Jack Tar`s crew are now at home in Noosa. After several weeks in Siracusa in Sicily, which we loved, we had a lovely sail across the strait to the Maltese island of Gozo and spent a few days in the marina at Mgarr. Then on to Valletta, the capital of the main island, Malta. There we berthed at the marina at Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour and completed preparations for leaving the yacht for the winter. On lifting the yacht from the water we confirmed our suspicions that the bottom was completely fouled with growth indicating a failure of the Hempel paint applied by the boatyard in Greece less than six months earlier. Now it is time to think about plans for 2011, and our return to Malta about mid April. We wish you all a happy festive season and fair winds and following seas for the new year.
Cathedral, old town Siracus
Roman theatre, Siracusa
Greek theatre, Siracusa, with the harbour in the distance
Lunch aboard, Siracusa
Siracusa market
Siracusa
Piazza, Siracusa
Berthed at town quay, Siracusa
Approaching Gozo
View from berth, Mgarr marina, Gozo
Mgarr marina berth
Gozo countryside
Temple predating pyramids by 500 years
Mgarr harbour
Mgarr church scene
Entering Marsamxett Harbour
View from Manoel Is berth
Valletta
Valletta
Grand Harbour Valletta
Grand Harbour
Commencing the lift
A nervous time
Safer, but still nervous
Growth on the hull!
On the hardstand
Cathedral, old town Siracus 
Roman theatre, Siracusa
Greek theatre, Siracusa, with the harbour in the distance
Lunch aboard, Siracusa 
Siracusa market
Siracusa
Piazza, Siracusa
Berthed at town quay, Siracusa
Approaching Gozo
View from berth, Mgarr marina, Gozo
Mgarr marina berth
Gozo countryside
Temple predating pyramids by 500 years
Mgarr harbour
Mgarr church scene
Entering Marsamxett Harbour
View from Manoel Is berth
Valletta
Valletta
Grand Harbour Valletta
Grand Harbour
Commencing the lift
A nervous time
Safer, but still nervous
Growth on the hull!
On the hardstand