Blue Lagoon, Comino Island, Malta
Posted at 7:58 PM, May. 12, 2007
At last we are under way and currently at anchor in the Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino which is to the north of Malta and lies in the channel between Malta and Gozo. We finally pulled out of Grand Harbour marina mid afternoon yesterday (Friday 11 May 2007) and motored a few miles up the coast to Bajja Mellieha for the night at anchor. What a relief after the dusty two weeks at Grand Harbour. Malta is very dry and ther southerly winds bring a very fine brown dust from North Africa which infiltrates everywhere. Really need to wash the boat off every day. Water is quite expensive on the marina as all water in Malta is from big desalination plants. The bay Mellieha is a big bay on the NE coast of Malta, large hotel at its head and a few yachts joined us at anchor overnight. Broke out the BBQ and had a nice piece of steak washed down with a good French merlot.
Approaching the entrance to Grand Harbour we we depart!
Then this morning had a very quiet sail up to Comino, got the reefing lines set up and all safety gear (Cat 1) in place. Tested out all the gear and on board systems. Everything A-ok!
The hot water cylinder (boiler) was replaced over the last couple of days. Isotherm the manufacturers in Italy were very responsive as were the local agents (Strand Marine) once they had confirmed the diagnosis. So thanks to Louis and his team we have a 50 litre tank now in place of the previous 40 litre tank. Fortunately it just fitted into the space! Louis when we return to Malta we will bring the Akubra hat! After that we needed to get the Yanmar guys in to empty the heat exchanger and fully replace the water and coolant. James organized that and they turned up at 9.00am Friday morning,
Had the outboard serviced, stocked up on a few cases of French wine and local Cisk beer, all cupboards full and the boat fully provisioned plus some. Also James cut an inspection porthole in the floor of the anchor locker (Swagman style) and having anchored a few times in the last 24 hours it is a big improvement in giving access to the chain that otherwise piles after about 20 metres.
So this afternoon spent swimming (water temps a little over 20 so a way to go yet) but as has been the case every day barely a cloud in the sky and the winds are sea breeze generated rather than the heavy 30-40 knot NW’s that prevailed for a few days. Temps around mid to high 20’s to pretty pleasant but still a bit cool at night.
About to hit the water at the Blue Lagoon
Tomorrow we plan to sail across to Sicily to Siracusa to meet up with Shell and Dean on Monday. We are considering doing a 170 direct passage to the southern Italian marina at Roccella Ionica but have heard some stories that the entrance is silted and with our draft of 2.8 metres we would not get in. The marina has been under construction it seems for several years and there are all sorts of stories as to why it has not been completed. At least it is reported to be free given that it is incomplete.
All well on board and great to be under way. Malta has been a superb place to winter the boat, mild temps so the teak and other gear doesn’t deteriorate as much as it would in a colder climate. The Grand Harbour marina is a good set up and we had an excellent guy in James who ran the show while we were back in Auckland.
Cheers
Keith