Maltese Falcon

The Beauty of Portofino

During one recent weekend, we took a trip with some guests
from Monaco to the village of Portofino, a small fishing village in Italy,
which has become an exclusive resort town.
 
The town has a strong reputation as being frequented by the
rich and famous, and is known as one of the most beautiful towns in the
Mediterranean. Fishing boats and super yachts alike all cram into the
small harbor, creating a colorful and fun atmosphere. 
 
The Maltese Falcon anchored in the outer harbor during her
stay there, and dozens of small boats almost constantly circled the yacht to
admire her unique beauty. Guests and crew had the opportunity to explore
the town and take in the sights and atmosphere. 
 
At the end of the weekend the Maltese Falcon made the trip
back to Monaco, briefly stopping to anchor near Imperia, France to do some
swimming and finish a Laser Regatta that was started a few weeks prior while in
Corsica. Finalists and winners from the regatta were treated to a formal
dinner in the Maltese Falcon’s grand dining room and were even given
blooper awards for some less-than-perfect performances. All had a great
time and we hope to do it again soon!
 
Jeremy Smith
Deckhand
 

Fun in Corsica

The Maltese Falcon has had a busy and exciting charter
season, having visited many of the coastal Mediterranean countries including
Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. The crew has had a great time
along the way, having met many interesting people and exploring new
areas. 
 
We have visited Corsica, one of our favorite islands,
several times throughout the season with guests. Corsica is a region of
France, located to the Southeast of the French mainland and to the West of
Italy. It is a volcanic and mountainous island, with peaks reaching up to
2,700 meters high and over 200 beaches for residents and tourists to
enjoy. 
 
After a nice sail to Corsica from Monaco, we anchored in the
harbors of Cupabia, and later Girolata within the Scandola Nature
Reserve. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the crystal-clear blue water and
amazing scenery under a blue sky. 
 
The crew and guests also participated in a suspenseful
sailing regatta using our two Laser sailing dinghies. With a nice breeze
everyone sailed well, but as is the case with regattas, the competition was
quite fierce. 
 
We also took a short trip to Ajaccio, Napoleon’s
birthplace, so several guests and crew could explore the historic town. 
 
One day while under way near Corsica, one of the guests had
an idea to go tubing. Normally tubing is done behind a small boat such as
a tender, but this time we put a unique spin on it and towed the tube behind
the 88 meter Maltese Falcon. So, we launched one of our tubes along with
three volunteers to ride it. Yes, it can be done, and we even have
pictures to prove it! We believe that the Maltese Falcon now holds the
world record as the largest sailing yacht to ever tow a tube with three
passengers! 
 
Jeremy Smith
Deckhand