This conveniently located marina is a popular stopover point for those who make a long journey across the Mediterranean Sea. It offers solid service charter tourists can rely on, too.
Location & Approach Although it’s the biggest port of the Strait of Messina (the strait that separates Italy from Sicily), Reggio di Calabria can seem to the regular tourist a little bit rundown. This is because little improvement has been done ever since an earthquake back in 1980 messed up the town’s overall appearance.
Regardless, Reggio the Calabria is quite a busy harbor and apart from all the private boats, there are numerous ferries making back and forth runs to Sicily. Maybe that why, the waterfront seems to be one of the more active parts of the city.
The marina is situated right along the coast, the only thing protecting it from the open sea currents is a long, wide breakwater that sits parallel to the shore, leaving a wide opening to the north where yachts and ferries can enter the harbor.
The exact coordinates of the marina are 38°07' N 15°39' E and it’s located within the commercial harbor, on the north side, which sometimes makes access quite difficult due to the heavy traffic. Also, at times, the harbor tends to get very noisy and dirty, but the marina seems to be a little bit cleaner since it has paying customers.
The approach to the harbor is made difficult by strong currents running up and down the strait. Interestingly, enough, the ancients believed these currents were caused by the mythological monsters of Scylla and Charybdis, each sitting at either side of the strait. A captain should first check the tide tables for this region before attempting to sail here. Another thing worth mentioning is that when coming from the south, care should be taken to avoid the fishing lines with floats which the locals deploy and which are pretty hard to spot during a night approach.
Ferries too can cause a skipper and his boat problems since they cause a serious wake and swell which sometimes can enter the harbor, so make sure the boat is secured tight and that it has good fenders.
Infrastructure & Ambience The check-in facilites and the berths for visiting yacht can be found at the southeast quay and they are well equipped: there is water and electricity on the berths and there are additional toilet and shower facilities for arrivals. The fuel station is at the southeast entrance of the marina but there is little room to maneuver.
Additional services can be found in town if they are not to be found within the marina itself. There is no laundry service, nor is there a bar or restaurants, but some good spots can be found just minutes of the boat facility, across the railway tracks which run in the vicinity. Also, there are no stores here, but there is a chandlery which sells marine equipment for sailors.
All in all, not the best services, considering that there aren’t any repair facilities on site, but the Reggio di Calabria marina compensates with numerous itineraries possibilities, both on land and on the water, a good setting that can afford you quick access to Sicily, other parts of the Tyrrhenian Sea and even the rest of the Mediterranean.