Learn to Sail Together with Our RYA Family Sailing Courses

Looking for a way to combine adventure, quality time, and practical learning at sea? Our RYA family sailing courses are specially designed for families who want to learn to sail together in a safe, private, and inspiring setting.

Whether you're new to sailing or already have an RYA skipper qualification, our courses offer the perfect opportunity to grow as a sailing team. You'll have your own yacht and a dedicated RYA-certified instructor, guiding you through hands-on sailing skills while allowing plenty of time for swimming, sightseeing, and relaxing in stunning locations.

Enjoy the freedom of private sailing tuition tailored to your family’s goals and comfort level. Children can earn beginner certificates, while teens and adults may work toward RYA Competent Crew, Day Skipper, or even Coastal Skipper certification.

For maximum comfort and privacy, there's also the option for your instructor to sleep ashore in the evenings, leaving your family to enjoy the yacht on your own overnight.

This is more than a course — it's an unforgettable family sailing holiday, blending RYA-accredited training with Mediterranean exploration.

Compare Your Family Sailing Options in Malta

What’s the best way to combine sailing education, family bonding, and adventure on the water? Here's how our RYA Family Sailing Courses stack up against other options.

• Families who want to learn sailing together in a private, supportive setting
• Those who like to become experienced in a new activity as a family.
• Parents and teens (16+) working toward their Day Skipper certification
• Younger children and teen over 12 years old can earn their Competent Crew Certificate
• Anyone looking to combine sightseeing, leisure, swimming, and hands-on learning in beautiful Maltese waters.

A Typical 7-day Family Sailing Course Route in Malta

Join us for a memorable RYA family sailing course around Malta, Gozo, and Comino, blending hands-on learning with adventure and relaxation.

🌊 Day 1 – Valletta, Balluta Bay & The Three Cities (~5NM)

• Meet your crew at Manoel Island Yacht Marina and complete a safety briefing
• Sail to Balluta Bay for lunch and a swim stop
• Practice docking and boat handling in Grand Harbour
• Explore Valletta and The Three Cities; dinner at a traditional Maltese restaurant

🏝️ Day 2 – Valletta to St. Paul’s Bay (~15NM)

• Sail past Sliema and anchor at the historic St. Paul’s Bay
• Optional hike to Red Tower and visit to Malta National Aquarium
• Dinner along Bugibba’s scenic seafront

🏖️ Day 3 – St. Paul’s Bay to Comino via Mellieha (~15NM)

• Stop at Mellieha Bay for paddleboarding and swimming
• Visit Ahrax Cave and cruise to Comino’s Blue Lagoon
• Anchor overnight in Crystal Lagoon

🌞 Day 4 – Explore Gozo and Anchor at Ramla Bay (~10NM)

• Moor at Mgarr Marina and explore Victoria and the Citadel
• Optional Jeep or e-bike tour to salt pans and Dwejra Bay
• Evening anchorage at Ramla Bay

⚓️ Day 5 – Round Gozo, Sail to Golden Bay (~20NM)

• Sail Gozo’s coast, view Popeye Village from the sea
• Anchor at Golden Bay for sunset and dinner ashore

🐟 Day 6 – Golden Bay to Marsaxlokk via Blue Grotto (~20NM)

• Sail past Dingli Cliffs and Blue Grotto for optional dinghy cave tour
• Dock at Marsaxlokk for a fresh seafood dinner

🏊 Day 7 – St. Peter’s Pool & Return to Valletta (~15NM)

• Morning swim at St. Peter’s Pool or explore Marsaxlokk Market
• Enjoy a relaxed sail back to Manoel Island Yacht Marina
• Farewell dinner and course debrief

This route may vary with weather and preferences, but it’s a great mix of skill-building, cultural discovery, and family bonding on the water.

Learn Sailing as a Family – Practical, Fun & RYA-Certified

Our family sailing courses are a unique opportunity for everyone onboard to learn practical sailing skills while enjoying time together on the water. Whether you're an adult ready to take on the challenge of skippering or a young sailor curious about ropes and steering, there’s something for every age and level.

Adults and teens aged 16+ can train for their RYA Day Skipper qualification — mastering navigation, pilotage, passage planning, seamanship, and boat-handling skills, including techniques like ‘Med’-style mooring. It’s a course that empowers you to skipper a yacht with confidence on short coastal passages.

Children aged 12 and over can qualify for their RYA Competent Crew certificate. They'll get hands-on with age-appropriate tasks such as steering the yacht, tying fenders, hoisting sails, and learning how life works onboard — all while having fun and building lifelong memories.

What you’ll learn as a crew:

• Essential sailing techniques from basic to advanced, tailored to each family member’s experience
• Navigation, seamanship, pilotage, and route planning based on the official RYA syllabus
• Fun and safe hands-on activities for children — steering, sail trim, line handling and more
• Opportunities to earn RYA Day Skipper or Competent Crew certifications by the end of your sailing adventure

It’s not just a course — it’s a rewarding learning holiday on the water where your whole family becomes part of the crew!

Bavaria 46 Cruiser - 4 cabin version

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 during the course.

Designed to accommodate a wide range of sailors, it is an exceptional family cruiser, offering a perfect balance of seaworthiness, comfort, and value—often praised as "a lot of boat for the money." Spacious and intelligently designed, this yacht is ideal for couples, friends, and families alike. The layout ensures ample living space, smart storage solutions, and well-thought-out details that enhance both comfort and functionality. Onboard, you'll find all the essential equipment expected of a yacht in this class, making every voyage enjoyable and stress-free.

• Designed for Sail 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.

• Exclusive use of a 46-foot 4-cabin yacht
• Course materials, and certification if your instructors approve your completion of the course
• Safety gear, including colourful child life jackets
• Bedding, towels, linens, and onboard essentials
• Fuel, marina fees, end cleaning, gorceries, water
• We can also provide extras for your comfort such as SUP boards, and snorkelling gears with addtional cost
• Depending on the age of your children you may want us to arrange for netting around the guard-rails of the yacht. Safety is a key priority and your children will be expected to obey instructions about wearing their life jackets, not running on deck etc. Our skippers enjoy having children on board but they will be firm about safety rules!