Sarkozy swims and jogs in Malta

French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday swam in the clear blue sea off Mgarr ix-Xini, in Gozo, and later spent some time jogging in Delimara.

Blue skies and an enchanting landscape formed a perfect backdrop as the light wind gently rocked the super yacht Mr Sarkozy has been on since his arrival on Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours since beating Segolene Royal in the French presidential election.

French journalists, photographers and TV cameramen trickled into Malta yesterday and began their hunt for their elusive President-elect, who arrived in Malta unannounced on a private jet.

Mr Sarkozy is accompanied by his wife Cecilia and his son Louis. There were three other women, two men and five private security guards with him on the plane. The party were whisked off to the Manoel Island yacht marina in a Mercedes S class car, two Mercedes Veto vans and a car belonging to Nick's Chauffer Services and Travel Experience chauffer services.

The 60-metre motor yacht Paloma left and was seen cruising off the southern coast and stopped for the night off Delimara. Contrary to what some international media reported, Mr Sarkozy and his party remained on the boat all night between Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Sarkozy and his party yesterday spent the day at sea, leaving Delimara at about 9 a.m. Mr Sarkozy was seen at the stern of the yacht, wearing a blue and white striped T-shirt. His son was seen on the bridge and later with his father at the stern.

The super yacht headed straight for Comino, where it spent a few hours at Santa Maria Bay. It later sailed towards Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo, where Mr Sarkozy was spotted swimming. The yacht returned off St Peter's Pool, in Delimara, at about 4 p.m. and about three hours later he was photographed jogging, accompanied by some men, presumably security officers.

The yacht was shadowed by police officers from the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit and the Armed Forces Maritime Squadron at sea and by the Special Assignment Group from land.

Mr Sarkozy was at times seen waving and appeared to be speaking to the police when these got within earshot of the super yacht.

Government sources said that through the French Ambassador to Malta, Mr Sarkozy was informed he would be given any services he required, but as this was a private visit, no meetings were scheduled between any government officials and Mr Sarkozy. The sources said the security measures that were being taken were "as discreet as possible" in order to respect Mr Sarkozy's privacy.

The boat Mr Sarkozy is on is registered in Southampton and skippered by a Briton. The French media are reporting that both the boat and the French registered plane with which Mr Sarkozy came are owned by Vincent Bolloré, one of France's richest businessmen, who is a friend of Mr Sarkozy's.

Mr Bolloré, a 54-year old industrialist and businessman from Brittany, ranks 451 in the list of the world's richest men, according to Forbes. His fortune is estimated at $ 1.7 billion.

The Paloma was built in 1964 but in August 2004 it underwent a major refit at the Malta Shipyards super yacht facility. The interior was completely remanufactured and remodelled and much of the joinery and furniture were handmade by Maltese craftsmen. The boat includes a master suite with two bathrooms, a nurse cabin, six guest cabins with ensuite bathrooms, spa room, dining room, main saloon, bridge and crew quarters.

Shipping industry sources said a boat like the Paloma is hired at between $500,000 to $600,000 a week. "I am sure such a boat was probably put at Mr Sarkozy's disposal by Mr Bolloré," the sources said. The French media is asking how much it costs to charter such a yacht and who is footing the bill.

The French press yesterday speculated why Mr Sarkozy had come to Malta. Some sections of the media said his visit was to make amends for omitting Malta from a list of EU Mediterranean states that would form part of his proposed Mediterranean Union.

During the French presidential campaign, Mr Sarkozy had suggested the setting up of a Mediterranean Union that would include EU Mediterranean states France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus, as well as other non-EU Mediterranean countries.

This had led Malta's Ambassador to France, Vicki Ann Cremona to write to Mr Sarkozy complaining he had forgotten to mention Malta, an EU Mediterranean state, which would fit naturally, into such a Mediterranean Union.

In an interview last week, Mr Sarkozy said that if he won the election, he would go into retreat "in order to immerse myself in the office, take the measure of the heavy responsibilities that will weigh on my shoulders, and rest after the clamour of the campaign".

He is expected to leave Malta today. The flight time is estimated to be about two hours and 15 minutes. Back home, he is scheduled to attend ceremonies on Thursday morning marking the abolition of slavery, for which outgoing President Jacques Chirac will also be present.

Mr Sarkozy officially takes over as President on May 16.