Malta boating

[powerskipper]

After loads of time spent boating in uk , I had the chance of doing some in Malta.
well its different, the boats are the same, just covers of the sun faded a bit but the rest is very different to uk boating.

There are only a few Cardinal marks and reds and greens on the whole Island, but its a bit like the IOW, if you head off keeping the land on your left and in over 20m of water you will land up back where you started in about 3 hours, that was at 35 ish knots.

They do like there Yellow buoys.
they use them around there fish farms, most are marked on the charts but they are very low lying.

There are some great anchorages but not many marinas. there is a pic of one on the north side of Malta and one on south side of Gozo. [ the one in the narrow creek ]

The marina is Portamassa, similar to port solent but on a smaller scare and no lock, just a compulsory call for entry and exits, you can see why its a tad tight in there.

2 main Harbors on is on the south of the Island and very big fuel filling and bunkering etc for big guys and one on the east side called Grant harbor, and it deserves its name. It like going the though the outer wall and stepping back in time, apart from the Harbor taxi and party boats.

They even have a big chimney like the Solent does. that did make me feel home sick.

 

[powerskipper]

opps

Sorry about the size of pics all.

 

[Davy_S]

No probs with the size of the piccies, I can only see tiny red crosses!

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

In actual size we have four more marinas in Marsamxett, the West side of Valleta where this another 1500 plus of berths.
It seems your 35 knots round the island made you miss the hot spots for anchorage....
Agreee on those boring fish farms...
Better luck next time

 

[lisilou]

Ive only got little red x's too

 

[Phill]

I must be lucky................I've got little blue boxes with a question Mark in them!

Really look forward to seeing them though as I've very fond memories of Malta from 25 years ago or so. Must get back there soon.

 

[Elessar]

After loads of time spent boating in uk , I had the chance of doing some in Malta.
well its different, the boats are the same, just covers of the sun faded a bit but the rest is very different to uk boating.

There are only a few Cardinal marks and reds and greens on the whole Island, but its a bit like the IOW, if you head off keeping the land on your left and in over 20m of water you will land up back where you started in about 3 hours, that was at 35 ish knots.

They do like there Yellow buoys.
they use them around there fish farms, most are marked on the charts but they are very low lying.

There are some great anchorages but not many marinas. there is a pic of one on the north side of Malta and one on south side of Gozo. [ the one in the narrow creek ]

The marina is Portamassa, similar to port solent but on a smaller scare and no lock, just a compulsory call for entry and exits, you can see why its a tad tight in there.

2 main Harbors on is on the south of the Island and very big fuel filling and bunkering etc for big guys and one on the east side called Grant harbor, and it deserves its name. It like going the though the outer wall and stepping back in time, apart from the Harbor taxi and party boats.

They even have a big chimney like the Solent does. that did make me feel home sick.

I was there a few weeks ago. Really liked it, hardly any beaches so maybe thats why you get mixed reviews from land based holidaymakers. We found it incredibly friendly, the neighbouring boats drove us round and made a walk to the shops take hours - you had to stop at every boat to see something, eat something or just chat!

Not got all my pics together yet, here are some

Entry to the harbour - we moored on Manuel Island where the wartime sub base was.

The blue lagoon

Sunset at anchor to the west of the lagoon, we swam into the lagoon from here. The boom BTW is a flopper stopper. I was sceptical but it worked a treat.

Some of the many visitors

 

[powerskipper]

the pics

Here they are, and a sunset one from one of the night ex I ran out there,
The fact that you can just anchor up and jump off the back of the boat for a swim, may take a long time to feel old.

 

[powerskipper]

lol

In actual size we have four more marinas in Marsamxett, the West side of Valleta where this another 1500 plus of berths.
It seems your 35 knots round the island made you miss the hot spots for anchorage....
Agreee on those boring fish farms...
Better luck next time

I have played in there, if you saw a boat going backward up the channel that was probably me.LOL

 

[sarabande]

there are old sailors, and cold sailors, and quite a few old, cold sailors like me who thought what a good idea Malta must be out of the main season.

Thanks Julie and LSR.

 

[lisilou]

Lovely pics from you both. For me?...one day eh?!

 

[Hurricane]

Here are a couple of panorama pics of the Blue Lagoon – taken by Rickp
Nothing like this in or around the Solent, I'm afraid.
But IMO, Malta doesn’t have enough of these great anchorages.

 

[powerskipper]

mmm

Here are a couple of panorama pics of the Blue Lagoon – taken by Rickp
Nothing like this in or around the Solent, I'm afraid.
But IMO, Malta doesn’t have enough of these great anchorages.

lovely pics, they have now put out the swimming zones along the side the photo is taken from, and the narrow bit between the island and mainland bit as well, it is lovely but gets very busy in summer.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Summer zones are up on Summer from June till end September.
They are done in many areas to allow people swimming in the zones along the 1000 plus of boats zipping around.
Obviously the blue lagoon is a place to avoid in Summer for the crowdiness IMO, unless you don't go in late evening and leave early morning.
I have to disagree with Mike and while the Blue Lagoon is a good spot Malta and its islands has a lot more anchorages to offer. Wind and other factors may come into place.
But I think Blue Lagoon comes second behind such spots as Crystal Lagoon on the back of it, Mgarr X-Xini (Ta Cenc) in Gozo, San Blas in Gozo, Ramla Hamla (red sand) also in Gozo.
This along other anchorages Malta offers around its island from the big Ghadiera (crowded with boats in Summer due to its protection from NW), Ahrax, St.Pauls Bay, Hofra, Ghajn Tuffiefa, Golden Sands, Paradise Bay etc
Can make a list but for an archipelago we have quite a lot of spots where to go...

 

[petem]

You need to get yourself over to Tmun Mgarr (used to be It Tmun Xlendi) for a relaxing afternoon of eating and drinking. It's one of my favourite restaurants (been going there for the last 15 years and Jane's cooking get better every year)! PYB, do you know it?

http://www.tmunmgarr.com/menu/

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Yes that is located in biggest harbour of Gozo. There is 300 berth marina there which recently has been updated, and increased in spaces, and sizes for yacht.
Price increased too, but the service is much better now.
Still the problem with Gozo Marina is that is a bit open to Easterlies, and SW wind. This last being the worst, altough it does come strong rarely in Winter.