We’re now resting up in Malta and recovering from a exhausting trip. Mixed feelings – wonderful to be here and feels amazing to have completed our journey from the UK to Malta. But also feels slightly strange that we’re not going sailing today or tomorrow or possibly even this week! We’ve sailed around 3,000 miles this summer over about 11 weeks (we took several holidays ashore!), met many great people en route, visited some wonderful places, had many terrific experiences, seen dolphins, flying fish, turtles and swordfish (sadly no whales), had a very steep learning experience (looking back I realise how very inexperienced we were when we set off – which has made it a bit stressful at times (as some of you may have noticed!)), had mostly good weather (although the wind always seemed to be from an unhelpful direction – either dead ahead so we had to tack upwind adding considerably to our distance and time – or dead astern which is uncomfortable and slow) and greatly enjoyed having so many friends sailing with us and helping us bring ALMA to Malta. Many, many thanks to all of you who have helped us on the journey:
· Lymington to Plymouth – Tim, Doug and David
· Plymouth to Baiona – Geoff, Andy and Doug
· Povoa to Oeiras – Steve and Peta
· Villamoura to Gib – Michelle
· Gib to Ibiza – Doug, Roy and Ed
· Ibiza to Palma – Roy and Jackie
· Palma to Mahon – Nick and Lindy
· Mahon to Marsala – Andy, Ian and David
· Marsala to Malta – Tim and Chris.

Hope you’ll all join us onboard again next year – whether on a delivery trip or just cruising somewhere nice (Ionian and Croatia?). Will start planning for next year shortly!

Take care, enjoy yourselves and keep in touch. Hope to see many of you over the winter.
Very best wishes
Helen and Iain

The initial forecast was for light ENE winds; but later on Wed evening I got an update (via text from Andy in the UK!) suggesting great winds about 10 to 15 knots ENE or NE due to a low pressure system forming in the Adriatic – perfect for the crossing due south to Malta. For the first hour we did have light winds and wondered if we’d have to motor. Then suddenly we had 20 knots of wind building to 25 knots and we had to put a reef in the main. So we had a very fast crossing and we entered Grand Harbour Valletta at 1430 in time for a late lunch! It was a great crossing although with quite a rough sea especially approaching the harbour. We were excited to see Gozo then Malta appear on the horizon and then pick out landmarks on the coast. Previously (when we were onshore in Malta) we’d thought the Hilton Tower was a bit of an eyesore; but we discovered for arrival by sea it’s the best landmark on the whole coast! Then we began to pick out the forts and churches of Valletta; then the harbour breakwater and finally the magnificent Fort St Angelo and beside that our apartment block. Great moment to sail into Grand Harbour past the wonderful historic sites and moor up almost outside our apartment.

END OF THE JOURNEY TO MALTA