The Messina Strait
Summer 2018 - reserve today!

Reserve your spot today for two new group swims dates for Summer 2018 to be announced by fall, or join our July 19, 2017 crossing!

You'll swim from Messina, Sicilia Via Fortino in Sicily, to Canitello, Calabria in Italy with strong currents in your favor. Water World Swim Italy's Coach Alessandro Gottardis will be at your side. With water at 73-77 degrees Fahrenheit, you can shed that wetsuit and soak up the blue Mediterranean - and the delicious food and wine in the region!

Water World Swim makes a donation for each swimmer to L'Aquilone Onlus, a non-profit Italian organization founded in 2006, that introduces the love of the water to children with disabilities.

JULY 19, 2017 CROSSING
BOOK NOW FOR SUMMER 2018
Water World Swim Messina Strait Finishers

2017 Messina Strait Finishers

Ricardo Arenas Ecuador
Dominic Gallelo USA
Annika Khouri USA
Carla Khouri USA
Mitali Khanzode USA
John Newberry UK
Andrea Vuturo USA

2016 Messina Strait Finishers

Richard Cipolla USA
Francesco Gastaldi Italy
Damian Matich UK
Lenonid Neganov Russia
Luisa Pavia Italy

Bay Area Girl Becomes Youngest Person Ever to Successfully Swim Between Italy and Sicily

MESSINA, Sicily (Italy)—June 18, 2017—Water World Swim, the world leader in open water swimming, today announced Mitali Khanzode, a 15-year-old girl native to Sunnyvale, Calif., has successfully completed the swim of the Messina Strait. The 3.5Km (2.1 miles) aquatic traverse between the island of Sicily and mainland Italy took place on Sunday, 18 June, 2017, beginning around 8:50am local time, and took her 1 hour and 20 minutes while she faced rain, wind and challenging currents.

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YOUR BOAT You'll be on the Colapesce, named after Messina legend Nicola "Cola" who turned into a fish and carries Sicily on his shoulder. When he switches shoulders - earthquake!

YOUR PILOT Giovanni Fiannacca will pilot the swim. He holds the record for swimming the strait - 37min36sec - and has held it since 1975!

YOUR EUROPEAN COORDINATOR
Pat Tomada, an Italian native from Udine, swam regularly with Coach Pedro in the bay on visits to the US. A regular swimmer and triathlete, Pat will help coordinate your crossing and trip, navigating Italian, permits, boats, and more to make your dream a reality!

Requirements

You must be at least 14 years of age to swim the Strait of Messina or the Bonifacio Channel. In addition, you must have an Echocardiogram (EKG) and Stress test performed by a doctor, valid within one year of your swim date. Without meeting either of these requirements, you will not be able to swim.

We highly recommend travel insurance - and not just for your stuff! Swimming in the open water can be dangerous. While we haven't encountered any, there are jellyfish and you want to be covered in case the unexpected happens. We are not responsible for any swim or open-water related injures.

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Ready to dive into Messina?

Contact us for details! Coach Pedro or Coach Ale will be in touch with you to discuss your Italian adventures. Use the contact form below to get in touch, or Apply Online or Register. (All those who register must also use the application at the Apply Online button.)

Happy swimming and travels!

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