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Mile Builing Trips

FUN | ENJOYMENT | BUILDING CONFIDENCE

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5.0 based on 100+ Happy Sailors

7-14 days From 1200 euro Max 6 guests Bavaria 46 Cruiser

Craving real sailing adventure? Whether you’re chasing miles, boosting your skills, or building confidence after your latest qualification — our Mile Builder and Skipper “Plus” courses offer hands-on experience, real offshore sailing, and the perfect push toward skippering with confidence and Yachtmaster.

Find more trip info visit Master Sailing Malta

Upcoming Trip Dates

Mile builder boarding / departure location

mile-builder-sailing-area-sicily Our mid-range mile builder area and popular stops

mile-builder-sailing-area-med Our long-range mile builder area and popular stops

Many students feel a strong need to reinforce their skills after completing an RYA course — especially before skippering a yacht independently or progressing to the next RYA level.

Whether you're fresh from your Day Skipper course or working toward Yachtmaster Offshore, there's one thing every sailor needs: real miles and real experience.

That’s why we offer mile building trips as continuation courses. These are not just transfers from A to B — they are offshore challenges, coastal explorations, and unforgettable learning journeys. These voyages are designed to help you grow in confidence and competence, while enjoying the journey in a relaxed and supportive environment.

During your RYA course, you learn the “how” and “what” of sailing. On a mile builder, you get the chance to truly apply that knowledge—managing real-life sailing scenarios.

You’ll take the helm, plan passages, stand watch under starlit skies, navigate real-time weather, and make decisions as a crew — all under the guidance of experienced RYA instructors. This is your chance to sail like a skipper, while still having expert support by your side.

Many higher-level RYA courses, such as Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster exam, also require you to have logged a certain number of miles—both as crew and as skipper, during the day and at night.

Our longer-distance cruises give you the perfect opportunity to gain those essential miles, while sailing through diverse conditions and international waters. Each voyage is about building confidence, improving judgment, and enjoying the thrill of adventure — all while sailing stunning routes through the Mediterranean.

If this is your first offshore or extended passage, our experienced instructors will guide you every step of the way—ensuring the journey is both safe and enjoyable.

These trips are ideal for anyone with basic sailing experience and especially valuable for those preparing for their Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore practical exams.

Mile builders students usually board at 9:30am on the first day and disembark on the last day at 16:00, your accommodation onboard the evening before the first day can also be included.

Participants are expected to have prior sailing experience and be in good physical health. Mile builder is perfect for skippers with a license but lacking real confidence and experienced sailors seeking real challenge and growth.

At a minimum, you should have completed the RYA Competent Crew course or possess equivalent experience (5 day sailing experience on a sailing yacht serving as crew), as you will be expected to take the helm and stand watch during the trip.

Ideally, participants have already completed the Day Skipper course before the mile builder or have similar skippering experience.

Minimum recommended age is 14. A sense of adventure and willingness to work as a team are essential!

We organise mile building trip every months. Each mile building trip lasts between 7 to 15 days, covering 300–700 NM depending on the route.

🚩 Common routes include:

  • Malta → East Sicily (Syracuse, Catania, Taormina) → Malta – 8 Days / ~300NM
  • Malta → West Sicily (Licata, Sciacca, Marsala, Trapani, Favignana) → Malta – 8 Days / ~350NM
  • Round Malta & Gozo as Day Skipper Plus Practical course– 7 Days / ~120NM
  • Round Sicily & Malta Adventure – 14-Day / ~700NM, mimic Rolex Milddle Sea Race route, but made slower, and more time for onshore tours

We also collaborate with other RYA training centers in Med, and offer mile buiding trips with destinations to Mallorca, Saridinia, and Greece. Around 600 mile one way.

In the past we also went to Lampedusa, and then Tunisa for a week, around 400 miles total.

Set sail aboard our fully equipped Bavaria 46 Cruiser — a modern 46-foot sailing yacht built for long passages, offshore training, and life at sea. With the perfect mix of comfort and performance, she's your home and classroom on every mile-building journey.

  • Designed for Offshore Training: Autopilot, dual GPS plotters, AIS, radar, depth sounder, wind instruments, and a bow thruster make navigation and handling a real learning experience.
  • Comfort at Sea: Four double cabins, two bathrooms (electric toilets), cockpit cushions, teak deck, hot waters shower, and fresh linens make even night passages feel relaxing.
  • Well-Equipped Galley: Includes fridge, kitchenware, and a welcome basket to fuel your adventures — plus an inverter and solar panels for off-grid reliability.
  • Safety First: EPIRB, liferaft, self-inflating life vests, VHF, and full RYA-compliant safety equipment onboard for peace of mind.
  • Extras You’ll Love: Bluetooth sound system, StarLink, cockpit speakers, fans in each cabin, and a spacious cockpit for both learning and lounging.

Whether you’re logging your first 100NM or your final Yachtmaster qualifying passage, this yacht delivers the tools and the comfort to go the distance.

Stephen Baynham
Stephen Baynham – RYA Yachtmaster Examiner
Stephen is the principal of our school and a veteran Yachtmaster Instructor & Examiner. With decades of experience and a calm, structured style, he’s guided countless sailors to their Yachtmaster certificates with confidence and skill.
Neil Morris
Neil Morris – RYA Yachtmaster Sail & Power Instructor
A lifelong sailor and passionate coach, Neil brings global sailing experience and a hands-on approach to teaching. Whether you're a beginner or brushing up for exams, he’ll support your learning every step of the way.
Andrew Pascoots
Andrew – Yachtmaster & Racing Instructor
From building his first dinghy at age 6 to racing in nine Fastnet Races, Andrew’s passion runs deep. He’s an expert in both cruising and racing, offering a calm and encouraging learning environment — with a pot of tea always nearby.

You are welcome to board the boat from 19:00 onwards on the evening before the course starts. The boat will return to the marina by 16:30 on the final day of the course.

All mile building passages will be overseen by experienced qualified skippers who are there to guide you through the day to day running of the vessel, tricky manoeuvres… as well as point out all the best restaurants! All our skippers are also RYA instructors which means that, while this is not an RYA course, you will be given the best information and demonstrations from trained instructors.

Don’t forget that apart from miles, you will also be gaining onboard experience so all participants are expected to share cabins, be open to changes in plans where necessary and willing to lend a hand cooking, cleaning and generally ensuring the boat is in ship shape throughout the journey.

If you are female travelling alone, we will try to let you share the cabin with another female participant.

Each day, a different participant assumes the role of “Skipper of the Day”, leading the team and honing leadership skills in real-time situations.

We involve all participants in the vessel’s preparation for the voyage, including victuals, safety checks, provisions and passage planning. This is all part of the experience and no matter your skill or past experience, there will always be something you can involve yourself in.

This cruise will really sharpen your navigation and skippering skills or for those with less experience offer a fantastic opportunity to see these beautiful islands from a different perspective.

Our aim is for you to leave this program with more miles, but more importantly, more confidence than you arrived with. There’s also lots of fun to be had!

  • Passage Planning & Navigation: Route planning, waypoints, adjusting for tides, weather, and safety.
  • Night Sailing & Watchkeeping: Sailing in low visibility, navigation with lights, radar, and maintaining rotating watches.
  • Sail Handling & Trim Optimization: Adjusting sails for speed, balance, and comfort depending on wind and conditions.
  • Heavy Weather Sailing & MOB Drills: Handling rough conditions, storm tactics, and man-overboard recovery.
  • Anchoring & Mooring Techniques: Techniques for safe anchoring and mooring in marinas, pontoons, and buoys.
  • Radio Communication & COLREGS: VHF radio operation and understanding right-of-way rules at sea.

Enhance your sailing journey with optional activities that connect you with nature, your crew, and the islands themselves:

  • Kayaking & Stand-Up Paddling (SUP): Glide over turquoise waters and explore hidden coves at your own pace.
  • Island Hikes & Coastal Treks: Walk through dramatic cliffs, wild trails, and scenic viewpoints only reachable by boat.
  • Off-the-Map Exploration: Discover secret anchorages and untouched beaches far from the usual tourist routes.
  • Team Cooking & Leadership Games: Build camaraderie with fun, crew-building challenges onboard and ashore.
  • Shared Moments That Matter: Watch strangers become teammates—and lifelong friends—under the stars.

It’s more than just a sailing course—it’s a true adventure at sea.

Each mile builder costs vary depending on the route and duration — Price is shown in the top. Prices are per person and include:

  • 🛏️ Onboard accommodation with bedding and towels
  • 🧑‍🍳 A generous budget to cover the food provisioning of the yacht
  • 🧭 RYA instructor guidance and coaching throughout
  • ⛵ Use of a fully equipped Bavaria 46ft sailing yacht
  • 🌊 300-700 Nautical miles, depending on the adventure you choose.
  • ⛽️ Fuel, safety gear, final cleaning

We encourage a friendly, communal atmosphere onboard — cooking and cleaning duties are shared. Once the initial grocery budget is used, additional provisions and restaurant meals ashore will be shared equally among the crew. Marina fees and fuel top-ups are also split between participants.

🛏️ Cabin Sharing:
We will always do our best to accommodate your preferences. If you’re a solo female sailor and would prefer a same-gender cabin mate, please let us know — we’ll try to pair you with another female student. Private cabins can also be arranged upon request and availability (at an additional cost).

📝 Booking:
Simply click the Book Now button, and you will be lead to a page where you can choose the adventure dates you want, number of participants, and fill other necessary information. Terms and Conditions apply.

If you’re booking with a friend or partner, let us know — we can place you in the same cabin if space allows.

💰 If you prefer not to pay full amount in once. A 400 euro deposit is all that's needed, with the balance payable 30 days by bank transfer before your adventure starts.

📣 Group Bookings:
Sailing with friends? Contact us for small group discounts and cabin availability. Once you’re confirmed, we’ll invite you to a WhatsApp group with your skipper and fellow crew to coordinate logistics and preparation before your trip.

Full bedding is supplied, sheets, pillows and blankets. Also, we provide towels for use on the yacht but not beach towels. If you should require more than one towel during the week, please do bring your own additional towel.

  • Sunglasses
  • High factor sun cream
  • Deck shoes if possible, otherwise soft shoes with a non marking sole, or just barefoot
  • Shorts (Please be aware that these are liable to get dirty, so not your bestones!)
  • T-Shirts
  • Wash Kit
  • Fleece or jumper for the evenings and windy days at sea
  • Soft bag as opposed to a hard suitcase (we can store luggage if you are staying on)
  • Light long sleeved shirt if you need to cover up in the sun
  • Baseball/sun hat (preferably with a clip to stop it blowing overboard!)
  • Sea sickness tablets should you need them
  • Phone/ Ipod / lap top chargers – 12V (cigarette style chargers) if needed
  • RYA log book, if you have one
  • Travel Insurance recommended
  • And above all, enthusiasm!

Please note that the temperatures in Malta and Sicily are normally very warm during the day but it can be cold in the evenings and windy days at sea. It is a good idea to bring a small light rain mac if you have one and also a pair of long trousers and a warm fleece, just in case.

If you need a flight to Malta International, the airport code is MLA. There is only one airport.

Malta International Airport (MLA) is well connected to many European cities, especially major hubs. Low-cost carriers dominate many of the connections, especially from regional airports.

On arrival at Malta airport, there is a kiosk at the exit from the airport where you can pre pay the taxi to the boat. Destination: Manoel Island Yacht Marina Pontoon D.

The cost of this is usually 25 Euro. It only takes about 20 minutes to arrive our marina fron the airport. The taxi drivers speak good English.

Cheaper transport option would be use taxi app such as: Bolt and Ecab. There are plenty of taxi connected to these apps.

You will have a short safety brief on arrival to familiarise yourself with the boat and meet your crew mates!

Q1. What can I expect from this mile builder and what am I expected to perform?

All mile building passages are overseen by experienced, qualified skippers who guide you through vessel operations, tricky manoeuvres, and even local dining tips. Many are also RYA instructors, offering valuable demonstrations and insights. You’ll experience both coastal and offshore sailing, including night sails—providing excellent exposure to varied conditions. Participants are expected to share cabins, adapt to flexible plans, and contribute to tasks like cooking, cleaning, and safety checks. Everyone is involved in preparing the vessel, from victualling to passage planning. Whether you're a beginner or experienced sailor, you'll find opportunities to learn and grow. This trip will sharpen your skills, expand your confidence, and offer a memorable sailing adventure filled with teamwork and fun.

Q2. Who is this trip suitable for?

This adventure suits sailors aiming to build sea miles, confidence, and practical skills. Ideal for those working toward an RYA qualification, or looking to enhance offshore sailing abilities. All levels are welcome, though basic sailing knowledge and experience are required. Instructors ensure support throughout.

Q3. Do I need prior sailing experience?

Prior sailing experience is helpful. Our instructors guide you through every aspect—from navigation to handling and safety. Newcomers will learn sailing basics while gaining hands-on experience throughout the journey.

Q4. What is included in the trip?

• Accommodation in shared/private cabins
• Bed linen & towels
• Grocery and snack onboard
• Soft drinks and water
• Safety gear and wet weather clothing
• Fuel costs
• Expert skipper guidance
• Optional training in navigation, sail handling, and more

Q5. How many people will be on board?

Each trip hosts 3–6 guests, allowing personalized instruction and hands-on involvement. The small group size ensures a friendly, close-knit learning atmosphere.

Q6. How much does it cost?

Pricing varies by date and is displayed on our website. Cost excludes marina fees and restaurant meals, which are shared between participants. Three double cabins and one bunk cabin are available. Booking is online, with card payment or bank transfer. For group bookings, contact us for a discount code. A WhatsApp group is created before departure to plan logistics together.

Q7. What should I bring?

Clothing (Apr–Nov):
• Lightweight layers, shorts, T-shirts, jumper or fleece
• Light waterproof jacket and trousers
• Non-marking deck shoes, hat with clip
Clothing (Dec–Mar):
• Waterproof layers, thermal base layers, warm hat, gloves
• Insulated jacket, wool socks, waterproof shoes
Essentials:
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, toiletries, seasickness tablets
• RYA logbook, travel insurance, phone charger
Provided onboard:
• Bedding, towels (bring beach towel), safety gear
• Soft bag preferred for easy stowage
Stay enthusiastic—it’s your most important gear!

Q8. Will I gain a sailing qualification?

No. Mile builder is not a standard RYA course.

Q9. How much sailing will we actually do?

Depends on the route and itinerary. You'll cover around 350 - 700 nautical miles. Expect a mix of coastal and offshore routes, giving you exposure to navigation, sail trimming, and boat handling in real conditions.

Q10. What happens if the weather isn’t ideal for sailing?

Safety comes first. Our instructors monitor weather closely and adjust the route or itinerary when needed. We may wait in harbor or reroute to calmer waters. Flexibility ensures safety and enjoyment throughout your trip.

For more details about course, logistics, accommodation, booking, and certificate, please refer to the FAQ's section.

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