Sailing Conditions

General Conditions

The Scicilian climate is ideal for an Italian sailing vacation, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Winds are generally north-westerly averaging 8 to 12 knots (8 - 14 mph). During the cruising season of April to October, the skies are blue and the weather warm, with water temperatures averaging 71 F (22 C). 

The tidal range is less than 1 foot (30 cm) making Palermo the perfect sailing vacation destination, with ample opportunity for line-of-sight sailing in sheltered waters but you do need to be prepared for some longer passages out to the islands.  The height of the mountains and volcanoes accounts for a sharp difference in temperatures between the coast and further inland, where it is much cooler due to the altitude.