Malta Sailing Experiences

Malta Sailing Experiences is a family business that specialises in private, small-group sailing: skippered yacht charters, boat trips and bespoke sailing holidays around the Maltese islands and beyond. Rather than a crowded tourist boat, you hire a whole yacht or catamaran with a licensed skipper and decide with him where to swim, snorkel and anchor. The motto is simple: come as a client, leave as a friend.

The company is based at Roland Marina in Ta' Xbiex, on the Marsamxett Harbour waterfront close to Valletta and Sliema. It is listed on VisitMalta.co.uk in our directories of boat charter in Malta and water sports in Malta. This page explains the charters, the boats, the printed prices, what is included and how to book.

Who runs it and the flagship yacht Allegra

The business is run by Patrick and Pia. Patrick is the skipper and boat owner and has sailed since the age of seven. He holds a Commercial RYA Yachtmaster certificate and has over thirty years of sailing experience in the waters around Malta, Sicily, Italy, France and the UK. Pia is the organiser and the foodie on board, with a career that has covered television and film, event management, English teaching and digital media marketing in Malta and the UK.

Allegra is the family's flagship, a Beneteau First 47.7 racer-cruiser that combines modern comfort with a performance hull and sail plan. She has three double cabins sleeping six, two bathrooms, a hot-water external shower and a saloon table that folds down into a double bed. Navigation kit includes B&G instruments, chart plotters, radar, a satellite phone and an EPIRB, and the deck has two paddle boards, a barbecue and a hammock. A tender with an outboard serves shore trips on multi-day charters.

The company also manages partner boats owned by others, chosen to match Allegra's standard of care and crewed by qualified skippers. The list ranges from a 34-footer to a 54-footer and includes Beneteau, Jeanneau, Dufour, Bavaria, Elan and Lagoon catamaran models, so there is a suitable boat for most group sizes. Allegra is insured and licensed for up to twelve guests, although ten is recommended for comfort, and the company can cater for any group size by using its partner boats.

Full-day charters

The core product is an 8.5-hour private charter, meeting at the boat in Ta' Xbiex at 9.00am and returning by 5.30pm. After a short debrief you and the skipper choose the bays together, based on the weather. Typical choices include Comino's Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, the bastions of the Grand Harbour, the Three Holes anchorage and the clear water of Selmun Bay. If the wind is right you can hoist the sails and try sailing under the skipper's supervision. Our Blue Lagoon guide describes Comino's best-known bay.

Lunch is on board. You can bring your own and use the fridges, or order a menu made with local seasonal produce, adapted to dietary requirements. Included in the price are the skipper, fuel, unlimited water, a sound system, a paddle board and snorkelling gear, with wifi and a hammock on selected boats.

Printed prices are as follows. Allegra costs €625 for up to ten people, with extra guests up to the maximum of twelve at €50 each. A 50-foot Beneteau costs €695 for up to ten, with extra passengers at €50 each up to fifteen. Catamarans of 40 and 42 feet are €1100 for up to ten, with extra guests at €100 each. Extra hours are €100 an hour and use of the barbecue is €35. Midweek, groups of fewer than six save €50 on Allegra. These prices are as printed and can change, so confirm before you book.

Half-day, evening and catamaran trips

A four-hour charter on Allegra is available on weekdays only, either an early trip from 8.30am to 12.30pm or an evening trip from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. Prices are 350 euros for up to six people, 450 euros for up to ten and 550 euros for up to fifteen, with a catamaran at 800 euros. In four hours the Blue Lagoon is too far, but the south of the island has plenty of white-cliff bays reachable only by sea, and the return can include a harbour tour with Valletta lit up at night. Our Valletta guide covers the city you will see from the water.

A late charter runs from 1pm to 9pm. You swim and snorkel at an anchorage, watch the sunset from the sea and finish with a night tour of Valletta Harbour and the Three Cities. The company also offers a simple evening sail or a three-course dinner cruise of the Grand Harbour, and a light meal with wine can be arranged for a small fee.

For larger groups or those wanting extra comfort, the catamaran day hire is an eight-hour private trip around the Maltese islands. It suits bigger parties and anyone wanting the most luxurious option.

Short breaks, team building and celebrations

Multi-day short breaks are what the company calls the true Malta sailing experience, because they are not limited by the clock. You can spend a few days sailing around Malta and Gozo, sleeping at anchor at the Blue Lagoon or in Gozo's marina. Overnight stays cost €250 a night on Allegra and the 50-foot Beneteau, and €400 on the 42-foot catamaran. Combine a sailing break with a hike on Gozo or Comino, a night ashore or water sports. Our Gozo guide shows what to see on the island.

For companies, the team-building day pits crews against each other in a race on identical 48-foot performance yachts, finishing at anchor with a swim, lunch and perhaps a harbour tour. The company also arranges family days, hen parties, dinner cruises with friends, marriage proposals and even a baptism at sea.

What to bring, payment and cancellations

Bring towels, sun cream, a hat and any sea sickness tablets you may need, plus your own food unless the company is catering. Pack food in a cooler, and buy ice from the marina office. Drinks are welcome as long as you respect the boat, the skipper and other guests. Parking near the marina is a problem, so plan your journey, and call the skipper when you arrive so that he can open the pontoon gate. The early charters reach the bays before the commercial tourist boats, and the late charters leave after them, leaving the bays quieter. Check the Malta weather guide for the best sailing months.

A 20% deposit confirms a booking, and the balance is due three weeks before the charter, payable in cash or by card. If weather forces a cancellation the company reschedules or refunds in full. A deposit is not refunded when you cancel within two weeks of the charter date, and food orders cannot be refunded within four days.

Where to find the boat and how to start

Allegra is berthed at Roland Marina on Ix-Xatt, Ta' Xbiex, and the registered office is in Sliema. Staying nearby makes the 9.00am start easy: see our page on hotels in Sliema and Gżira and the wider things to do in Malta.

Tell the team the date, the number of people, any dietary or itinerary preferences and whether you want a day, evening or multi-day trip. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Malta Sailing Experiences, who will reply to you directly.