Malta Sailing Charter

Malta Sailing Charter offers private yacht charters from Roland Marina in Ta' Xbiex, on the Marsamxett Harbour side of the island's capital region. Every booking is for the whole yacht, a 54 foot Beneteau Oceanis called ACE, skippered by Captain Peter. You choose between a full day at sea, a sunset evening sail and a multi-day overnight trip, and the boat is yours alone for the duration.

For a UK visitor this is a straightforward way to see the coast without joining a crowded excursion boat. The yacht takes up to twelve guests on day and evening charters and up to six overnight, so a family, a group of friends, a work team or a couple can have the sea to themselves. This page explains what each charter includes, what it costs as printed, how the food and drink arrangements work and how booking and deposits are handled.

Three ways to charter ACE

The full day charter runs from 9:30am to 5:30pm, eight hours in all, and is priced from €750 + VAT for the whole yacht. The route takes in open sea, quiet coves, the Blue Lagoon and Gozo, with paddle boards, kayaks and snorkelling gear on board. It suits families, celebrations and corporate days, and up to twelve guests can sail together.

The evening charter sets off at 7pm and returns at 11pm. A sunset sail for up to twelve guests is priced from €425 + VAT, with water, soft drinks, tea and coffee included and room to bring your own wine or snacks. If you would rather dine afloat, dinner at sea can be added for up to six guests at +€60 per person: a welcome glass of Prosecco, a three course meal and a bottle of wine, served at anchor in a quiet bay.

The overnight charter is the longest option, priced from €900 + VAT for exclusive use of the yacht, a professional skipper, unlimited refreshments and the water sports gear. It is for up to six guests over several days, with three en-suite cabins, fresh linen and no fixed timetable. A sample itinerary starts with a morning departure, an afternoon swim and dinner with stargazing on board, then a sunrise breakfast and either gentle cruising or an early return to the marina, whichever you prefer.

The yacht and what is on board

ACE is a Beneteau Oceanis, 54 feet long, with teak decks, a spacious cockpit and outdoor dining space. On deck there are sun loungers, a hammock, a bimini top and sprayhood for shade, a swim platform with a ladder and cockpit speakers. Below deck are three en-suite cabins, a hot shower, a fully equipped galley and an air-conditioned lounge with a Bluetooth sound system.

The equipment for the water is included in the charter. That means a dinghy with an outboard, paddle boards, kayaks, snorkelling gear and floating noodles and other water toys. For safety the yacht carries GPS, VHF radio, life jackets and a first aid kit. The galley has a fridge, stove and barbecue grill, which is useful if you prefer to bring your own food and prepare it on board.

Where the yacht goes

Because the boat leaves from Ta' Xbiex, the first sight on many days is Valletta from the water. The honey-coloured bastions rise straight from the harbour, and seeing them from a yacht gives a very different sense of scale from walking the streets. If that appeals, our Valletta guide covers what to see once you are back on land, and the Three Cities guide describes the old harbour towns on the far side of Grand Harbour.

From Marsamxett the day charter heads towards Comino and its famous bay. Comino has no cars and no hotels, and Captain Peter aims to reach the Blue Lagoon before it fills, then moves on to a quieter cove around the headland. Our Blue Lagoon guide explains how the bay works for visitors. The sail on to Gozo brings taller cliffs, open valleys and fishing villages, and the Gozo guide is a good companion if you want to plan time ashore on the sister island.

Peter checks the conditions each morning and picks the most sheltered bays for the day, so the exact route depends on the wind and sea. It is worth reading the Malta weather guide when choosing your month, and the best beaches in Malta if you want to compare the coves you see from the water with the sandy options on land.

Captain Peter

Your skipper is Peter, who has sailed the Maltese islands for more than 35 years. He knows the channels, the way the winds shift and the bays that stay peaceful when others fill up. Guests can expect him to explain the history of a stretch of cliff, suggest a restaurant that locals favour, and have the sails raised before the first coffee is finished.

Before skippering, Peter worked in international hotel management, and that background shapes the way charters are run: the aim is that details are handled quietly, without fuss, so you can concentrate on the day. The philosophy is to curate private days at sea rather than simply rent a boat, so the pace, coast and route are yours to shape.

Food and drink on board

You may bring your own food and drink, or order meals prepared fresh and delivered to the pontoon before you sail. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices are available on request. Lunch menus for day charters are priced per person: the Pasta Feast at +€25 (minimum four guests), The Healthy Sailor at +€35 (minimum two), Gourmet Fish Delight at +€45 with oven-baked sea bream, The BBQ Experience at +€45 grilled on board at anchor, and The Meat Lover's Feast at +€50 built around sirloin steak.

Meals should be ordered at least 72 hours before sailing. As a printed example, eight guests on a weekday day charter with the Pasta Feast pay a €750 charter fee, €90 VAT at 12% on the charter fee and €200 for lunch, a total of €1,040. For evening dinner at sea, two menus are offered at +€60 per person. Menu 1 offers asparagus risotto, pan-seared sea bass with prawns and a cheese platter, while Menu 2 has seafood linguine, grilled beef fillet and a cheese platter. One menu is prepared for the whole table because of space on board.

Drinks can be pre-ordered with your booking so that they are chilled and ready when you step aboard: Moët & Chandon at €65 a bottle and Cisk lager at €2.50 a can.

Who it suits

The charters are pitched at several kinds of group. Corporate teams can spend eight hours away from the office with swimming, paddle boarding and a shared lunch at anchor. Hen and stag parties, birthday groups and friends travelling together have the whole boat to themselves. Families can swim and snorkel from the yacht, and couples can choose a sunset sail or dinner at sea, which suits proposals and anniversaries.

If you are still deciding how to fill your trip, our things to do in Malta page puts a private sailing day alongside the island's other highlights. Those staying near the departure point may like our Sliema hotel guide, since Sliema, St Julian's and Valletta are all a short taxi ride from the marina. For a wider look at the area, the where to stay in Malta guide compares the main bases.

Booking, deposits and gift vouchers

Booking works on a book now, pay later basis. No credit card is needed to reserve, and a €100 deposit secures your date. The deposit is fully refundable up to seven days before sailing, or if the weather is unsuitable. The balance is due on the day of the charter and can be paid by cash, card, cheque or Revolut.

Gift vouchers can be bought for any amount and used against any charter, dinner or extra. They stay valid for twelve months, and the amounts offered include €100, €250, €425 for a sunset sail and €750 for a full day. If you want a second opinion before committing, our boat charter directory lists other operators, including Big D Charters, and you can browse every option in the Malta boat charter directory.

To ask about dates, routes or special requests, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Malta Sailing Charter.