We never planned to stay this long, but if we had to choose anywhere for an enforced stay to sort out problems, we couldn't have picked anywhere better than Malta. Everyone here has been incredibly kind and helpful.
Our last night in Valletta sees us given temporary membership of the Casino di Venezia - where we should have arrived on Tuesday night for a reception with a hundred people - and a superb meal on the house. A splendid end to what is hopefully the longest refuelling stop of Spirit's round the world voyage.
At 8am local we head out to the infamous fish farms in St Paul's Bay, accompanied by Eric Braithwaite's RIB "Just for Fun".
"I don't feel too comfortable here", Alan advises him on the radio. "This is as close as I get". The damaged railing around the top of the boom is clearly visible. Then we turn back to Valletta Harbour breakwater, to be timed in at 0914 local, 0714 GMT. So that's the end of the Gibraltar to Malta leg, 1000 miles in a mere 5 days 21 hours 14 minutes, average speed 7 knots!
We wave goodbye to everyone on the "Just for Fun" and set off out to sea straight away. Just a few miles offshore we have a five minute maintenance stop. The engine doesn't sound quite right, and Alan decides to change the fuel filter. Three days of inactivity has seen water settle in it and turn the filter element mushy, so the engine was straining to suck the fuel through.
The passage to Egypt and Port Said is around 900 miles, and we're making good progress. We've had a reasonably good weather forecast, but we know there's another depression on its way.
Clive Tully
FACTBOX
Gibraltar - Malta
Time of leg: 5 days 21 hours 14 minutes
Distance covered: 1,010 nautical miles
Average speed: 7.16 knots
Fuel consumed: 2,222 litres
Average fuel consumption: 2.2 litres / nautical mile
Next stop: Port Said
Copyright Clive Tully ©2002
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