RYA Start Yachting

No experience is required. You will learn to sail as a team and get the general feel of what it entails to sail with the wind.

This course provides a short introduction to sail cruising for novices. By the end of the course, students will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework and be aware of safety on board.

The Yacht

• Basic Knowledge of sea terms, parts of a boat, her rigging and sails

Ropework

• Ability to tie the following knots: figure of eight, round turn and two half hitches, bowline

Underway

• Has experienced sailing a yacht on all points of sail
• Can steer a yacht under sail or power

Rules of the road

• Can keep an efficient look out at sea

Meteorology

• Knows where to obtain a weather forecast

Man overboard recovery

• Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard

Clothing and equipment

• Understands and complies with the rules for the wearing of safety harnesses’, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids

Emergency equipment and precautions

• Is aware of hazards on board a yacht
• Knows the action to be taken in the event of an emergency

You will spend two consecutive days on our training yacht with fellow students/friends where you will learn to sail as a team and get the general feel of what it entails to sail with the wind. You will be given the chance to sail the boat and you will gain a general understanding of yacht sailing.

The yacht you will be sailing is called “Lookfar”, a Bavaria 44, and is moored in Manoel Island Marina, pontoon D, near the Paparazzi restaurant. She will be ready for you to join at 9:30 am on the first day of the course.

Your instructor will guide you through the safety procedures and make sure you are comfortable and at ease aboard your yacht before you set sail. He or she will show you all the basics and will be there to support you at every stage, but by the end of your first weekend aboard you will have accomplished so much. You will be able to steer a yacht, handle rope work, sail a basic course and be aware of safety onboard. You may find you're a natural and hooked for life.

Our base is in Manoel Island Yacht Marina, where you can enjoy iconic paranamic view of Valletta. Malta offers safe and warm sailing all the year round. Weather conditions are ideal for sailing.

From our base in Manoel Island we will be sailing around Valleta, Grand habour, Balluta Bays and probably far beyond depending on the weather.

The course is usually on Saturday and Sunday. The departure and return time will be 9:30 and around 17:00. It will be day-sailing only. The course can also be extended to become RYA Competent Crew course if you wish to have a 5 day sailing course.

Our yachts have an instructor student ratio of 1 – 5 maximum for RYA Courses.

Great winds in beautiful, sunny surroundings 52 weeks of the year! Join us! You will be made very welcome …

• Packed lunch
• 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
• And above all, enthusiasm!

Please note that the temperatures in Malta 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.

• Experienced instuctors who speak English as mother tongue.
• Port fees, mooring fees, fuel, tourist tax, and gereral maintenance.
• We will provide teas and coffees, etc. We do not provide alcohol.
• We sugguest you have some light breakfast in the cafeteria nearby the marina (BusStop Lounge, 200m away) and organise a packed lunch.
• External marina facilities such as showers and toilets are onshore by the marina gate.
• Shops and restaurants are plentiful and all with in walking distance. Out marina is located in the most popular tourist and business area of Malta.
• RYA Start Yachting certificate upon successful completion of the course.

It's recommended to take RYA Essential Navigation And Seamanship course before you step into the RYA Competent Crew course. The course can be taken online, and is a basic introduction to navigation and safety for anyone new to boating: sailors, powerboaters, sea anglers, divers and boatmasters. Also useful for experienced dinghy and keelboat sailors and inshore racers.

If you decide to take the course online, you will find many interactive exercises to help reinforce the information and lots of chances to try out what you've learned.

To book this course, simply add it in the Course Booking Page , and we will send you a log-in and instructions after receiving your booking.

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

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. The cost of this is usually 25 Euro. The taxi drivers speak good English.

Cheaper transport option than taxi would be use taxi app such as: Bolt, Ecab, Cool. 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!

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