Sailing mecca

Whatever you think of superyachts, you can't really blame them for choosing Malta, 'a historic sailing Mecca', reports Nancy Knudsen in Sail World:

..There are also plenty of places to sail and it would be easy to spend a week exploring the delightful local anchorages. As the Maltese are enthusiastic boaters, some of the anchorages - like the popular Blue Lagoon, tend to be very busy, especially weekends. The archipelago actually consists of three islands, with Gozo as the other large island, and small Comino, between the two. Gozo is less crowded than Malta, with excellent anchorages and a pleasant marina in the main port of Mgarr.

There are several berthing/mooring options, from very economical to highly expensive. In waterways off to the right from Marsamxett Harbour is the most popular with visiting yachts, Msida Marina, but you have to go to Grand Harbour these days to check-in. The newer Manoel Island Marina is also located nearby, and the marinas are economical probably because they are operated by the Maltese Government. Now that a Customs office - and a more relaxed one we hear - is at Gozo's Port of Mgarr, one may find more cruising sailors stopping there in the future.

Next year, all the marinas will be privatised, so you can expect to see some significant changes - certainly the prices shall probably rise...