Return to Malta - Sailing Helios S02E05

[@stewartwilkinsonsnr]

S02E05 Completed: How lovely we’re the couple (subscribers) who reached out, and that was the Best advantage point I have ever seen to watch the fireworks 💥 so Thank You for sharing. xx❤️💙⛵️

[@raymondellul9299]

Good morning, Congratulations on your video,I saw the one when you returned to Malta . This is one of the best spots, and depending on the weather conditions, you can always find a good bay where to spend the nights 😊 Enjoy

[@sailinghelios2023]

We always enjoy our time in Malta

[@raymondellul9299]

Hi, it was nice meeting you today at IL Hofra l kbira in Malta It Ray on the boat Emerald of Valletta, on you starboard bow😊

[@sailinghelios2023]

Hi Ray, thanks for swimming over to say hello and chat 😊! It’s a beautiful spot here and we are blessed with a very peaceful evening. We love your country.

[@nickhardin9039]

Great video and narrative.

[@sailinghelios2023]

Thanks Nick

[@simontrevisan5598]

If you are in Malta next Anzac Day there is a dawn service at St Edwards College (not far from the Birgu on the south side of the Grand Harbour). Some of the Gallipoli wounded were evacuated there as it was used as a hospital and some are buried there.

[@sailinghelios2023]

Thank you. We heard that there were quite a few ANZAC's buried in Malta. We will have to check this out if we are there next time.

[@TheSailingAussies]

Back to the European sailing grounds for the next adventure chapter-how exciting! Starting in Malta, do you have a rough plan or a specific area in mind for this sailing season?

[@sailinghelios2023]

After Malta we are heading across the bottom of Italy to Greece. Not sure how long we will spend there as it all depends on how our Schengen plan unfolds

[@TheSailingAussies]

@@sailinghelios2023 Thanks and if you haven't already considered it, I highly recommend visiting the Paxos and Anti-Paxos islands as you travel from Italy towards Greece. Starting in the north, you can visit Lakka, where you can either anchor or med-moor on a clear, sandy bottom. Next, head south to Gaios, the main town of Paxos, where you can med-moor right in front of the main town square. Be sure to stop by Monganissi Bay, where you can anchor and row to the Carnayo Cafe, stepping right from your dinghy into your seat. Then, sail across to Anti-Paxos and anchor in Paralia Voutoumi Bay. From there, enjoy a walk up from the beach to the Bella Vista Restaurant for lunch, with stunning views of your yacht in the crystal-clear waters below. I'm sure you'll love these locations. We spent two weeks there about 12 years ago, staying in an apartment on Longos Bay, right on the pier. We had a boat and a couple of scooters to explore the islands-fantastic and some of our best memories!

[@TheSailingAussies]

@@sailinghelios2023 If you haven't already considered it, I highly recommend visiting the Paxos and Anti-Paxos islands as you travel from Italy towards Greece. Starting in the north, you can visit Lakka, where you can either anchor or med-moor on a clear, sandy bottom. Next, head south to Gaios, the main town of Paxos, where you can med-moor right in front of the main town square. Be sure to stop by Monganisi Bay, where you can anchor and row to the Carnayo Cafe, stepping right from your dinghy into your seat. Then, sail across to Anti-Paxos and anchor in Paralia Voutoumi Bay. From there, enjoy a walk up from the beach to the Bella Vista Restaurant for lunch, with stunning views of your yacht in the crystal-clear waters below. I'm sure you'll love these locations. We spent two weeks there about 12 years ago, staying in an apartment on Longos Bay, right on the pier. We had a boat and a couple of scooters to explore the islands-fantastic and some of our best memories!

[@DougMcc-z3e]

Its great to see you back in action. Did you have any dramas with Maltese immigration re entering the EU on your yacht crew visa exemption ?

[@sailinghelios2023]

Thank you. No problems at all. We will do another update once we are in Greece but Malta Immigration just stamped our crew list.

[@tarekhamid3882]

Looks like you are back in Business !!! Congratulations... and nicely done. Curious: Did you have any concerns and (more importantly) took any precautions to protect against potential "entanglements" with smugglers and or migrant flotillas

[@sailinghelios2023]

Thanks. Good question. This is something that we have talked about and do have concerns. Our route from Tunisia above Linosa Island keeps us away from most of the boats as it believe that the Italian authorities pick them up from Lampedusa Island which is a bit further south. We always keep a watch on Radar and AIS to monitor traffic.

[@moonhand8311]

Did i miss it - what about checking in etc? Like to know what Malta's attitude is.

[@sailinghelios2023]

Malta Check you in on a crew list as standard practice. When we get to Greece we will give an update on our experience across Malta, Italy and Greece

[@HGills]

Quick question - after leaving Tunisia are your passports stamped back into Schengen upon arrival or do you get a sneaky extra time because they don’t ?

[@sailinghelios2023]

After leaving Tunisia we went to Malta - so that was our first port in the EU. We went to immigration and they asked if we would be staying on the boat (we said yes) so they just stamped our crew list and not our passports. Yes. That means Schengen time is not accruing.

[@HGills]

@@sailinghelios2023thank you

[@alistairmcdonald265]

Interested to know if you just checked back into the EU with a normal Schengen visa and if you plan to “check out” again as you did last year to give you more time in Europe?

[@sailinghelios2023]

In Malta they stamp you in on your crew list as standard practice.

[@IAnCremona]

Are you still here? Let me know if you need anything. Im at Manoel isalnd most of the time

[@sailinghelios2023]

Hi Ian, sorry but we have left but will be back later in the season on our way to Monastir.