Rocks, life rafts and safety at sea

I am the owner of a boat and I have attended a marine course as this is now compulsory by law but although I learned everything necessary about cruising with my boat I did not learn how I would use my life saver in case of need.

Last year I was in Pozzallo, in Sicily and on our way back to Malta, all of a sudden, a strong gale developed and our boat with five people on board was going to sink. I believe that the wind was force eight and, as I own a power boat, it is difficult and dangerous to sail it in such conditions. Luckily, my skipper managed to sail the boat slowly to Malta taking about eight hours to do so. At one time we considered throwing the life raft into the sea so that we could abandon the boat because the wind was very strong and the boat was taking in water. Yet, no one had any idea how to use the life raft. So I suggest that boat owners be given a course as to how to use a life raft in case of need.

One other time, I was going to Comino and my boat hit a rock just two feet under water and, luckily, I just managed to save the boat from being completely destroyed. Two engines and the bottom of the boat were damaged.

Two boats that were passing by managed to pull me off the rock and slowly I went back to my pontoon in Ta' Xbiex.

The rock in question is in between Comino and Kemmunett, where many boats meet, which means it is necessary to keep to the port side, as a result of which lots of boats hit the rock. I sent a letter to The Times two years ago about this and nothing was done. I hope this time the authorities would erect a sign indicating the dangerous position of this rock.