Just "a nice day out"

Just "A nice day out" Kath and I have recently spent two weeks on holiday in Malta. During our first week, most days in the early evening, we would see a large two masted sailing ship make its way across Bugibba bay heading in the direction of Valetta. She carried a mizzen sail, a main sail, three square sails and four foresails; and a handsome picture she made. We assumed she belonged to a charter company, used as a co-operate charter boat, or perhaps she was owned by some lucky individual, but no; when we were looking at leaflets for day sailing experiences, there she was.

She was the Charlotte Louise, and was owned by Captain Morgan Cruises, and used for"taking you back in time," daily all inclusive sailing trips from Sliema Harbour to The blue Lagoon - Comino and back to Sliema Harbour. Kath and I booked a place for the following Friday's cruise and were duly picked up from our apartment and taken to Sliema harbour to board. Once on board we had time to take in the charm of the Old Lady. She is a fully rigged square sail gaff rigged swooner- apparently, and was kept as authentic as could reasonably be. Lifejackets and liferafts were stowed out of view in lockers, the engine I guess was not original and the radio was hidden out of the way in the wheel pinnacle. Apart from that She seemed to be authentic, with hemp ropes, wooden masts and stays, canvas sails and blocks and pulleys; no winches for this Old Lady. The only other concession to leisure cruising were loose cushions spread around on deck and on lockers for the passengers.

She was built in 1942 as a fishing vessel and at 115 foot long, weighs 1 10 tons and, according to the Skipper, is capable of 12 1/2 knots under full sail. The crew consisted of the Skipper who is South African and five deck crew, two Scots, one Australian, and one Maltese and the engineer was English. They were all young people with varying degrees of sailing skills, but worked well together as the team. The other member of the crew was Romanian and she was the cook.

We left Sliema just after ten o'clock and motor sailed to the Blue Lagoon. The mizzen and three foresails were set as there was a bit of a swell, and the Skipper wanted to get there in time for lunch; we picked up a buoy in the Blue Lagoon some 2 1/2 hours later. Before lunch we had the opportunity to swim off the boat, flippers and snorkel having been supplied to those who wanted them.

Lunch was duly served, and what a spread it was. There were cold meats, prawns, mussels, smoked salmon, pasta and potatoes, along with a good selection of salads. This was all washed down with plenty of wine and the desert was fresh fruit.

After lunch there was time for another dip before we dropped the buoy and headed back towards Sliema. The captain was insistent that we sailed (she was a sailing vessel after all) so the crew broke out the two lower square sails, the captain killed the engine and it all went quiet. We all just laid back in the sunshine and the breeze took us home.

We got into Sliema just after six o'clock having sailed back at an estimated 5 - 5 1/2 knots. The bar had been open all day; with beer on tap on deck along with soft drink dispensers and wine and spirits in cool boxes: we just helped ourselves.

If anyone finds themself in Malta, with a day to spare, I highly recommend the day trip - it really was "A nice day out "

Chris Rayner