Crossing to Tunisia

Greetings from Port Jasmine Hammamet, Tunisia. Finally,we were able to achieve enough work done to enable us to set off from Malta. The parts for the furler finally arrived and the new lazy bag, after several returns to the loft for rework, was acceptable[?]. So, we set sail, tacking into a fresh 20 kt headwind as a short shakedown sail to the island of Comino between Gozo and Malta. It sorted out a few gremlins and we were able to spend a quiet though short night in a calm anchorage before an 0400 start for the crossing to Tunisia. A lack of wind saw us motor all day before a fresh breeze came in, just as the grib files had predicted, and we then had a cracker of an overnight sail in 18-20 kts of quartering wind all the way to Port Yasmine, arriving too early for the locals to be ready to receive us. Enroute we shared the sea with turtles, dolphins, swordfish and sheerwaters and negotiated our way through a large fishing fleet and around several unexpected offshore platforms [our charts, both digital and paper apparently out of date]. We were received by the local authorities without too much hassle and now find ourselves in a strange place. The marina precinct is an architect`s dream of acres of buildings for shops and accommodation, ninety percent of which is empty and obviuosly has never been occupied, surrounded by wide malls and collonaded walkways. Judging by what we see here and in the local surrounds you would not know that there had been any recent "revolution". The town area is comprised of miles and miles of hotels, all empty at the moment. Who knows if there will be normal season here? If not, then many of the locals will find things tough as they rely totally on tourism. Anyway, these are first impressions.


Departing Marsamxett Harbour, Malta

Comino anchorage

Lovely day motoring

First Mate ready for a COLD night watch

Approaching Port Yasmine

Downtown Port Yasmine

Our berth in the marina at Port Yasmine

Exploring

We cycled about 4 km to nearby Barraksal for fresh supplies

And returned to the marina

Return to Malta

Jack Tar`s crew are now back aboard in Valletta, Malta, at Manoel Is. yacht marina. We flew via Munich and had the opportunity for a quick trip to the city centre between flights. It is 1st May and we are still here having encountered a few equipment issues which have delayed our departure. Most crucial is a defect in the top swivel of the genoa furler which requires parts from France. Things do not progress swiftly here and we are somewhat frustrated by the time it takes to get work done [or eventually not done]. Weather has been pretty cold and often wet, and the rain deposits thick layers of red north African mud all over the yacht. Commonly now known as Gadaffi`s revenge. However we are otherwise ready to go with a new mainsail and many other bits and pieces. All things being equal we should be off soon on an overnight sail across to Hammamet in Tunisia where the marina assures us all is as normal.

Munich

Munich

Guess who

Cas

View from our hotel in Sliema with Manoel Is.Yacht Yard in the background

Jack Tar ready to go with a newly repaired transom gantry

The journey to the water begins

Final touch up

Enroute

Season`s End

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