Sorry for the lack of diary entries.  It has been hectic in Malta and now we are down to three 'correspondents'!

Monday 22nd June

Arrived Malta from Gozo anchoring in St Paul's Bay. This location had a relevance Malc and Brian.

 

Malc's 91 year old Aunt Vera lives in a flat overlooking the bay and she was able to witness our arrival from her balcony.  Later that evening she and her companion Margaret, joined us for dinner  ashore. What a spritely 91 year old - although we did witness them both lying flat on their backs in the road (no pics!) after an attempt to mount the pavement outside the hotel - too much vino Vera and Margaret? All was well and we hope there have been no after effects.

 

Brian, who spent three years of his childhood in Malta, recalls staying each summer at an RAF 'leisure facility' in St Paul's Bay.  He recognised the shoreline, which is distinctly rocky with green vegetation and in those days incuded a pool and a swimming raft moored offshore.  Brother Max - do you remember having your 5th birthday party there and being able to swim unaided in that pool?!!  A trip ashore the next morning did not reveal the building - suspect it has been demolished to make way for modern flats, sadly - like so much of the island.

 

That afternoon we continued to the capital Valletta and a spectacular approach to Grand Harbour.  We motored round the harbour, considered to be one of the best natural harbours in the world (more pics - Claudine, do you recognise any?).  We dipped our ensign to the only BRITISH warship "Portland" who dipped hers in response (see pic). The very observant will note that to her bow is a sign - she appears to be 'to let'!  Is that what has happened to the remainder of the British Fleet which Brian remembers being so prevalent in Grand Harbour in the 1950's!

 

We then anchored in Marsamxett where Malc left the ship - and now we are 3.  The next day we moored stern too at Manoel Marina where we took on 1100 litres of 'duty free' fuel delivered by tanker, like in Guernsey, but at almost twice the price and a paperwork nightmare.  The quantity is a measure of how much motoring we have unfortunately been doing.  We also shopped for provisions and had the customary meal ashore

 

Thursday 25th

In the morning John, who had worked in Malta 11 years ago, entertained some of his former work colleagues on board, before we departed Malta bound for Dubrovnik, Croatia.

 

Friday 26th  A non eventful night, one man watches, and we are now off Sicily, motoring (again) in a flat sea with 360 miles to go.

 

Brian, Steve and John

 

from the 'diminished' crew, Wishanger II