03 Jul - 12 Jul 2003 Valletta

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta
Valletta

Msida Marina +35621332800

ML 8.- (€ 20.-) per night.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our marina berth:SY "Kamu II" with her stern to the pontoon and with two permanent bow moorings.

N 35° 53.79' E 014° 29.62'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2003 Map

Logging the sailed distance of about 100 nm in 30 hours between Lampedusa Island and Malta.

Buying a new 85-m long, galvanized half-inch anchor chain (for ML 3.80 or € 9.50 per running metre) with a breaking load of 8,200 kg and discarding the very rusty and almost biodegradable old one right below the keel of SY “Kamu II” in a depth of 6 m.

14 May - 01 Jun 2002 Valletta

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

Valletta

Msida Marina +35621332800

SY "Kamu II" with her stern to the pontoon, two permanent bow moorings.

ML 4.50 (€ 11.-) per night.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our marina berth:

N 35° 53.79' E 014° 29.62'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2002 Map

Enjoying a harbour cruise below the fortifications of both the Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour (located at the E side of the capital city of Valletta, it has been a harbour since Roman times with several extensive docks and wharves, as well as a cruise liner terminal and a ferry terminal) on a traditional Maltese luzzu, brightly painted in shades of yellow, red, green and blue, with a pair of beautiful eyes on her bow (the modern survival of an ancient Phoenician custom - referred to as the Eye of Horus).

Buying a mid-week package for ML 39.- (€ 95.-) per person from a local tour operator which included: (i) taking off from Valletta with a vintage Mi-8 helicopter, built in Soviet-Russia (evidence: the vibrations and the noise) and tested in Afghanistan (evidence: the bullet holes), and flying from Malta to Gozo along the rocky coast (and back, two days later), (ii) staying for two nights at Hotel Xlendi +35621553719 at Xlendi Bay, (iii) renting a red 1.3-litre Suzuki Swift for 24 hours and exploring Gozo Island with its little villages, temples and churches on our own.

Provisioning with 30 one-litre bottles of Maltese duty-free booze for the coming cruising summer, refuelling our main tank at the bunker barge in Marsamxett Harbour with 170 litres of duty-free diesel fuel for ML 0.22 (€ 0.55) per litre and clearing customs and immigration at the Malta Yachting Centre free of charge and without any hassle.

Motoring uneventfully the 60 nm of our shake-down cruise from Malta to Sicily over the mirror-like Malta Channel and watching many loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) which were paddling in the turquoise-coloured, warm water and were basking in the Mediterranean summer sun.

02 May - 14 May 2002 Valletta

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

Valletta

Manoel Island Yacht Yard +35621334453

SY "Kamu II" on the hard.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our ship out of the water:

N 35° 54.29' E 014° 30.00'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2002 Map

Hauling out our ship SY “Kamu II”, replacing a 6 mm thick steel plate at the skeg, antifouling her with black bottom-paint (Euro-Sprint from Veneziani) and launching her back into the water uneventfully (ML 150.- or € 600.- for the travel lift including bottom wash and two weeks on the hard).

01 Jan - 02 May 2002 Valletta

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

Valletta

Msida Marina +35621332800

SY "Kamu II" with her stern to the pontoon, two permanent bow moorings.

ML 68.- (€ 163.-) per month.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our marina berth:

N 35° 53.79' E 014° 29.62'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2002 Map

Preparing our ship SY “Kamu II” for the 2002 sailing season: (i) fitting two large solid mahogany lockers into the forepeak, thus creating the desired additional storage space for us, (ii) covering the cockpit benches with teak planks, (iii) building new teak gratings, (iv) painting the deck with two layers of undercoat and two layers of Hempel’s topcoat, and (v) overhauling the double-walled dry exhaust (steam pipes and raiser) of our Perkins 4.236M diesel engine.

Socialising, sharing food, drinks, know-how and spare parts (i) with a group of wintering yotties from many different countries, especially with Ruth and Rene (SY “Svenya”) from Switzerland, Marianne and Christoph (SY “Shamu”) also from Switzerland, the Germans Lisa and Rolf (SY “To Life”), Marilyn and Bill from Canada, Reina and Stan (SY “Aurelia”) from the USA, Ursi and Jan (SY “Dove Star”) from Switzerland/Holland, Lee-Ann and Gary from our suburb Randpark Ridge in South-Africa, Anne and John (SY “Bali Hai”) from Sweden/UK, Joan and Wolfgang with their son Robert from South-Africa/Germany (SY “Protea”) and (ii) with our hospitable Maltese friends Caroline and Chris on their brand-new Bavaria 35, Greta and Anthony (SY “Blue Diamond II”) and Nina and Godfrey on their Bavaria 44.

Joining an active hiking group, consisting of both seafaring/wintering and landlubbing/residential expats (but oddly enough no locals), and exploring on the weekends both the urban and rural sites (and restaurants) of Malta: (i) the city walls of Valletta and Fort Rinella with its 100 ton Armstrong Gun (claimed to be the largest cannon in the world), (ii) the 253-m high Dingli cliffs (the highest cliffs of Malta), (iii) the Marfa Ridge with spectacular views, rock-strewn stairways and paths winding down to terraced fields, hanging off the sheer cliff face, and with Red Tower and White Tower, (iv) the unsolved puzzle of the network of cart ruts at Misrah Ghar il-Kbir, and (v) Mdina, Malta’s well-preserved old capital city where we saw a beautiful set of woodcut prints, The Life of the Virgin by Albrecht Dürer, in the cathedral museum.

Having a wonderful dinner consisting of the most delicious octopus stew together with our Maltese friends Sylvana and Mark at their lovely house in Valletta; many thanks for sharing your secret recipe with us.

Watching the colourful, ticker-tape parade of allegorical floats (presided over by King Carnival and accompanied by marching bands and costumed revellers) of the Maltese Carnival in the streets of Valletta, introduced to Malta by Grand Master Piero de Ponte in 1535 CE and held during the week leading up to Ash Wednesday.

Konni: Taking regularly part in the language classes at the Inlingua Language School +35620102000 in Valletta, polishing her knowledge of French and Italian, and just as regularly rewarding herself at her favourite quayside cafeteria Busy Bee +35621340400 at Msida Creek.

Matt: Exploring the new container freeport of Marsaxlokk on the SE side of Malta, the islands' main cargo terminal, and the nearby old harbour with its bobbing fishing boats.

Enjoying the bird’s eye view over the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens and looking down with binoculars onto the decks of a variety of international vessels below (super tankers, container ships, helicopter carriers, frigates, destroyers, oil rigs and cruise liners) that were stopping over and berthing in Valletta - and eavesdropping on them with our sensitive Simrad HT 50 handheld VHF radio.

02 Oct - 31 Dec 2001 Valletta

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

Valletta

Msida Marina +35621332800

SY "Kamu II" with her stern to the pontoon, two bow moorings.

ML 68.- (DM 315.-) per month.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our marina berth:

N 35° 53.79' E 014° 29.62'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map

Celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary at the Xara Palace Hotel +35621450560 in Msida, located in a beautiful 17th-century CE palazzo, with our private Jacuzzi on the huge balcony in front of our suite from where we enjoyed the most marvellous views over the entire country.

Touring the rural Gozo Island (67 sqkm in size, which is approximately the same size as Manhattan) by chauffeur-driven Mercedes, together with our longstanding Swiss/German friends Margrith and Ernst, thus visiting (i) the Cathedral Church of Gozo, (ii) the Santwarju tal-Madonna ta' Pinu sanctuary, (iii) the picturesque seascapes of Dwejra Bay, Fungus Rock and the Azure Window and (iv) the two Ġgantija temples (the Giants' Tower), a megalithic temple complex that had been erected during the Neolithic Age (c. 3,600 - 2,500 BCE), which makes these temples more than 5,500 years old and some of the world's oldest manmade religious structures.

Matt: Crewing for the Italian 45-foot X-Yachts racer SY "Durlindana" (as a member of an international crew - Italians, Americans, a Frenchman and a German/South-African under the experienced command of our friend Alessandro) in the 22nd edition of the 600 nm long Middle Sea Race, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, starting from Marsamxett Harbour in Valletta, leaving to port the Island of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa Islands, sailing through the South Comino Channel, keeping Malta to starboard and coming in third amongst only 11 yachts which eventually limped over the finishing line in front of Fort Manoel at Valletta (out of 17 yachts at the starting line) in this challenging and unpredictable autumn race.

Laundering for ML 8,- (DM 40.-) per 10-kg load at a local laundry in town (washed and dried).

Konni: Flying with Air Malta to Munich/Germany for ML 150.- (DM 700.-) for a return ticket and visiting our son Armin in Munich and our daughter Ulrike in Freiburg i.Br.

30 Sep - 02 Oct 2001 Mellieha Bay

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

Mellieha Bay

SY "Kamu II" anchoring off.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our anchorage.

N 35° 58.11' E 014° 21.48'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map

28 Sep - 30 Sep 2001 Paradise Bay

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

Paradise Bay

SY "Kamu II" anchoring off.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our anchorage:

N 35° 58.98' E 014° 19.94'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map

Fighting, at anchor, with one of those nasty Maltese autumn squalls (our anemometer peaked at 65 knots), getting our own land line caught in the propeller thus loosing our engine power and being rescued by the heroic dive professional DM Konni who bravely dived into the strong surge and cut through the blocking line below the up-and-down moving stern of SY "Kamu II" - very, very close to a dangerous rock.

26 Sep - 28 Sep 2001 St. Paul's Iss.

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

St. Paul's Islands

SY "Kamu II" anchoring off.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our anchorages:
N 35° 57.96' E 014° 24.20'

N 35° 57.75' E 014° 23.83'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map

DM Konni with Renate and Dieter: Scubadiving the most beautiful reefs and u/w caves that surround the Maltese Islands with Octopus Garden Diving Centre +35621578725 in Qawra.

Walking round St. Paul’s Island where the apostle Paul supposedly was shipwrecked on his way from Caesarea to Rome in 60 CE and which was named after him.

24 Sep - 26 Sep 2001 Comino

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Comino Island

Blue Lagoon

SY "Kamu II" anchoring off.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our anchorage:

N 36° 00.85' E 014° 19.40'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map

Exploring the 3.5 sqkm small Comino Island, named after the cumin herb once grown here, the third of the Maltese islands, swimming in the clear water of the Blue Lagoon, hiking along the many dusty goat paths and climbing old coastal watchtowers (and singing: “All along the watchtower…”).

23 Sep - 24 Sep 2001 Mgarr

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Gozo Island

Mgarr Yachting Centre

SY "Kamu II" bow to the jetty, with stern moorings.

ML 6.- (DM 30.-) per night.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our harbour berth:

N 36° 01.54' E 014° 17.91'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map

Meeting our German friends Renate and Dieter who came to sail with us around the islands Malta, Gozo and Comino, having a great cockpit party together and preparing SY “Kamu II” (especially the galley) for the next few days of cruising as a team of four.

Dining out at Sammy's Seafood Restaurant in Mgarr +35621556543 on Gozo Island and feasting on local specialities such as torta tal-lampuki (dorado fish pie) and dentici (sea bream), washing it down with Maltese Marsovin white wine.

20 Sep - 23 Sep 2001 Comino

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Comino Island

Santa Marija Bay

SY "Kamu II" at anchor.

Click below for a bird's-eye view of our anchorage:

N 36° 01.11' E 014° 20.25'

Click here for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map

19 Aug - 20 Sep 2001 Valletta

Central Mediterranean

Republic of Malta

Malta Island

Valletta

Msida Marina +35621332800

SY "Kamu II" stern to the pontoon, with two bow moorings.

ML 68.- (DM 315.-) per month.

Click below for an interactive satellite view of our marina berth:

N 35° 53.81' E 014° 29.87'

Click below for a summary of this year's travels:
2001 Map Konni & Matt

Clearing harbourmaster (our friend and fellow sailor Chris), customs and immigration at the one-stop Malta Yachting Centre +35621332800 near the entrance to Msida Creek, not only all free of charge, but also fast and efficient since Malta wanted to join the European Community, and being impressed with the total lack of any red tape.

Exploring La Valletta, the capital city of Malta and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the place where on the 28th March 1566 CE the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John, Jean Parisot de la Valette, had ceremoniously laid down the foundation stone of what was to become one of the first European cities to have been built in a chequered pattern.

Walking through the hilly streets and stairways that criss cross the city of Valletta from one side to the other, from Marsamxett Harbour to Grand Harbour, and marvelling at her Baroque churches, stunning palaces (many of these palaces served as the auberge for a particular langue of Knights), manicured gardens (stuffed full of busts, statues and plaques illustrating various personalities and significant events from the Maltese history) and impregnable forts (which are still marked with scars from German and Italian dive-bombers from WWII).

Counting the over 400 coloured marble tombstones that had been used to pave the floor of St. John's Co-Cathedral.

Touring Malta with our competent tour guide Larry and thus visiting Victoriosa (with the large fortification of Fort St Angelo which the Royal Navy - with an English sense of humour - listed as a ship, originally as HMS "Egremont" in 1912 CE, but then renamed as HMS "St Angelo" in 1933 CE), Senglea (also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great Siege of 1565 CE), the double-fortified harbour city of Cospicua, St. Paul's Grotto in Rabat (once a Roman prison and later a WWII air-raid shelter), Mdina (the old capital of Malta situated in the centre of the island) and Mosta's dome with its famous German dud from 1942 CE.

Matt: Scrambling through Fort St. Elmo which was built by the Knights of St. John in 1552 CE, with an impending Ottoman Turk invasion in mind, and which stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours.

DM Konni: Discovering the underwater world around Malta, Gozo and Comino with Octopus Garden Diving Centre +35621578725 at Salina Bay in Qawra.