Saturday 20^th June – Arrival Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta

35:53.221N 14:31.217E

It was a fairly busy night again with a rather interesting lit fishing pot, which we suspected concealed a net and which we pirouetted around, and a couple of big ships just south of Sicily that the radar showed heading straight for us.  We didn't think that they would really hit us but they did pass quite close – for the second one we did change course otherwise I would have been handing him a cup of tea on his way past!

Things calmed down a little mid strait and we were able to take breaks as we crossed to Malta.  The sea was flat calm and there was hardly any wind; needless to say, what little there was was on the nose.  Visibility remained fairly poor.

As we approached Malta we contacted Valletta Port Control at the 10 mile limit as advised (and as we had last time).  As happened last time, we were asked to call them again on arrival – this time at 1 mile from the breakwater at the entrance to Grand Harbour.  We were then also asked to call again when we actually reached the breakwater.  We think that this was because we were arriving at the same time as a British warship and the port authority wanted to check that we were not in its way.  We managed to get in just ahead of it J

We arrived at Grand Harbour Marina around 9.30am where we had reserved a berth.  Unfortunately when we arrived at our berth there was already someone there (who shouldn't have been) and so we were asked us to go alongside whilst they sorted out the problem.  A little later the Berthing Masters appeared and directed us to another berth where they waited to help us in. 

We are now on a comfortable finger pontoon.  We have not seen one of these for a while as most of the moorings have had tailed lines with no fingers since we have entered the Med.

We were shattered by now and just wanted to sleep – it was scorching hot (38 degrees down below) and very still.  However, as the wind was so light it was a good time to get the genoa down so we can repair the sunstrip again – the strong winds as we entered Marzamemi and Siracusa have taken their toll.

When we went into the marina office early afternoon we heard Rainbow Warrior call on the VHF to ask where to berth; I joked with Richard, 'Is this the Rainbow Warrior of Greenpeace fame?'  Late afternoon we saw that indeed it was – I asked Richard if I should tell them we'd been helping out by removing the dolphin-unfriendly fishing nets from the east coast of Sicily.

Whilst Richard sorted some admin on the internet I popped to the shower to freshen up – WOW, these are the best facilities since Denia on the east coast of Spain.  Mascot3 was here earlier this year and Lynne said they were good, and boy they are – especially so when you have been living on anchor for the last couple of weeks.  The staff have also been very helpful and friendly.

After lunch, we rested and dozed for most of the afternoon as it has been so hot.  This evening we have opted for an early night rather than explore downtown Malta on Saturday night.

Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta

Grand Harbour:  Rainbow Warrior

© Pyxis 2009