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Canoeing, Sailing & Yachting
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A sport that is becoming ever more
popular is open water kayaking, and it
is one of the best ways for young and
old alike to experience the natural
beauty of Malta's coast.
So far, only one company offers
canoeing and kayaking excursions -
Rugged Coast Adventures. Its tours
take in some of the most beautiful
scenery in Malta and Comino and
include snorkelling stops as well. One
may also hire canoes and kayaks from
them.
Rugged Coast Adventures
Adira Sailing Centre and Lido
Marfa Road, Mellieha Bay
Tel 21529251 Mobile 79926734
email: ruggedcoastadventures@yahoo.com
www.seakayakmalta.com
Approaches: The islands are low-lying
and not easy to identify from a
distance. However, since there are
no offshore hazards to navigation, a
landfall is usually made on the higher
ground at Madliena, if approaching
from the north-east.
Any vessel approaching from the
south-west will have no difficulty by
day, since the cliffs are conspicuous
from a distance.
Caution is required if arriving by
night as there are no navigational
lights along the south-western
coast, and Filfla is unlit.
Yachts entering territorial waters
should hoist a 'Q' (yellow) flag and
must make for Marsamxett Harbour.
And if equipped with VHF, they are
to call Valletta Port Control on Channel
12 to receive berthing instructions.
A night entrance is difficult for
the first time, particularly if a strong
north-easterly (gregale) is blowing;
this produces a heavy swell and
considerable surge.
Formalities: Arrival (Malta) — After
proceeding to the visitors' berth, the
yacht’s registration book together
with passports - covering all crew
members and passengers - must be
presented to customs and immigration
officials at the administration
building (in Ta' Xbiex) for the necessary
pratique. Yachting Centre officials
will then allot a berth.
Yachts may only remain in midstream
until the berthing master,
who should be contacted at the
Yachting Centre offices or on VHF
channel 9, allocates a berth.
Arrival (Gozo) – From 1 June until
30 September yachts entering Maltese
waters may clear customs at
the Mgarr Marina. Arriving yachts
should head for Pontoon F, where
berthing assistants will indicate the
location of the custom office.
Final departure— Before final
departure from the islands, a passenger/
crew list has to be completed
on the appropriate form and presented
to the customs officer. All
passports are to be submitted to the
immigration officer.
Berthing:
Gozo
Mgarr Marina (208 berths) —
opposite the ferry terminal.
Malta
Lazzaretto Quay (75 berths) —
on the northern part of Lazzaretto
Creek
Marina Msida (274 berths) - on
the south-eastern side of Msida
Creek
Portomaso (105 berths) - privately
operated
Ta’ Xbiex Quay (53 berths) — on
the south-western part of Lazzaretto
Quay
Vittoriosa Quay (200 berths) - in
the Grand Harbour
Whitehall Quay (398 berths) —
on the northern side of Msida
Creek
Sliema Quay provides an additional
60 berths during the peak
summer months.
Berthing charges: Up to date rates
and fees can be downloaded from
the Malta Maritime Authority’s website
at www.mma.gov.mt
Berthing master: The berthing master
may be contacted on VHF channel
9 or by telephone, on number
21332800.
Bunkering: Duty free bunkers for
yachts in transit are available.
Duty free supplies: Duty free goods
may be bought after the appropriate
forms are completed. Sealed
goods are loaded on yachts under
supervision and may not be used in
territorial waters. Vessels arriving
from or sailing to an EU port may
not buy duty free goods.
Maritime authorities
Malta Maritime Authority
Maritime Trade Centre,
Xatt l-Ghassara ta’ l-Gheneb,
Marsa MRS 1917
Tel 21222203 Fax 21250365
info@mma.gov.mt
www.mma.gov.mt
Yachting Centre Directorate
Gozo
Mgarr Harbour, Mgarr
Tel 21558856/7 Fax 21562672
Malta
Ta' Xbiex Seafront,
Ta' Xbiex XBX 1028
Tel 21332800 Fax 21332141
info@mma.gov.mt.
Radio frequencies: Valletta Port Control
transmits on VHF channels 9
and 12 and listens on channel 16 on
a 24-hour basis.
The Yachting Centre receives and
transmits on marine channel 37, if
this is not available then on international
channels 8 or 9.
Services: Ablutions— A shower/toilet
facility, located next to the Yachting
Centre, is open daily.
Gas cylinders— Butane gas cylinders
are available.
Mail: Mail is collected in bulk
and held at the Yachting Centre
until collected by addressees.
Power and water — 120 and 240
volts AC, single phase, is supplied at
a charge. Water is also supplied at a
charge.
Telephone: There is a connection
fee of €35. And a meter charge of
€11.65 per quarter. A refundable
deposit of €233 is levied.
Weather forecast: Valletta Port Control
transmits the weather forecast
daily on VHF Channel 12. In summer
transmissions are at 09:03, 13:03,
19:03 and 00:03 (all times local). In
winter transmissions are at 08:03,
12:03 18:03 and 23:03 (all times
local).
Malta Radio, Channel 4, transmits
forecasts one hour before Valletta
Port Control.
The forecast is also available on an
answering machine, dial 50043848.
Three day forecasts for mariners
are available online at www.maltairport.
com/weather and at www.
gozowe.accountsupport.com/marin
e.shtml.
Article provided by Island Travel Yearbook www.travelmalta.com
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