Unique Travel: Learn to Sail in Malta!

Are you wanting to travel, but you’re also interested in learning something new? Learning to sail in Malta may scratch that itch and leave you hungry for more unique travel experiences.

Don’t get me wrong, curling up with a good book, sightseeing in a new city or relaxing on a beach are all fabulous vacation activities. Though, sometimes, I tend to find myself craving to learn something new. Whether it be a new sport, skill, language or anything else, learning in a new environment can be invigorating for the soul.

I’ve grown up around water and am comfortable driving boats, but never learned how to properly sail a yacht.

Where better to learn how to sail than on the mediterranean? Beautiful water, fantastic weather, and a gorgeous backdrop each and every day. Another great aspect of learning how to sail in Malta was the fact that tides are not a factor in Malta.

This post is all about unique travel experience: Sailing Course in Malta!

Which Course and which sailing school is best?

After extensive research on program types, companies and countries – Sailing School Malta was the perfect match. The lower cost, the prestige of learning from an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) recognized center and the wonderful reviews are what sold us.

There are many different levels of courses, but I recommend the RYA Competent Crew course. The 5-day course is exactly what you’d want when learning to sail. It teaches you the fundamentals of sailing, sail handling, ropes and knot making, anchoring, docking, deckhand work and so much more. You’ll be able to get behind the wheel and sail, park and even sail in the dark. Having a hands on approach was the perfect way to feel comfortable and in control.

The game changer: Our captain Neil, was phenomenal; if you have the chance to learn from him I highly suggest it (He also teaches in the UK). Not only was he thorough and trusting of us, but he also showed us a bit beyond the competent crew curriculum to get us excited about potentially signing up for more courses to get higher levels of certification. He took us into the galley and showed us how to course plan using protractors and compasses and maps. Admiring the person you’re learning from makes a huge difference in the experience, and Neil was perfect.

What was particularly special

As children we were constantly exposed to learning new things, finding passions, learning hobbies, and immersing ourselves in fun. I found that after graduating from college most adults lose the ability to pursue hobbies and finding passions due to the nature of the corporate world. By the time a vacation comes around, the more relaxing the vacation, the more appealing. Learning to sail with 4 other adults brought a curious and child-like joy back to each and every one of us.

Our training group included a British couple with grown children and a PhD student from Turkey. Though on the surface we were all very different and at different points in our life, we were all united by an eagerness to learn and have a great time which was incredibly refreshing.

Not only did we love to sail together and felt comfortable relying on one another to properly release the sails, perform a proper tack, or be at the helm in 40 knots of wind, but we all had great conversations during down time.

Some of my favorite times were when we were able to anchor somewhere stunning for lunch and go for a swim and have meaningful and thought provoking conversations. When traveling, especially for long periods of time, it’s easy to isolate yourself from others. By signing up to learn something new you are in a space that fosters conversation and relationship building which is really so special.

Who should sign up?

Anyone looking for a fun and unique travel adventure! The minimum age requirement is 12 years old, and you must be in good health and able to do moderate physical movement in order to operate the yacht.

I personally think that this would make a fantastic family vacation. Rather than booking an all-inclusive resort or a “White Lotus” type of family vacation where everyone spends time separately, having everyone together learn a shared skill and participate in team building allows for fabulous bonding and will lead to long lasting memories.

Should I Still Sign Up if I get Motion Sickness?

Yes! Personally, I get motion sickness pretty easily so sleeping on the yacht is what made me a bit anxious.

I was informed that we would be docking every evening at the marina, so I opted to sleep on land in a nearby hotel and that made the experience even better for me. The rest of my training group opted to stay on the yacht as the accommodations were quite lovely.

I also made sure to bring ginger candies, stay hydrated and snack constantly throughout the course to stay comfortable. They also have many different solutions onboard to help you stay comfortable!

Pursue unique travel experiences and expand your travel horizon!