Is that winter?

We have such a warm weather here in Sicily that at the end of November we still go paddling dressed only with swimming suite and T-shirt.

I joined the last week Peppe and Gianfranco that use to paddle in the morning along the coast of Catania. The sea was populated only by ourselves and few little fishing boats, very little swell and warm water and air! Will never come winter this year?

Sea Kayak near Taormina

The best start is a sweet and good breakfast!

Gianfranco, Peppe, Serena, Aldo and Mirella paddled in the second sunday of November along the coast of Taormina, one of the most famous Sicilian touristic destination. A beautiful day, warm water and sun, to explore the caves of the rocky coast between Isola Bella and the village of Giardini Naxos...
The low tide helped them to enter in a narrow cave that is not usually possible to visit... These pics from Peppe and Gianfranco.

Gianfranco, Serena, Mirella and Giuseppe at the end of the day:

Warm October End

The sea temperature of the coldest waters of Sicily is still around 20°C. The weather is good and we still have plenty of sunny days, and we go around with light T-shirts.

The choice of Tino was perfect: going for a base-course right at the end of October!

Wet exit, paddle float self rescue and learning the first strokes was fine and fun, under the teaching of Giuseppe in the beautiful location of Santa Maria La Scala.

Vulcanoa Sea Kayak Symposium 2009

The island of Vulcano, with its secure black-sanded beach and crystal waters, was a good choice.
The symposium lasted three days, from the 2nd to the 4th of October with water activities mostly held in the morning, and presentations in the afternoon or early evening. Sottocosta instructors and guides taught entry-level and advanced courses for adults and children. International guests Helen Wilson, Justine Curgenven and Barry Shaw participated in the instruction. Despite rainstorms, the activities of the Symposium continued. For the marathon at the end of the Symposium there was a clear but windy day: a three mile competition in choppy seas, crossing a small tidal race, in the strait between the islands of Vulcano and Lipari. At the award ceremony Helen Wilson and Tatiana Cappucci entertained everyone with a paired Greenland Rolling demonstration.

At dinnertime the international guests treated the participants with slideshows about their kayak trips around the world. Guests praised the good food, the abundant wine, and the relaxed atmosphere experienced throughout the symposium.


Afterwards, almost every participant joined in a rejuvenating tour around most of the archipelago. People enjoyed enormously paddling across the islands and along their beautiful coasts, exploring grottoes, and admiring ancient and recent volcanic activity.
Participants paddled along the islands of Vulcano, Lipari, Salina and Panarea.

The Æolian archipelago has been a wonderful site to paddle. Its coastal waters and its inhabitants seem to be warm all year round and welcoming. The next Vulcanoa Symposium will be in 2010, from September 30th to October 7th.

All the people of Sottocosta are looking forward to meeting more paddlers from all over the world. Mark your calendar!
http://www.vulcanoasymposium.com/

More photos:
Gennaro Battezzato - http://picasaweb.google.com/gbattezzato1/Vulcanoa2009Pentax#
Gennaro Battezzato 2 - http://picasaweb.google.com/gbattezzato1/Vulcanoa2009#

Joe Carnwath - http://picasaweb.google.com/carnwathj/VulcanoaPostSymposiumTour2009#

Justine Curgenven - http://cackletv.blogspot.com/2009/10/fine-food-fine-wine-and-fine-paddling.html
Leo De Chiara - http://picasaweb.google.it/giupa54/VulcanoaOttobre2009?feat=email#
Albert Gambina - http://picasaweb.google.com/algambina/VulcanoaOct09#
Marco Piacentini - http://picasaweb.google.com/piacenm/Vulcanoa#
Giuseppe Piscitello - http://picasaweb.google.com/gpiscitello/Vulcanoa2009#
Vincenzo Stuppia - http://picasaweb.google.com/vikayak68/Vulcanoasymposium02?feat=directlink#
Helen Wilson - http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenwilson/sets/72157622438301615/

The southernmost point of Sicily

For the third time aficionados sea kayakers from Malta come to paddle along the coasts of Sicily. The first time they paddled along the volcanic black coast of Catania, than was the time of the Ragusa province and this year the choice was the south tip of Sicily, into the Siracuse province.
Using as a base a campsite in Portopalo, we had two day trips paddling in the two directions.

First day toward East, reaching first the village of Marzamemi and than the beautiful and protected site of Vendicari, with its ancient Swabian tower and the old tuna fish farms. On our way back we have a stop in Portopalo for a coffee or an ice cream, coming back in the same place in the evening by car for a beer and a pizza.

The second day the destination is west of the Portopalo harbour, after the Correnti Island, in a place called Punta Formiche, in the Amber Coast. A very small passage is feasible with kayaks between the island and the mainland, than we pass over a 6 meter deep ship wreck and head for a small cave, after which we meet another group of paddlers that come with us to have a lunch break at the Correnti Island.

The increased wind from East slow down our way back but we land in time for a final swimming before load the kayaks on the trailer and packing everything to go home.

More pictures from Frans Debono at: http://picasaweb.google.com/fransdebono/Sicily2009

From the sea level to the top of Sicily

A 3 Star BCU Sea Kayak British fellow and his Irish girlfriend had come to Sicily for having some adventure and fun in the outdoor. Andy and Aoife are very well trained and I easily teach them some sea kayaking tricks like the wet exit and the T rescue, just in case of capsizing. The very warm water helps a lot and encourage in playing with the boat down under...

We start to paddle along the coast north of Catania, towards the protected area of Lachea Island and the stacks of Acitrezza, where we meet Gianfranco that happily join to our paddling. The weather is nice, a bit windy, but when Aoife ask for a refreshing swim I suggest that we can wait for a shower. I’ve never experienced such a strong rain in a kayak! Was barely possible to see but very easy to drink a lot of water.

The rain last few minutes, after which the sun soon return, finding us protected under the porch of a Bar... in time for lunch.

The day 2 is dedicated to the volcano Etna. We leave from Catania at 6 in the morning and we start to climb at 7. Aoife is very fast and any drop of sweat will be on her for all the 6 hours walking, covering a distance of about 10 km and an ascent of about 1.540 meters. Andrea, who joined us at the last minute, stops at 2.800 meters. Me and Andy run after Aoife, reaching the rim of the NE crater, at 3.300 meters above sea level.

The three hours walking down is mainly done into a thick fog, without the help of any compass, useless into the metal rich lava terrains.