The surprise visit to Malta by French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy and family was the talk of Malta yesterday, with theories on the French leader’s top-secret travel plans abounding.

A police presence at Delimara, where the private yacht aboard which Mr Sarkozy is staying has been anchored for the past two nights, ensured that most such curiosity remained unsatisfied.

Mr Sarkozy, who takes office from outgoing President Jacques Chirac on 16 May after a 53-47 per cent electoral victory over Socialist rival Segolene Royal last Sunday, spent part of yesterday morning around Comino on a private yacht he boarded on Monday from Ta’ Xbiex.

The British-flagged 60-metre yacht, La Paloma, was seen off Comino’s Santa Marija Bay yesterday, before weighing anchor and setting off for the presumed destinations of Syracuse and Taormina, Sicily.

The yacht, luxuriously fitted after a complete rebuild in Malta in 2004, had spent Monday afternoon cruising along Malta’s southern coast, and anchored overnight at Xrobb l-Ghagin, Delimara.

After a day’s cruising yesterday, it returned once again to the picturesque location, right in front of Delimara’s “azure window” in the afternoon.

There was a discernible police presence at Delimara yesterday, with officers blocking off the road leading to the area, in the vicinity of the former Deutsche Welle station, well before the yacht would have come into view – much to the angst of journalists who were precluded from the area.

Police were also taking down the particulars of those attempting to pass down the road. This journalist had his particulars taken straight from his Department of Information press card, which proved to be of little use in accessing the public area.

There was however access to the top of the azure window, from where photographs of the yacht floating serenely on calm waters at sunset were taken, and are being published today.

Five minutes had not even passed, however, before a police speedboat approached and ordered two The Malta Independent journalists from the cliff face overlooking the bay.

Although international news agencies yesterday reported the yacht had been accompanied by a Maltese patrol boat for additional security, as rioting continues in France over the election of the right-wing politician, no such assistance was seen being lent yesterday.

Speaking to The Malta Independent yesterday, sources close to the Armed Forces dispelled reports that the yacht was being shadowed by a Maltese patrol boat, adding that the yacht carrying Mr Sarkozy was travelling on its own steam.

While not being directly, or at least overtly, involved in Mr Sarkozy’s security arrangements, the AFM is said to be keeping a close eye on the situation from a distance, and is adopting a stand-off approach.

Having arrived unannounced at Malta International Airport on Monday, the new French President, who has not yet commented on the violent clashes in Paris following his election, is, according to statements made by his aides, also using his time in Malta to reflect on the formation of a new French cabinet and government policy priorities.

Mr Sarkozy is said to be “recharging his batteries” after a five-month gruelling electoral campaign trail in which he is said to have not had a single day off.

Curiously, Mr Sarkozy abstained from using the airport’s VIP facilities on Monday, opting instead to pass through normal passport control and to wait for his luggage at the baggage carousel. Dressed casually in jeans, a white shirt and sporting a pair of dark sunglasses, Mr Sarkozy winked and grinned secretively at surprised fellow travellers when recognised.

Mr Sarkozy and his entourage – which, in addition to his wife and son, also included three women, two men and four security personnel – were then whisked off in a bullet-proof S-Class Mercedes, two Mercedes vans and another car to Ta’ Xbiex to the waiting La Paloma.

He is expected to depart from Malta International Airport today on the private plane which brought him here.