Rejsy i atrakcje łodzią: Malta

Malta sits at the narrow waist of the central Mediterranean, midway between Sicily and North Africa, which makes it one of Europe's most reliably sunny charter bases. With over 170 yachts available through KaterBlue, from bareboat monohulls to crewed catamarans, the Maltese archipelago packs a full sailing region into a compact, easily navigable area: three islands, dozens of anchorages and short hops between them, all within a day's sail of one another.

Sailing Regions

Malta, Gozo and Comino form a tight archipelago that can be circumnavigated in a week without long passages. Most charters start from Msida Marina or Grand Harbour Marina in Kalkara, both a short taxi from Valletta and Malta International Airport. From there, the standard route runs north-west along Malta's coast past Sliema and St Julian's to Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay, both popular overnight anchorages with sandy beaches. The short crossing to Comino brings you to the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, turquoise, current-swept channels that are among the most photographed anchorages in the Mediterranean (best visited early morning or evening, before the day-tripper boats arrive). Gozo, the largest of the outer islands, offers Mgarr Harbour as a check-in point, plus the dramatic limestone cliffs at Wied il-Mielah and the sheltered Dwejra and Xlendi bays on the west coast.

Best Time to Sail & Wind

The Malta sailing season runs April to October, with the most settled conditions in May, June, September and October. July and August are hot (often 30C+) and busy, with steady afternoon north-westerly winds (locally the Majjistral) of force 3-5. Spring and early autumn bring lighter, more variable breezes and quieter anchorages, while the Mistral and Sirocco can occasionally bring stronger northerly or southerly blows in shoulder months, so it's worth checking the forecast before crossing open water to Gozo or Comino. Winter sailing is possible but far less common; many charter operators lay up between November and March.

Licence Requirements

Skippering a bareboat charter in Malta requires a recognised sailing qualification, typically the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or an RYA Day Skipper (or higher) certificate. Most charter operators also ask to see a logbook showing recent offshore miles, and because nearly every charter yacht carries a VHF radio, a short-range VHF operator's certificate is commonly requested alongside the sailing qualification. Sailors without a qualification can still charter with a skipper included, the more common option for first-time visitors exploring the islands.

Sample Itinerary (7 days)

- Day 1: Check in at Msida Marina, sail to Mellieha Bay for the first night at anchor.
- Day 2: Round the north coast to Comino; anchor off the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon.
- Day 3: Cross to Mgarr, Gozo, and berth or anchor overnight; explore the citadel in Victoria.
- Day 4: Sail Gozo's west coast to Dwejra and Xlendi Bay for swimming and lunch at anchor.
- Day 5: Return via Comino, stopping at Santa Marija Caves, then on to Golden Bay, Malta.
- Day 6: Sail south past Sliema and St Julian's into Valletta's Grand Harbour, mooring below the bastions.
- Day 7: Short sail back to Msida Marina for check-out.