If you’ve not had a boat day this summer, now’s the time to get planning and rent one, and for all you boat owners and friends-with-a-boat (that’s FWABs to you noobs out there) – this one’s for you too!

1. There’s way less boats out at sea…

Seemingly working on the pretext that the sea temperature plummets to thanks-but-no-thanks levels (which is totally wrong), most Maltese boating types will not head out to sea come September. Here’s the thing though – there’s way less boat traffic out there (and yes, boat traffic’s a thing).

Picture this: no more speedboats with engines louder than a broken aeroplane, no drunk twenty-somethings blaring out Gigi D’Agostino as their yacht trails out of Marsamxett Harbour, no speeding dinghies scurrying around your boat as you nibble on your ftira in the afternoon sun… you’re welcome.

2. …and little to no people at your favourite beach

Come autumn, school’s back in, longer work days are in force and beach-going just isn’t fashionable any more. Right? Wrong!

Just think about it: gorgeous spots like M?arr ix-Xini, Dwejra Bay and Im?ieba? will be all but bare. No kids, no travelling teens, and no beach parties – it’s the perfect time to enjoy some quiet time at the beach, or a pleasant afternoon relaxing in a cosy little bay in complete privacy.

3. You’re less likely to die of heat

Sure, Malta’s technically only got two seasons and the autumnal period comes about just in name, but you can’t deny that it’s way cooler. So why not take the opportunity to spend the weekend out exploring Malta and Gozo’s coves without losing half your body weight in sweat?

4. It’s not longer jellyfish season!

They may not be all gone during autumn, but jellyfish numbers drop significantly owing mainly to the fact that many Mediterranean jellyfish breed during the spring. So what are you waiting for? Get a boat, head out to sea and go swim already!

5. Autumn scenery from a boat makes for killer Instagram shots

Let’s face it, in the summertime Malta and Gozo are pretty much a heatwave shade of burnt-to-a-crisp. Come autumn, the colours of autumn begin to light up the coastline and the little patches of green begin to dot our cliffs and shorelines.

6. You can take up autumn fishing

Calling all introverts and people-haters: here’s the perfect pastime for you, and you could nab yourself a tasty meal at the end of it too! Autumn is the perfect time to take up pole- or line-fishing, and in Maltese waters, you might come by lampuki, pixxispad, mullett, or a??ola.

7. The sea is technically warmer

We won’t bore you with the science behind warmer oceans in autumn, but thanks to a little thing called specific heat capacity, the sea takes longer to warm up than the land. So come autumn, you’ll actually feel warmer taking a dip in the Mediterranean!

The best part is, you don’t even have to rely on your FWABs for your boat day: gather your friends and rent one out!

Boatcare Trading Limited are offering chartered boats all the way through to December. This means you’re still in time to organise that epic boat day with your colleagues or a relaxing break with your family and friends.

To rent out a boat, call Boatcare Trading Limited on +356 2138 8050 or send a private message on their Facebook page.

Tag your friends (and your FWAB) and start planning your boat day!

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Matthew Baldacchino

Self-titled resident SJW and expressionless in-house Head of Internal Marketing. Matt loves prepping vegan and vegetarian food, consumes way too much coffee, and has an unhealthy penchant for storyboarded Instagram Stories. When he's not trying to figure out social media policies, marketing strategies or cracking SEO conundrums, you can catch him as the host of Basically, Livestream Of Consciousness or Lovin Daily. Hit him up if you've got a story about the environment, arts and culture, health, politics and activism, or LGBTQI+ issues. He's also a doctor, but we don't talk about that.