The Messina Strait
Mastering the Strait of Messina: Navigating the Mediterranean’s most famous currents
For anyone cruising in the Mediterranean, the Strait of Messina is both a gateway and a test. Situated between Sicily and the Italian mainland, this narrow passage connects the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. While its fast-flowing currents and swirling eddies are famous for their challenging pilotage, the Strait of Messina remains one of the most practical routes for Mediterranean sailors heading between the eastern and western Mediterranean, cutting down long passages around the southern tip of Sicily.
Here, we dive into the reasons for using this route and share practical tips for navigating this legendary passage.
Practical tips for navigating the Strait of Messina
- Go with the flow Timing your transit during a favourable current can make a significant difference, reducing travel time and avoiding counter-currents that impede your passage. However, be aware that the straits are busiest in the central channel, especially during peak flow periods. If possible, aim for the start or end of a tidal shift when currents are gentler.
- Use eddies to your advantage Near the coastlines of Sicily and Calabria, smaller eddies can provide smoother passages for small vessels. These eddies are created by the main current encountering coastal barriers, providing pockets of reduced flow that can offer a more comfortable ride.
- Monitor vessel traffic The Strait of Messina is a major traffic route for both commercial and recreational vessels. Traffic separation schemes are in place and it’s important to respect their rules while carefully monitoring AIS to avoid collisions.
- Stay alert for whirlpool activity While not typically dangerous, whirlpools like the famed Charybdis can add an unexpected motion to your vessel. Stay vigilant, particularly when passing narrow points, as whirlpool activity increases during stronger tidal flows.
Tides in the Strait of Messina
The Mediterranean Sea, compared to the open ocean, experiences minimal tidal range - typically less than 30 cm in most places. This is due to its limited connection with the Atlantic Ocean at the Strait of Gibraltar, restricting the tidal flow.
However, the Strait of Messina is an exception. Here, the unique geography amplifies tidal currents as water flows between the Tyrrhenian and Ionian basins. The alternating tidal currents in the strait reach speeds of up to 5 knots, creating powerful tidal streams, eddies and whirlpools, especially around narrow sections of the passage.
The key to this effect lies in the constriction of water flow between the two seas and the differences in density and temperature. These differences generate tidal currents that are unique to the strait, leading to complex flows that are more akin to open-ocean tides.
Ancient mariners, puzzled by these unpredictable waters, wove myths around the natural phenomena they encountered.
Most famously, they personified the dangers as the monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla, depicted as a rock-dwelling creature, and Charybdis, a violent whirlpool, represented the perils on either side of the straits. Sailors feared being caught between them, and the phrase "between Scylla and Charybdis" became a metaphor for being stuck between two dangers.
Imray charts and pilot guides: Your essential tools for the Strait of Messina
Italian Waters Pilot by Rod and Lucinda Heikell provides comprehensive coverage of the Strait of Messina. This guide offers detailed information on navigation, anchorages, and local conditions essential for sailors traversing this area. Additionally, Imray chart M30 Southern Adriatic & Ionian Seas includes the Strait, offering valuable cartographic details for planning and navigation.