The choice fell upon Malta being central in the Mediterranean and with a reasonably well priced marina (Msida Marina in Ta`Xbiex).

Only problem was a long passage (almost 500Nm) so we needed a safe weatherwindow of at least 4 days (more and more unusual in late autumn).

For that reason we kept on west with a nightpassage all along the northcoast of Crete (100Nm) to Chania (the old capital of Crete) where we made landfall in the morning with 25kts of beamwinds and med mooring to the quayside. This is allways a bit tricky and due to a chain on the bottom we needed to drop anchor a long way out making us more vulnerable to the beamwinds when on reverse. With help of the bowthruster we made it allright and Chania is by far more beautiful than Spinalonga or Iraklion (the current capital).

With it´s Venetian architecture along the seaside ,bars and tavernas it has a very pittoresque and sympathetic atmosphere.

With a weatherwindow starting the day after we only had 1 day and night in Chania and with the majority of the day full of preparations for 4 day passage.