Malta to Sicily 7 July 2022

On schedule we filled our tanks with water and left the dock at Manoel Island to start our voyage to Sicily on Thursday the 7th July 2022.

We are playing a bit of Blog catch up now, but soon the blogs will be sent out closer to the date.

Wind forecast was light headwinds so the iron topsail Perkins did most of the work.

Our voyage to Sicily coincided with Julia and Dave’s wedding where we planned to meet many of Emilie’s extended family. A beach day on Friday before the wedding was our inspiration to get off the dock on Thursday as planned.

Sailing out past the bastions of Grand Harbour Malta

Temperatures were scorching hot, forecasted for 38*C but if felt above 40. After three weeks working 12-14 hour days in the yard our energy levels were inversely per portions to the heat, and on a scale of 1-10, my energy was barely 1.

Once out of the Marina we had a bit more breeze blowing through the cabin. I also decided that now was the time to install our new hella fans above the beds and in the galley.

We spent much of the voyage cleaning and tidying up from the refit. I also re tuned the rig and put the sails back on.

The highlight of the first day was the kids seeing a full pod of dolphins for the first time since we left Tasmania.

We arrived at Marina Ragusa at 8pm and decided to anchor off for the night to avoid entering the Marina after dark, and to get a bit more breeze blowing through the cabin. To top off the evening, as soon as the anchor was set we all had a cooling swim!

The kids love swimming with the surfboards

The next morning we enjoyed a morning swim, then a slow morning of sorting the boat out and more cleaning before entering the Marina.

After arrival we had a quick bite to eat, then I gave Issy and Max their new climbing harness and I introduced them to the joys of mast climbing. Issy and Max managed to get to the first spreader and hooted so loudly that the entire Marina had their attention.

After the climb we downed tools and cleaning products, hung up the Dyson and headed to the beach for a relaxing afternoon of friends, family, and relaxing in the sun. We arrived back at the boat exhausted and after a few sundowners with neighboring boats collapsed for an early night.

The next morning we had planned to take the kids surfing, but the swell had dropped off. Instead we hiked to the shop to buy some water because our Britta filter had expired and the watermaker still not installed. On return from the shop all the kids wanted to do was climb the mast. This time Issy climbed to the second spreader!

Later in the afternoon we headed to Julia and Dave’s wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and great fun to catch up with so many family and friends.

Anchored of Passero island we took a walk to the castle ruins.

The next morning we were a bit slow getting started, but finally made our way to the Marina office to check out and grab a bite to eat. We then sailed 11nm down the coast to Caserma Finanza where we anchored for the evening.

We awoke at 2am the next morning when the wend dropped and Sunday island began facing the current laying her beam onto the swell. Knowing full well nobody would get a decent sleep I pulled up the anchor and motored 25nm to Passero island dropping anchor at 0530 in a beautiful bay surrounded by castle ruins and a beautiful little village. Waking up later in the morning the move during the night was definitely worth the effort.

We spent the rest of the day swimming off the boat and relaxing in the village and preparing for our passage to Greece.