So, we have bought a boat and strangely, one of the very first decisions we need to make is where to spend this winter. That all seems a bit weird given that it’s currently 35C in Malta and the height of the sailing season. Our long term is to be nomadic and where possible to live at anchor, but that can be quite difficult in the med. That’s because the weather can get a bit sketchy and secure anchoring options can be a bit limited. Also, given this will be our first 6 months on the boat, we want to be near some facilities as we get familiar with Nautilus. The reason we need to decide this month is because winter berths get booked up and we don’t want to be locked out.
At the moment we feel we have a couple of choices:
Marina di Valletta, Malta
Marina di Ragusa, Sicily
Do we stay in Malta?
This is where Nautilus is currently hanging out and where our sailing adventure is going to start. Either way, she’s going to be here until the end of September, but it’s what’s going to happen after that. The big of advantage of staying in Malta is that we’re right in the middle of the action, with loads to explore around Valletta. Also, if we need any mechanical work to be done, there are a lot more options. The final big plus is that it’s only 20 mins from the airport if anybody decides they want to come out to visit us.
However, there are some things we need to have a hard think about.. The first is that the marina can be a bit exposed in a strong NE wind. Our berth is currently at the end of B pontoon and not behind the sea wall – we will need to check what’s that’s like in a blow with a sea running. The second is that it’s not so easy to go swimming – it’s a 20 min walk to a designated swimming area or a ride in the tender. (that said, we should be out sailing). The final consideration is that we really don’t know what the winter community is like and who will be around as things quiet down at the end of the season.
Option 2, Move to Ragusa
We discovered Ragusa whilst reading through the liveaboard forums. It’s a modern marina on the south coast of Sicily and is a bit of a Mecca for live aboard families to spend the winter. Other positives are that it’s good value for money, has great facilities and is close to the beach for us to go swimming. It also addresses the other concern we have about staying in Malta in that it’s protected from the wind and seas from all directions.
So what are the downsides?
The first is a pro and a con depending on your point of view. Ragusa is a holiday destination, it’s very busy right now, but will become much quieter from October. This will really limit what there is to do. One thing is for sure is that we’d need to be a lot more self-sufficient as there will be less options for working on the boat. There is supposed to be a good liveaboard community, but would we fit in? The other problem is that we’re a long way from the airport, so it’s about 2.5 hours to get to Nautilus.
So which way will be jump?
we’re not 100% at the moment, but we’re leaning towards staying in Malta as we know what the marina is like and if we can be confident about the conditions in a strong NE blow, then it’s best to stick with what we know. Also we’ve said we want to spend time exploring cities and Valletta has a lot to offer…..