Strait of Messina: Strong current and cross seas

On the map

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Strait of Messina: how the place works

Two seas with different levels exchange water here, producing currents of up to five knots that reverse every six hours. Whirlpools and tide rips stand at the edges, ferries cross every few minutes, and the north to south traffic runs through.

Strait of Messina: what breaks there

The case is the crossing against the ferry line in a current, and being set off the planned course. Small boats under engine cannot make headway against the stream in places and are set backwards into the traffic.

Strait of Messina: what this means for your policy

Check the liability limit, as in every narrows with commercial traffic. And settle whether the policy has a minimum engine power or an engine requirement: in currents like this a pure sailing boat with no working engine is a different risk.

Cruising range

In the calculator this spot falls under EU inland waters

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