J + 7 : Messina to Milazzo

View over Messina from the Santa Maria di Montalto. The Sacrario di Cristo Re on the left, the Straits of Messina in the Middle, the Port with the St Salvador Fort to the Right

It is change over day today. Crew 1 leaves and returns to Switzerland, London and New York. Crew 2 arrives from Geneva, Zurich and Singapore. As always, everybody has to clear the boat by 8 am to give the "My Lotty" team time to resupply and do a deep cleaning. We used our spare time to walk up to the Sacrario di Cristo Re. Exploring a town by walking is always the best. We discovered that the foundations of the Sacrario was an old Norman fortress and that right behind it were the Renaissance bastions financed by Charles V to protect his vital port town against Turkish attacks.

The Norman Tower below the Sacrario is clearly visible

Messina was for several centuries a Norman town after it was conquered by Robert Guiscard in 1061 AD. Founded by local Sicles in the 8th century BC and subsquently taken over by Greek colonists from Naxos, the town was later ruled by Rome, Byzantium and Arab Emirs. Messina was a vital connection for the Normans. Its possession protected their link with the Pope, their principal sponsor and supporter. It also served as a jumping board for their later conquest of Southern Italy up to the borders of the Papal State.

Milazzo is Messina's sister town - founded in the middle of the 7th century BC by Messinesi

From Messina we will sail north-west for about 4 hours to another Norman town, Milazzo. Mylae, as the town was called in ancient times, was an important Greek settlement. In the Sicilian wars, it sided early with Athens against Syracuse. When Rome clashed with Carthage in the 3rd century BC, Mylae supported Rome. In 36 BC is was recognized for its loyalty as a Roman civitas. For the next 1'000 years, it was ruled by Rome - Byzantium before being occupied by Arabs for a brief 100 years. They laid the foundation for today's castle which was expanded subsequently by the Normans, Frederick II of Hohenstaufen and eventually Emperor and Spanish King Charles V. The castle kept its strategic importance until 1860 when Garibaldi defeated the Bourbons in the vicinity. Milazzo was the last obstacle before Garibaldi crossed into mainland Italy.

One Hour to go to Milazzo which is already visible at

the Horizon. Sunset in 20 minutes

Milazzo has about 30'000 inhabitants. Since the 1960 it attracted new industries, most importantly the oil refinery at the foot of the peninsula which refines oil found around Sicily. Milazzo's port connects Sicily by ferry to the Aeolian Islands and Naples. Many people now live on the Aeolian and commute daily for work to Milazzo.

Having passed the Straits of Messina without any indicent, we arrived before Milazzo at 8 pm