Startup Matelot 2013

26 April – Arrivo

Not much wind on our passage to Malta

It’s a long journey from Auckland international Airport to Marina di Ragusa, interspersed with many hours sitting in airports along the way, but once Pippy puts her foot on the ‘runway’ pontoon, its as though she has never been away.  Its 10.30 pm and the wind as usual is fresh, humming its tune through the many riggings in the darkness.   There are many warm greetings over the next few days from familiar faces, beginning with the delicious spicy lentil soup made by our wonderful friend Tracy on SY At Last, which is devoured with relish before crashing into bed for a long sleep.

The gentle Buon Giorno the next morning reminds Pippy she is back and it is not long before we are both sampling a large drippy gelato ice cream in a cone and shopping for bread from the local bakery.  The Expresso Americano con Latte Aparte is still very delicious and still 1 Euro at the marine café.  The Tuesday market of fresh veg still inspires greater spending and purchasing than is really needed.

There are many jobs to do on board and soon we are well into the swing of life at Marina di Ragusa together again.  We work all day on impossibly fiddly jobs which keep turning up as we turn things on and they don’t work immediately, but are always on time for the happy hour wherever it is happening, trying to grab a shower and some clean clothes along the way.

Fortunately for Pippy there is one last music session before all the muso’s depart.  Richard has loved playing guitar with this group and his skill on that has improved tremendously.  We all sing along, mostly out of tune, but it’s a happy gathering knowing it will be the last.  Hugh from SY…..  has contributed hugely to this group, his professional Southern States banjo playing contributing great enjoyment for all and his kindness lending much encouragement to aspiring musicians.  We hear that he has accompanied Dolly Parton in the past and no-one is surprised.

Activity is feverish as April draws to a close and we all know our contracts are to expire and we have to leave or pay.  The queues for the two washing machines are long and the pile of books and unwanted clothing in the laundry keeps growing as people have a last clean out.  The selection for summer reading is excellent.  The clothing recyclers have a bonanza.

We try to stock up on the inexpensive Prosecco we have always enjoyed here but all three supermarkets are sold out to the boats who stock up first and we eventually leave with two bottles on board!  We have a victory on the muesli front though as we find MD Discount Supermarket has just stocked up and we buy all 10 packets!  YES!!  Not so lucky on the delicious Blocco di Cioccolato – a huge block of very dark for 1 Euro…. All sold out.  We have to settle for Cioccolato al Latte instead of extra Fondente.  Never mind as Matelot’s stores are very well stocked.

The spring gales keep on coming.  First of all from the east for a week, then a day of respite before turning to the west for what seems like another week.  We go to sleep every night to the sound of it howling and it is impossible to get the genoa up on deck and on to the forestay, or do any outside jobs to prepare for our departure.  The Marina kindly extends our contracts until we have a weather break.  It’s a bonus really, because we find we need the extra time to get ready for departure and make good use of every day.  

There is an opportunity on the last Sunday afternoon (5 May) for us all to meet on the Runway Pontoon for drinks provided by the leftover money from the sale of Marina di Ragusa Cruiser Recipe books.  It’s a great gathering.  Pippy discovers that her birthday gift from Richard of fender covers for the boat is matched by two other cruising wives, who are respectively given diesel and a new toilet for their birthdays.

From that day on each morning a few boats leave, braving the gale whipped seas out in the Sicilian Channel.

Now to the sad goodbyes as the realisation sinks in that we will probably never again see a lot of these people who have played a big part in our lives for the past two winter seasons.  The sadness hangs around despite the many hugs and get-togethers.  Finally on Wednesday 8 May at 7am we throw our lines and along with Venice Lion, Lulu, Feisty, and Geronimo, turn for Malta.  

The wind is down but the sun is not out and grey skies and flappy sails accompany us on our passage across, which is disappointing, as we had a friendly challenge race on with our good friends Jenny and Robert of Venice Lion which does not happen.  

With the exception of two hours when we are able to sail, Matelot’s engine purrs along and it is pleasing that all systems on the boat are working, including the watermaker which makes fresh sweet water for us.

This is our third visit to Malta and we find that our favourite anchorage outside Lazaretto Creek is now riddled with plastic mooring buoys so we motor around to Sliema where we have heard there is an old steel ketch we can tie up to.  It has been a free mooring place for yachts for some time and there is a space for us.  Alongside already are two other yachts from Marina di Ragusa, so we get a friendly greeting and an invitation for drinks on board SY Lazy Pelican at 6pm, where we catch up on familiar faces and local information, especially where we can get the life-raft serviced nearby, a job which has sat at the top of our list for some time. 

Richard is off the boat early the next morning with the liferaft and taking it ashore.  The buzz of traffic can be heard in the distance and buses whizz along the waterfront on their daily routes.

Our 2013 cruising season has begun. ... hahahah!