Away from the “crazy crowd,” the VELA Cup in Sicily is more beautiful

A circuit of regattas + a celebration of sailing that brings hundreds of boats and thousands of fans to the water each year (in 2023 there were about 4,000), the VELA Cup for 2024 concludes its fun circuit of regattas around Italy and the most beautiful seas of the Peninsula in Sicily.
And the sailing tour of Italy is in fact not complete if it does not stop precisely in Sicily as well.
Even better in October, when in the north autumn and cold weather are already making themselves felt.
So for the sixth and final leg of the sailing tour, we disembark in a truly magical place, and not only because it is just a breath away from the fascinating Aeolian Islands.
It will in fact be the Marina of Capo d’Orlando, between October 4 and 5, to host the last (but only for 2024…) appointment with the VELA Cup: a nautical event that, as always, brings together many different types of boating lovers, including thoroughbred skippers and superstar cabin cruisers, all united by being truly passionate cruising sailors.

VELA Cup Sicily – Why you can’t miss it

For this year then the VELA Cup takes place on a fascinating coastal course, and with views of the Aeolian Islands, which lasts no more than four hours.
Any type of boat from 4 meters and up is welcome; no certificate is required. First place wins, with divisions by homogeneous length classes, “cruising” and “racing” categories. Watch out then: the Capo d’Orlando Marina offers free mooring for 7 days to boats from outside the area in addition to another 7 days of 30 percent discount.
A perfect opportunity then to stay along the coast of northern Sicily and engage in off-season but still warm weather exploration of some of the most beautiful nautical places in Trinacria, from the Aeolian Islands themselves to Tindari and Cefalù.

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Capo d’Orlando, the base of the VELA Cup Sicily

Founded then according to legend at the time of the Trojan War, the same charming Capo d’Orlando-which owes its name to the mythical paladin Orlando (furious…) who is said to have rested there before a crusade to the Holy Land-is the first of the Sicilian destinations to visit after racing in the VELA Cup.
Until a few years ago still a fishing village bathed by a fishy and clear sea, today Capo d’Orlando is a modern and lively town with a strong tourist vocation but with spaces and times truly on a human scale, even and especially out of season.

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  The “cape” then is a sheer rock cone on a coast that alternates between white sandy beaches and fantastically shaped rocks.
Not forgetting that inland is also the wonderful Nebrodi Park, known for its unspoiled landscapes and variety of flora and fauna.
Its forests, lakes, and mountain villages are worth more than a visit, as is the tasting of typical products: black pig salami, cheeses, honey, and much more.
And speaking of gastronomic gems, to taste local recipes you can go to the tables of the Pippo Anzà Restaurant (tel. 0941 912635): located “elevated” above the sea in Contrada Certari it offers family hospitality and high-level local cuisine.

Cape Tindari

Before then “launching” into the Tyrrhenian Sea towards the Aeolian Islands, it is worth heading east for just over ten miles of sea until reaching Capo Tindari.
For a swim in unspoiled nature here then to drop anchor in the sandy bay located to the east of the promontory and which is recognizable even from the open sea due to the elevated presence of the silver dome of the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Tindari.
Still ashore then, one can also admire the remains of the ancient Greek city of Tindari founded in 396 B.C.: among the oldest archaeological remains are those of the Theater.

Route to the Aeolian Islands: Vulcano

Then from here it finally comes time to put bar to the north to reach in a few miles of cruising the closest of the Aeolian Islands, Vulcano.
The first thing to visit are its wild bays, especially out of season Cala di Mastro Minico in the northern part and Cannitello on the southern coast.
A short distance from this then also opens the beautiful Donkey Beach just near the village of Gelso.
About 6 km inland then you can also reach an excellent address for dinner: it is that of the Maria Tindara restaurant (tel. 090 9853004), which offers typical island cuisine.

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The island of Salina and Panarea

Circumnavigating then the great Lipari along its west coast here we reach another pearl of the archipelago, Salina.
Whose most beautiful bay is surely Cala di Pollara, set right in the northwest corner of the island: it is truly spectacular to take a swim surrounded by the high cliffs and in front of the black lava beach.
We then move to the opposite shoreline to the southeast to discover the pleasant, well-sheltered landing of Lingua: you drop anchor to swim in front of the beach.
Ashore then you go down in the evening for dinner: the interesting place to visit is a few hundred meters further north in the hamlet of Santa Marina.
It is called Restaurant ‘Nni Lausta (tel. 090 9843486) and offers truly special seafood cuisine (not for nothing does its name in dialect mean lobster).

To register for the VELA Cup Sicilia, all you need to do is enter here and finalize your registration by entering your and the boat’s details!

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