Malta

[Jacko]

Does anybody know Manoel Island Marina in Malta? It's the new, small Marina on the Island.

Is it a good place to winter afloat and live aboard?

Jacko

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[MedMan]

The principal yachting port in Malta is Marsamxett Harbour on the north side of Valletta. The harbour is divided into three main creeks, Sliema, Lazaretto and Msida. There are yacht berths in Msida Marina and on both the north and south sides of Lazaretto Creek. The outer entrance to the harbour is open to the north-east and strong winds from this direction, known locally as a gregale, send a swell rolling in. The berths in Msida Marina are reasonably well protected but those in Lazaretto Creek can be badly affected and a yacht moored there should not be left unattended while a gregale is blowing. There are no berths for yachts in Sliema Creek which can be dangerous in a gregale.

The berths in Msida Marina and on Ta’Xbiex Quay on the south-west side of Lazaretto Creek are administered by the ‘Malta Maritime Authority’. Their offices, known as the ‘Yachting Centre’, are situated on Msida Point at the entrance to Msida Marina. Berths are allocated as they become available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. They cannot be booked in advance either personally or through an agent. The greatest pressure is during September and October when visitors start to arrive for the winter whilst the permanent berth-holders still have their boats in the water. During these months berths for visitors may be unavailable or restricted to a few days but when the permanent berth-holders start to lift out in November, space becomes available and there is usually plenty of room for those who wish to over-winter afloat.

Malta Maritime Authority does not provide pick-up lines on Ta’Xbiex Quay though some berths do have lines left behind by previous occupants. If staying for a few weeks or longer many yachtsmen employ a diver to attach a line to the heavy ground-chain that runs parallel with the shore. Those not doing so lie to their own anchor.

The facilities on the Manoel Island shore of Lazaretto Creek have recently been taken over by a new company known as ‘Manoel Island Marina’. They have already built two pontoons running out from the shore and three more are planned for the near future. The company intends to build a breakwater to shelter their berths from the gregale but no time-scale has been stated.

There is a small marina at Mgarr on the island of Gozo and an interesting harbour at Marsaxlokk in the south of Malta. A new marina known as ‘PortiMaso’ with approximately 100 berths has been built in St Julian’s Bay as part of the expansion of the Hilton Hotel.

Extensive facilities for laying-up ashore are available on Manoel Island. The principal facility, ‘Manoel Island Yacht Yard’, is very popular and advance booking is recommended. It has two travel hoists, a crane and seven slipways for vessels up to 500 tons. Security in the yard is good. ‘Manoel Island Marina’ has its own lay-up facilities. It currently lifts boats with a mobile crane but a travel hoist is planned.

There have been plans for some time to build a ‘Super-Yacht’ Marina in Grand Harbour but work has not yet been started.

Best wishes,

MedMan

P.S. For more information on Malta see my Website - Port Reports 2002


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[Jacko]

Thanks for that.

So am I right in thinking that Manoel Island Marina would not be a particularly good place to be with the Gregale blowing? Just how bad is it? Would it be dangerous on a pontoon berth?

I ask because it's possible to book in advance there and I really don't want to turn up in Malta only to have to find somewhere else to go.

Would it be a good idea to book just for a couple of months and then try to move to Msida once the local boats are out of the water?

Thanks again

Jacko

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[MedMan]

It is not be a pleasant place to be with the gregale blowing, and IMHO it would be foolhardy to leave your boat there unattended. Once they have built the breakwater to protect the 'marina' things will be different, but who knows when that will be.

We spent a month in the area now occupied by the marina in Sept/Oct 2000. The gregale blew hard a couple of times in that period. On the worst occasion we had a 1-metre swell sweeping through the moorings. We hauled off and sat it out - 1 uncomfortable day and night during which it was impossible to get off - and then all was well until the next time. The key is to use heavy ropes weighted with old tyres to take out the snatch. There are usually some on the quay but, if not, go to one of the tyre dealers in town. They normally have to pay to get rid of them so they are delighted to give them away. I found a dealer who brought me half a dozen down by van for free. He would have brought be 20 if I had wanted them!

Happy sailing.



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