Yacht Hotel

30/05/2024

30/05/2024

All non-EU citizens must be in possession of a valid work permit for Italy. We still have two positions for the summer season ... yachthotel.it

06/02/2024

❓What to do and where to go during your stay at YH - Taormina Moorings?
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🛎️Our concierge knows the answer.
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Here are the most requested activities by our guests:
🔹 Tours to Mount Etna, the most active volcano in the world. Our guests prefer to view it from above by choosing a helicopter tour.
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🔹 One of the must-do experiences is Etna Wine Tasting. We offer quality wineries with high standards for your selection.
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🔹 Guided tours to Taormina, the charming town with breathtaking coastal views.
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🔹 Tours to see the cinematic masterpiece "The Godfather," visiting towns like Savoca & Forza d'Agro where the film was shot.
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🔹 Rafting on the river in the Alcantara Valley.
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🔹 A round of golf on the slopes of Europe’s highest volcano … Etna.
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🔹 Shops, restaurants, concerts, and art events.
And many more...
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Which one will you choose?
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31/01/2024

What YH - Taormina Moorings offers you while sailing along the east coast of Sicily.
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1️⃣ The Location: nestled right behind the stunning south side of Capo Taormina.
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2️⃣ Eco-Friendly Moorings: Our moorings are designed to minimize the impact on the seabed and protect sea-life.
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3️⃣ Luxury Concierge: Our concierge service ensures you have access to everything you need for a perfect stay, from gourmet dining to land transport and local excursions.
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4️⃣ Secure Moorings: Our moorings are protected from westerly, north-west, and north-east winds, providing a safe stay even in strong summer winds.
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5️⃣ Exclusive Mooring Buoys: We have exclusive mooring buoys right next to captivating natural caves, making your stay truly unique.
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7️⃣ Yacht Care Management: With over 15 years of experience, YH can recommend skilled technicians in most areas of maintenance.
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Ask for quotation using the WhatsApp button in our profile bio.

27/01/2024

🎊 What to do, see, and taste in Sicily during February.
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February is the carnival month in Sicily.
Here are our ideas for the most important Carnivals in Sicily and other events to attend.
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🎭 28.01-13.02 Carnival in Acireale (Catania province). This carnival is considered the most beautiful carnival in Sicily and the 3rd in all of Italy. Allegorical floats, music, confetti, parades of masqueraders, and an atmosphere of childlike carefreeness are guaranteed.
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🎭 10-11.02; 17-18.02 - Carnival in Sciacca (Agrigento province). This carnival is often compared to the one in Acireale. The King of the Carnival is Peppe Nappa.
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🎭 4, 10, 11, 13.02. The Carnival of Termini Imerese (Palermo provence). The main characters are Nannu and Nanna (the Grandparents).
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As well, almost in each Sicilian town, a small local carnival will be held: Taormina, Giarre, Misterbianco, Palazzolo Acreidi, etc. So, prepare your best mask and enjoy the atmosphere.
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👑 3-6.02 Feast of Saint Agatha in Catania is one of Europe's biggest religious festivals. The soul of Sicilian traditions, celebrations, and sounds.
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🎶 06.02-10.02 - the 74th Italian Song Festival of Sanremo 2024 will be broadcasted on every Italian television, even in Sicily.
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By the way, on the slopes of Etna, the red oranges have started to ripen.
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Enjoy every month in Sicily with Yacht Hotel Taormina moorings and book your mooring for the summer season 2024 directly.
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09/01/2024

Some French Riviera Cuisine during George's holidays at Côte d'Azur.

I tried some main dishes like:

🥘Gigot d’Agneau
🥘Daube de Cerf
🥘Raclette
🥘Camembert au four
🥘Margret de Canard
🥘Tataki du Thon

My favorite ones are Daube au Cerf and Margret de Canard.

Save these dishes to your “to taste list” for a future visit to the French Riviera and by all means share them with your friends.

What not add your recommendations to this list … maybe for my next trip?

04/01/2024

🎭 January, what does Sicily offer to its guests in the first month of the new year?

💫Until January 6th, Christmas markets and cribs are still open throughout Sicily.

💫On January 6th, La Befana takes away all the Christmas holidays and with them all the Christmas decorations.

🎭From January 12th to 20th, at the Teatro Bellini in Catania, we listen to Turandot with the enchanting music of Giacomo Puccini.

🎭From January 24th to 28th, at the Teatro Bellini in Catania, the ballet "Swan Lake" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

🎡Carnivals come to Sicily. Usually, according to the calendar, they fall in February, this year starting from 8th to the 13th.

🎊From January 28th to February 13th - Carnival in Acireale. These 15 days of carnival celebrations are considered the most beautiful in Sicily and the 3rd in all of Italy. Allegorical floats, music, confetti, parades of masqueraders, and an atmosphere of childlike carefreeness are guaranteed.

27/12/2023

❓How not to get lost at sea?
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There is no internet in the open sea. In order to avoid getting lost, smashed by the sea or freezing wet, keep these two apps tested by George through numerous sea passages:
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▪️ Navigation and local orientation with iNavX, featuring charts that you choose and download yourself. Charts are paid for and the app works on GPS with even no connection to internet needed.
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▪️ For wave height, direction, and other important weather conditions, George uses LaMMa Vento&Mare.
Do you have your favorite and proven apps? Share them in the comments; we’ll give them a try too.
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16/12/2023

🎄It's time to get ready for Christmas! In Riposto, where I lived on my yacht for over 14 years, we had a tradition.

🪅We turned our sailing yachts into giant Christmas trees along the entire pontoon.

🎄How? We hung stings of Christmas lights on the masts (forward and aft) and lit them every evening.
The marina looked like one big Christmas tree forest.

🪅What are your traditions for celebrating Christmas on a yacht?

xmas

02/12/2023

❓Think there's nothing to do in Sicily in December? Answer is below.
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📥Save it in case you find yourself in Sicily.
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📅 In December, Mount Etna is preparing for Christmas and starts to cover itself with a white mantle. Huge "Xmas Eve Bonfires" burn in the main squares of towns all over the Catania region. Christmas markets with local products and ideas for presents are all over and the main attractions of the island are the "live nativity scenes."
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Museums:
🪅03.12 is the first Sunday of the month, most of the museums in Sicily are free.
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Festivals:
🪅16.12 - 01.12 Taormina Winter Festival: music, films, and cultural events. The program will be published in the stories later.
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Theater:
🪅1-9.12, theater evenings return to Teatro Bellini with "Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi in Catania.
🪅15-23.12, Teatro Massimo of Palermo offers "The White Snow" by Sergei Rachmaninov.
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Christmas in Sicily:
🪅8-30.13, "Christmas Town" in Catania is the first and the biggest Xmas theme park in the south of Italy.
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All December in Sicily, the Christmas markets have become an authentic tradition. You can fully immerse yourself in the atmospheres, scents, and colors of this particular time.
The most important ones are in Catania, Agrigento, Caltaggerone, Capo D'Orlando, Caltanisetta, Erice, Gangi, Milazzo, Nicolosi, and Ragusa.
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And remember, if you are in Taormina for Christmas evening, come to the main cathedral square and light up the "bonfire" together with the mayor of the town and join the welcoming of Christmas 2023.
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We wish you a magical December and invite you to Sicily.
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28/11/2023

George Recommends... the start of a new Sicily Cruising Guide. A place to share cruising destinations, insights and experiences.
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I have recently visited the west coast and amazing locations like Castellammare del Golfo in the province of Trapani.
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I have in the past recommended Castellamare as an technical stop when navigating between Palermo and San Vito Lo Capo. I have now spent time in this wonderful town and can say that it is a must minimum 2-day destination.
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It is indeed very unique. It has a well protected marina with a nice and cosy waterfront, good restaurants, a sandy beach and an old Arab castle at the entrance to the harbour. The main corso (street) is full of shops, bars and restaurants. The "panoramic belvedere" overlooks the entire gulf.
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The green hills surrounding Castellamare gave me a good feeling and it reminded me very much of inlet marinas in Maiorca and Greece. There are many places worth visit like Scopello with the historic tonnara (tuna factory), Alcamo and its wineries, the Segesta Greek Temples and of course the wonderful coastline of the Riserva dello Zingaro
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A highly recommended destination when circumnavigating Sicily or on passage to south Sardegna.
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Save this post and make a stop at Castellammare del Golfo when cruising Sicily.
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For those who have already been here, share your expérience in the comments.

18/11/2023

❓True or false?
Here are 10 facts about me, the founder of YACHT HOTEL, George RIZZO. Only 1 of them is false.
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1. I was born in Malta; however, I have been living in Sicily for 40 years.
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2.I first sailed on a sailboat at the age of 8.
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3. I have crossed the Atlantic Ocean once.
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4. I love dogs; I have had three dogs.
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5. I have four children.
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6. My native languages are Maltese and English, but now Italian has also become native to me.
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7. I have a strong liking for desserts.
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8. I dream of engaging in sports, but I fear I will lose the dream.
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9. I have one flaw - I love to do everything with quality.
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10. Since school, I haven't shaved my mustache.
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🤓Take a guess which fact is false?
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11/11/2023

🐬A heartfelt thank you to all our guests, to those who chose us and those who will choose us.
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To those who decided to spend their holidays at Taormina Moorings.
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To those who continue to believe in us.
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To those who love Sicily and chose Yacht Hotel - Taormina moorings whilst navigating through the sea of history, flavours and beauty of our island.
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To our partners, and finally, thanks to our team, without whom we could never have been able to ensure a fully relaxed and enjoyable stay for you and your guests at the moorings: concierge, rib services, smooth and trouble free moorings.
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We miss you already 🐬.
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See you soon on the water in June 2024 and stay with us online as we prepare for new season.
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21/10/2023

⛵️The 44th Rolex Middle Sea Race started today from the magnificent Grand Harbour of Valletta, Malta.
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🇲🇹This year's edition features a fleet of 110 yachts, representing an impressive 25 different countries with diverse group of about 1,000 crew members from 47 nations.
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📍The course navigates through the most beautiful waters of the Mediterranean, starting in Malta, circumnavigating Sicily, and finishing back in Malta. Here are the main course distances:
▪️Grand Harbour, Valletta (start) to Capo Passero (Sicily): 55nm
▪️Capo Passero to Messina Strait (exit, Punta del Faro): 98nm
▪️Messina Strait to Strombolicchio: 35nm
▪️Strombolicchio to Favignana (Egadi Islands): 150nm
▪️Favignana to Pantelleria: 74nm
▪️Pantelleria to Lampedusa: 90nm
▪️Lampedusa to Comino: 94nm
▪️Comino to Marsamxett Harbour (finish): 10nm.
‼️One remarkable feature of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is its adherence to sailing without engine assistance. It's a true test of seamanship and sailing skill.
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📅 The duration varies significantly based on wind conditions and the size of the boats.
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⏱️Race current records:
▪️The outright race record is 33 hours, 29 minutes, and 28 seconds, set by Jason Carroll's MOD 70 Argo (USA) in 2021.
▪️The monohull race record is 40 hours, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds, set by the 100-foot Comanche (CAY) in 2021.
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The first Middle Sea Race dates back to 1968 and has always been a dream for George. Whilst he has been part of several starts as a visitor, he still dreams of competing as a sailor. A number of Maltese friends of George participate every year and one of his favourite teams are the Podestà family on Elusive II.
We wish them fairwinds and a fast and safe race back home 💨
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📢 Stay Updated:
For real-time race updates, follow the official hashtag and . Find the results on the official webpage. You can also watch the start live on YouTube via the link in our stories today.
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