Sunday, May 29, 2011
Summer begins - MALTA TO CORFU!!
Left Malta Tuesday 24th May – delayed a couple of days due to strong NE winds and quite rough seas (2m to 3m waves) – as we were heading NE it would not have been pleasant. Quite extraordinary how often winds come from direction we want to go in! Life really is about dealing with adversity! So rest of the team (Doug, David and Andy) had some time to visit some of Malta’s attractions – St John’s cathedral got top marks I think, possibly as well as lunch at our favourite restaurant Da Pippo’s! I got a few more small jobs done so we were reasonably well prepared to go. Left marina 1230 Tuesday and had a quite rough first 24 hours – wind had slackened a good deal to around 15 to 20 knots but still 2m waves. Had planned to head north towards Sicily at first as winds were forecast to change over the course of the next 2 days but as we cleared the island wind was already close to North so we made better progress on port tack heading ENE. Then we got lucky and the low pressure that was coming across from Tunisia tracked a bit further north than expected and as wind moved to ENE we tacked northwards. We were able to get far enough north before the wind again came back to the north so that we could then head for Corfu. Winds held up well too so we didn’t suffer the light winds that were forecast for Thursday – in fact we had a glorious breeze and maintained over 6 knots all day. So quite an interesting sail with varying wind direction along with thunder squalls, some very heavy showers and lightening on Wed night (two reefs in the mainsail for much of the time over night in case of very strong gusts in the squalls but with help from the radar (great to be able to spot the squalls on the screen) we were able to change course and avoid the worst gusts).
Saw a few ships en route and the AIS (radio position communication system) proved its worth again – lets us see ships with AIS and perhaps even more importantly lets them see us! The VEGA bound for Thessalonika radioed us as he’d seen us on AIS and as were the stand on boat (ie we could maintain our course and he should alter course to avoid us) he wanted to let us know he would alter course to starboard to go behind us – much relief! In poor visibility and squalls AIS is great to have! Think the captain of the Vega must have been relatively inexperienced (he sounded it a little) as very very few ships take much notice of yachts and alter course for them (we’d already had to dodge a couple of ships that were going to pass very close). Thanked him very much for being so considerate.
Had quite a few visitors en route – swifts (we think) migrating and perhaps off course in the unseasonal weather. Anyway, they had some rest, pooed on the transom (why do birds always have to poo on the boat when we give them a ride?) and then left – except one who had enough of this life. Burial at sea.
Thursday throughout the day, overnight and into Friday morning was one of the most glorious sails – wind between 10 and 15 knots, sea becoming much smoother and almost all the time we were able to sail pretty much directly towards Corfu with great boat speed in the calmer seas – a joy to helm in these conditions – noticed we were all quite happy to stay on the helm for longer! And as the conditions improved so did our appetites and the cuisine! Bacon rolls appeared on the breakfast menu (supplementing not replacing porridge of course), and a truly wonderful fruit cake (THANK YOU BEVERLEY) with afternoon tea. Along with Helen’s great cottage pie for dinner we were now feeling very well fed. Things were looking up!
Dawn Friday morning and Corfu appeared – fabulous scenery in the early morning light – and by 0800 we were heading up the Corfu channel (its about 25M from the southernmost point up to Gouvia marina where we were going to berth).
So almost exactly 3 days for the trip (420M) which was very good given the wind direction and conditions in the first part of the voyage. Allowed us to see Corfu town on Fri evening (after a celebration beer (or two) and a recovery afternoon nap) before Andy, Doug and David departed on EZ jet Sat morning. Great week. Pics to follow.
Saw a few ships en route and the AIS (radio position communication system) proved its worth again – lets us see ships with AIS and perhaps even more importantly lets them see us! The VEGA bound for Thessalonika radioed us as he’d seen us on AIS and as were the stand on boat (ie we could maintain our course and he should alter course to avoid us) he wanted to let us know he would alter course to starboard to go behind us – much relief! In poor visibility and squalls AIS is great to have! Think the captain of the Vega must have been relatively inexperienced (he sounded it a little) as very very few ships take much notice of yachts and alter course for them (we’d already had to dodge a couple of ships that were going to pass very close). Thanked him very much for being so considerate.
Had quite a few visitors en route – swifts (we think) migrating and perhaps off course in the unseasonal weather. Anyway, they had some rest, pooed on the transom (why do birds always have to poo on the boat when we give them a ride?) and then left – except one who had enough of this life. Burial at sea.
Thursday throughout the day, overnight and into Friday morning was one of the most glorious sails – wind between 10 and 15 knots, sea becoming much smoother and almost all the time we were able to sail pretty much directly towards Corfu with great boat speed in the calmer seas – a joy to helm in these conditions – noticed we were all quite happy to stay on the helm for longer! And as the conditions improved so did our appetites and the cuisine! Bacon rolls appeared on the breakfast menu (supplementing not replacing porridge of course), and a truly wonderful fruit cake (THANK YOU BEVERLEY) with afternoon tea. Along with Helen’s great cottage pie for dinner we were now feeling very well fed. Things were looking up!
Dawn Friday morning and Corfu appeared – fabulous scenery in the early morning light – and by 0800 we were heading up the Corfu channel (its about 25M from the southernmost point up to Gouvia marina where we were going to berth).
So almost exactly 3 days for the trip (420M) which was very good given the wind direction and conditions in the first part of the voyage. Allowed us to see Corfu town on Fri evening (after a celebration beer (or two) and a recovery afternoon nap) before Andy, Doug and David departed on EZ jet Sat morning. Great week. Pics to follow.
Friday, April 29, 2011
ALMA BACK IN THE WATER!!
ALMA was re-launched on 20th April! Weather was sunny and calm which was essential as in any strong wind there is quite a swell that works its way into Kalkara Creek where the boatyard is and lifting the boat into the water alongside the quay would be dangerous in a swell. It was the first time I’d been on board to experience a lift by a crane but it was a very smooth operation – crane operator handled the crane and ALMA very carefully and precisely. My hardest job was undoing the backstay to allow the crane to lift amidships behind the mast – slightly concerning to see the mast unsupported by the backstay!
Helen and David came onboard after the launch and we motored around into Grand Harbour Marina – it was lovely to be on the boat again and to see Malta’s wonderful Grand Harbour from the water – great views of Valetta and of Fort St Angelo. So ALMA is now berthed in GHM where she’ll be for about another few weeks before we set off for the Ionian this summer. Quite a lot of jobs to get done as well as re-packing all our kit and provisions etc. As the weather improves (almost now as warm as its been in London!!) we’re looking forward to getting back onboard and we’ll hopefully have quite a few days sailing around Malta and Gozo before we leave for Greece.
Hope you’re enjoying springtime too. Will post more news on ALMA’s travels around Malta and Gozo over next few weeks.
Best wishes
Iain and Helen
Sunday, April 10, 2011
GETTING READY FOR THE NEW SEASON!!
We're getting ready to pack away the ski gear and head back home to Malta. We've had a great ski season despite the shortage of snow this year - lots of friends have visited us which has been great fun catching up and skiing together and we also managed a wonderful week's ski touring around Les Diablerets/Gstaad region in Switzerland - a beautiful area. But the snow is now almost gone and it's time to head for the Med.
ALMA will go back in the water shortly after a winter ashore in Kalkara boat yard. I went back in March to check the boat and everything was fine - it's a very sheltered and well run yard. We've had a few jobs done - the most significant has been stripping off all the old anti fouling built up over 9 years. Final coat of new anti foul will go on this week. I've also ordered a new mainsail but will only take delivery next winter so sadly will be sailing with the old main this summer - it's OK but after 9 seasons it's lost a bit of shape so not performing as well as I'd like.
This summer we're planning to set off in late May for Greece. We will base ourselves in Corfu but want to explore the Ionian and perhaps some of the west coast of the Pelopponese and also the gulf of Patras. We hope to visit a few historical sites, especially Delphi, possibly Sparta, and certainly Ithica. But most importantly we hope to spend a lot of time relaxing this year. We expect to head back to Malta in mid September - via Sicily (would like to visit Syracusa and possibly Catania and Messina on the east coast) and may stop at a few places on the Italian south coast on the way. No definite plans other than to cruise gently (hoping always for sunny blue skies and a good breeze (force 3 to 4)) and to enjoy it! Looking forward to visiting new places and having friends onboard along the way.
We'll post regularly to let you know our progress and our plans. Let us know if you'd like to join us.
Best wishes for a great summer.
Iain and Helen
ALMA will go back in the water shortly after a winter ashore in Kalkara boat yard. I went back in March to check the boat and everything was fine - it's a very sheltered and well run yard. We've had a few jobs done - the most significant has been stripping off all the old anti fouling built up over 9 years. Final coat of new anti foul will go on this week. I've also ordered a new mainsail but will only take delivery next winter so sadly will be sailing with the old main this summer - it's OK but after 9 seasons it's lost a bit of shape so not performing as well as I'd like.
This summer we're planning to set off in late May for Greece. We will base ourselves in Corfu but want to explore the Ionian and perhaps some of the west coast of the Pelopponese and also the gulf of Patras. We hope to visit a few historical sites, especially Delphi, possibly Sparta, and certainly Ithica. But most importantly we hope to spend a lot of time relaxing this year. We expect to head back to Malta in mid September - via Sicily (would like to visit Syracusa and possibly Catania and Messina on the east coast) and may stop at a few places on the Italian south coast on the way. No definite plans other than to cruise gently (hoping always for sunny blue skies and a good breeze (force 3 to 4)) and to enjoy it! Looking forward to visiting new places and having friends onboard along the way.
We'll post regularly to let you know our progress and our plans. Let us know if you'd like to join us.
Best wishes for a great summer.
Iain and Helen
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)