We Finally Left The Dock After 7 Months | Strait of Messina [Ep.22]
30 May 2026 · 24 min · 17K views · Capo d'Orlando
What this video covers
After seven months of preparation at the marina in Capo d'Orlando, Sicily, Wik and Rox depart aboard Oceanaire | Wik & Rox with two extra crew, Joep and Marina, bound for Corfu — a passage of roughly 350 miles.▶ 0:00 The boat had never been properly sailed before departure; previous rigging problems including seized blocks, stiff lines, and a broken furling mechanism had all been repaired during the marina stay.▶ 12:22 Timing the Strait of Messina is the first significant challenge: strong tidal currents, cross-currents, and whirlpools require careful timing, and the crew waits for a 9:30 a.m. slot to ride favourable current through.▶ 11:12 The Italian coast guard boards to check the vessel because the AIS is not working.▶ 14:09 Speed through the strait reaches 9 knots over ground in 6 knots of wind.▶ 14:33 Mount Etna is visible from the strait.▶ 15:49 After exiting, heavy swell forces the crew to bypass a planned anchorage and continue overnight, arriving at midnight.▶ 17:32 Subsequent stops include Crotone, where anchoring too close to certain areas draws coast guard fines.▶ 18:52 On day four, crossing from the toe to the heel of Italy in 20–25 knots, Rox experiences her first bout of seasickness.▶ 21:10 The watermaker runs for the first time, though its hoses are not yet permanently routed.▶ 19:20
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