Sailing trip from Catania to Naples, right through the cradle of the wind god

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Sailing voyage through the cradle of the wind god
Sailing from Catania to Naples
Via Messina, Aeolian Islands, Amalfi and Capri

The sailing area:
The sailing area for this trip could not be more exciting and varied. It is no wonder that ancient myths surround these waterways, and the actual history is deeply rooted as well.
The Strait of Messina is celebrated even in the Odyssey, and it is still extremely fascinating today to observe the whirlpools created by the currents here.
The Aeolian Islands, also known as the Lipari Islands, are according to myth the birthplace of Aeolus, the god of the winds. Since the Bronze Age, these volcanic islands have seen flourishing trade. Obsidian and pumice stone were traded on Lipari, and Stromboli has always served as a landmark and is therefore arguably the oldest lighthouse in the Mediterranean. Here we can, for example, climb Vulcano or, weather permitting, make a detour to Salina. A must, if weather allows, is a night passage past Stromboli. With a bit of luck the volcano is active and we witness an impressive fireworks display. From Stromboli we head to the Cilento coast and then on to the better-known Amalfi Coast.
At the end of the voyage we can also visit Capri before sailing across the Bay of Naples and finishing the trip in Naples.
The weather in the Tyrrhenian Sea is capricious, but especially in spring, once the first summer high has formed, there is good sailing weather here. We have also allowed enough time to spend a day relaxing in harbour should a weather system pass through.

The voyage:
We start this cabin charter from the city harbour of Catania. The airport is nearby and provisioning facilities are good.
We first sail along the Sicilian east coast to the famous strait, the Strait of Messina. A lovely stop in calm weather is the unspoilt town of Scilla on the mainland. Here we pick up a mooring and can dine in the old town built directly into the cliffs.
The next longer passage takes us to the Aeolian Islands, where Vulcano is the perfect first port of call. You can smell a faint whiff of sulphur miles away, and when the volcano is quiet, we make the short hike up to the crater. Depending on wind and weather, we can spend some time on the islands of Lipari or Salina before we sail into the night towards Stromboli. From here we continue to the Calabrian coast. A marina we can safely make for in any weather is Porto di Cetraro. We continue northwards: we can anchor off the picturesque and very distinctive fishing village of Scario, then sail on to the impressively beautiful Porto di Palinuro to admire the scenery. Via the Cilento coast we head towards Amalfi and Capri. Despite all the hype, I think this area can be visited quite comfortably at this time of year in spring. Our journey's destination is then Naples.

The yacht:
SY ANNA is a Bavaria Cruiser 45 (built 2013) and undeniably one of the best models Bavaria has ever built. Solid, fast, comfortable and with extras such as a watermaker, Code Zero (108m²) and ample refrigeration and battery capacity, she is perfect for long sailing voyages.
The hull design is by Bruce Farr, whilst BMW Designworks were responsible for deck layout and interior architecture. The result is a well-balanced yacht with very good sailing characteristics and great comfort on board – a vessel that is simply a pleasure to sail.

The skipper:
Thomas Brandes has been afflicted by the sailing bug since childhood. His first attempts at sailing took place on the island of Föhr and continue to this day. After all, you never stop learning when it comes to sailing – not even after 100,000 nautical miles.

Fascinated by the forces of nature, the sense of freedom and the lure of adventure, he first learned to sail on dinghies before obtaining his BR-Schein for yachts at the DHH in Glücksburg at the age of 16. At 17 he proudly became the youngest DLRG_Rettungsbootkapitän on Lake Constance. After leaving school he set off on his first great blue-water voyage across the Caribbean and the Pacific. This was followed by community service with an association for socio-educational sailing. During his studies, further blue-water voyages followed, along with his first jobs as a skipper and sailing instructor in Holland and Mallorca.

These student jobs gradually turned into a full-fledged profession. For many seasons he worked as a skipper and sailing instructor in the Mediterranean, the North Sea, and also the Atlantic, the Caribbean, French Polynesia, Thailand and the Seychelles. Since 2008 he has lived on Corfu, where he works as a skipper and manager for Daydream-Yachting and devotedly looks after his boat, SY ANNA.

His highest nautical qualification is the DSV SSS as well as the RYA-Yachtmaster.

He regularly attends seminars and further training courses, for example on medicine at sea or on weather.

As a professional skipper he now has around 100,000 nautical miles worldwide in his wake and brings ample experience to ensure the safety of both boat and crew in a relaxed and confident manner. He also possesses and practises excellent seamanship, which he is happy to pass on to interested crew members.