Contributed by Mr. Steve Borg
 

This project is being overseen by Wirt Ghawdex [WG], a non-governmental organisation that was founded in 1996 in order to preserve Gozo and Comino's natural and cultural heritage. Godwin Vella, its secretary explains "Our members come from all walks of life. We have even had a number of foreign residents who have given their output. Ann Monsarrat, the wife of prolific writer Nicholas, renowned for his remarkable work 'The Cruel Sea', toiled hard as our public relations officer for four years."

WG's flagship is the 1658 Mgarr ix-Xini watchtower, taken over by the Gozitan heritage organization when it was at the brink of collapse. Two years and Lm20,000 later, its restoration is nearly completed. "Yes, we struck a partnership with the Ministry for Gozo for that project," he continues.

The Sacra Famiglia has been through the thick and thin.   Beached and pronounced unseaworthy in the 1970s, a legal tussle ensued. Blocking a slipway and the Police naturally demanding its removal, the owners threatened to sue if any damage was incurred during the operation.   Later on it was bought by a philantropist, who wanted to sell it to the Ministry for Gozo.     WG intervened, stating that the boat, seen through a cultural perspective, was priceless.

"Eventually we discussed the matter with Gozo Channel Chairman, Mr. John Sullivan, who was very keen on the restoration project. In fact thanks to his decision, Gozo Channel purchased the boat and handed it to over to WG in a public ceremony. We intend to have a permanent exhibition. To this end we appeal all those that have photographs and memorabilia that feature the Gozo lateen boats to contact us", states Mr. Vella. The Ghajnsielem local council, which has the intent of upgrading the whereabouts is also interested in being involved in the venture, considering that the Gozo Boat shall be a main sight.

"We have classified the project in two phases; the first phase shall include the restoration and consolidation process, the second the final presentation and heritage interpretation boards. Phase one shall be completed by the end of this year."

WG couldn't have entrusted better men to restore the hulk than brothers Peter and Karmenu Caruana. I met up with Peter at the Mgarr waterfront to discuss this enterprise. "The Sacra Famiglia was sketched by my father Guzeppi, who built it with his brother Ewgenju in 1933 over a stretch of eleven months in Kalkara Creek, Malta. It was commissioned by three Ghajnsielem cargo handlers, Vitor Bajada, Pawlu Scicluna and Guzeppi Galea at a cost of £450. Its registration number was G32."

There is much more thought into boatbuilding than meets the eye. It is for this reason that I call the Sacra Famiglia an objet d'art, just as it came off the paintbrush of Perugino.   The Caruanas are known to be master craftsmen, reputed amongst the best from the seventeen boatbuilders in pre-war Kalkara.   Guyanese greenheart was used for the underwater applications, red pine for the planking, oak for the stations, white deal for the flooring and Oregon Pine for the mast. "My father was so meticulous about his work. He went specifically to Syracuse to meet a wood merchant, Pasquale Eliffi to inspect and bring over the oak, ir-ruvlu."

The bolts were made from the best galvanized steel available. When completed, it weighed 25 tons, was 47 feet long, 14 feet at the beam and a hold of 5½ feet. Originally fitted with a Glenifell 100hp heavy duty engine, it had its engines changed to two Kelvin 88hp in 1959. It also had sails, made in Malta as was the norm with other traditional fishing boats, like the firilla and the luzzu.

"Yes, the Sacra Famiglia is in a sad state. Other than its superstructure, it is bare. I shall have to remove and refit a considerable amount of the planking. The greenheart keel is strong and dense, still in good condition. We hoisted the boat with a crane for three hours and it did not give way," the seasoned boat builder explains.

"In 1937 my father built a 50-footer, one that unfortunately hit a mine and sank in the Grand Harbour during the war. There was another boat under the captaincy of Marcel Theuma, which was attacked by German fighters and sunk with loss of life in the Comino Channel."

(c) 2002 Steve Borg

Historian Captain J.M. Wismayer speaks of other dramatic incidents when the Luftwaffe strafed helpless Gozo lateen boats plying between our islands.   On one occasion, in 1941, Maltese infantrymen from a 'C' Coy platoon of the K.O.M.R. stationed at L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha, gave away their concealed gun positions when opening fire on some Messerschmits 109 harassing a Gozo boat. Suddenly they became the targets, while the Gozo lateen boat scampered.   A point to ponder about is the name of the boat - Sacra Familia. When Italy started bombing Malta in June 1940, the locals were quick to observe that our bigger fishing smacks had Italian names.   Koli Apap, a Gozitan himself, appealed for their renaming into Maltese. Thus Cuor di Gesu became Qalb ta' Gesu. By this maxim Sacra Famiglia becomes Familja Imqaddsa.

"This boat was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1941 and sent to Alexandria, to act as a supplier to the Navy there. In 1945 it was back here plying the coast between Mgarr and the Grand Harbour."

Gozo boats transported poultry, livestock and country products to Malta and returned laden with commodities.   At times it took on board over thirty passengers. The G32's first trip was indeed a baptism of fire - thirty two tons of cement. The voyage varied according to the climatic conditions. The average timing was between one hour and one hour and three quarters. In bad weather it took well over five hours. The crew of nine consisted of a captain, an engineer and seven sailors, mostly from Ghajnsielem. Prior to the days of radio, it was a conch, il-bronja, blown if the approaching harbour was under mist, which heralded their arrival. The sea bound vessels waited until the boat made port.