First Sail / Sea Trials / Gremlins / MdR -Malta

Friends Alan and Christine joined us Monday this week to set sail Tuesday. As normally happens nothing was quite finished. Instruments still going in and both engines not reading correctly. Cupboards open, panels off and general disorder.. Getting there but slowly.

Put the sails on Tuesday morning with the help of the new crew – hard work. The sea trial for all the new instruments was a fail as all the screens blanked – software bug…!!!. Back to the marina for an upgrade. By now it was too late to head off to Malta.

Wednesday lovely morning but lots of software and line problems and then our instrument man Pietro had to accompany his daughter to a play in the old Greek amphitheatre in Syracuse so gone for the day at lunch time. Lovely day so we decided to go out and do our own sea trial. Went for a light sail and a swim. Very pleasant and all seemed well except for already identified instrument faults. But we felt great.

 

Back to the marina where Christine and I tried to sort out a long-standing issue with the gennika furler while Alan and Hew tried to sort out the engine instruments and speed transducer. We succeeded but the boys had to change the connection unit for the instruments and they were still not entirely right.

Thursday dawns windy and more software programming – finally good to go by lunch time. Not as nice a day as Wednesday but more wind so set sail with overcast skies and 15kts. Sails were up and we were off, instruments all looked good and then our starboard bilge alarm went off. Much running around and floor board lifting and discovered that two minor problems- float switch was jammed by a hose and so alarms was going but not bilge pump. After much investigation it appears tp be same issue we had last year. At some stage in the yachts history some “not so bright spark” had disconnected the  fridge/freezer drains and decided they would be fine emptying into the bilges. Very difficult to fix as on the other side of the keel and behind and under the fridges. Anyway, once the bulge pump and bucket were out the water was soon gone and on we continued.Christine and Alan took the helm for most of the day while Hew and I had a nap.

Arrived at Malta around 8pm in time for sunset. Very welcoming feeling with the old fort and bangers and fire crackers going off in the evening. 4 other yachts already anchored outside the water polo club in Marsamxett harbour. As we were manoeuvring into anchoring position discovered the windlass not working- no power-we had had the same problem at MdR on the hard when we were marking the chain but had replaced a relay and thought it was all fixed……. but not so. More scrambling down hatches and behind switch boards for a temporary fix. Finally anchored and relaxed.

Friday morning was chandlery shopping for Hew and I, but another fail – it was a public holiday…. grrrr. Latest toy boats in Malta are the Eco Donuts below with the solar powered electric engines.

Alan and Christine had gone off to view the fort and old town so we retired back to the yacht for a relax and read.

By the time they got back Alan decided to cool down with a swim. Small boat in the background is for sale for USD18m.

Too late to really leave so we decided to make use of the restaurant at the yacht club which is excellent and had a lovely meal. 

Saturday we rose early and set off at 6am for Gozo the northern island to some recommended bays. Here are some photos on the way up the coast . Motored all the way as not enough wind. The only others up were the fishermen. Here are some photos of the sites along the coast. Note the graffiti on the foreshore.

Also many hotels along the foreshore and especially any beaches or good rock ledges.

Between the beaches and the low hills are many magnificent cliffs and caves

Also similarly to Sardinia and Corsica a collection of watch towers all along the coast. Many of these have their own names.

Finally we reached the northern tip of Malta and now crossed over to Gozo. We did not stop at the main town of Mgarr as we had been given some directions to continue to Dwejra Bay, so here are just some passing photos of the town and the very large Cathedral.

Again many interesting formations on the cliffs around the coast.

Dwejra Bay was so magnificant that it needed its own post.