23td September

Today we passed through the Strait of Messina. This has a fearsome reputation. According to Odysseus it is the location of Scilla (who lived on a cliff and plucked sailors from passing ships) and Charybdis (a giant whirlpool). Strong winds, tides and whirlpools do occur. We merely encountered a contrary wind and an adverse tide. Apart from Messina, which is not recommended, there is nowhere to stop heading south on the Sicilian side until the anchorage of Taormina. We arrived in the dark but I had phoned ahead and someone was there to guide us onto a buoy. It was a long day motoring the whole distance but at least we are through the Strait and on the east side of Sicily.