Sicily from Syracuse means clear water and dramatic coast, but also stretches where harbours and sheltered anchorages are scarce. The Plemmirio marine reserve begins just south of the harbour entrance.

The Plemmirio reserve is divided into zones where navigation, anchoring or swimming are restricted or banned; the reserve's management publishes the rules and the positions of the mooring buoys. The weather on this coast is shaped above all by the scirocco. It blows from the south east, brings warm, humid air and builds a sea that runs straight onto the east coast. Harbours and bays open to the south east become uncomfortable or dangerous. In summer, by contrast, the wind often blows from a northerly direction along the coast.

Check the forecast every morning for the scirocco and head for a sheltered harbour in good time when it is coming. Ask the base which zones of the Plemmirio reserve you may use and where the buoys are. The papers Italy expects from skipper and crew apply in Sicily as on the mainland. You are personally liable for damage you cause to others with the charter yacht, so look at skipper liability cover as part of your preparation.

Worth remembering

From Syracuse, plan the scirocco and the reserve's zones every morning.