Pretty Bay Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Sandy beach anchorage on the SE side of Marsaxlokk Bay, in front of the Birżebbuġa beach in 3–6m over good clean sand. Protected from W and NW by the Birżebbuġa headland. Exposed to SE and E — Xlokk/Scirocco from SE can develop steep short seas across the bay; in Scirocco conditions move immediately to inner Marsaxlokk Bay (1.5nm NE) for better protection. The Malta Freeport container terminal is adjacent to the NW — container crane noise operates 24 hours. The beach itself is sandy and popular with local families in summer. Anchor in mid-bay sand away from the swimming beach area (marked buoys in summer). Mediterranean tidal range <30cm: no tidal corrections needed. 85m alarm radius accounts for full scope in 4–5m sand and the open bay geometry.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Pretty Bay is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set.

1. Report to Valletta VTS on VHF Ch 16/12 at 10nm and 2 hours before arrival. Provide vessel name, call sign, ETA, and last port of call. Follow VTS berth instructions.
2. Anchor in 3–6m. Malta's tidal range is negligible (<30cm) — no tidal correction needed, but wind-driven sea level variation up to 0.5m is possible in strong winds.
3. Deploy at least 5:1 scope (30m chain at 6m depth) on a mud or sand bottom for maximum holding.
4. Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain.

Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Pretty Bay are best in settled conditions — the anchorage is exposed to SE and E winds and swell. The primary overnight hazard in the Grand Harbour area is the Gregale NE gale (Nov–Mar): if a Gregale develops, move to Kalkara Creek or Dockyard Creek for complete shelter, or run south to Marsaxlokk Bay.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius before going below. 85m radius in 4–5m sand. Good sand holding. SE/E exposure — Xlokk/Scirocco develops steep short seas in SE; move to inner Marsaxlokk Bay at first Scirocco warning. Freeport crane noise 24 hours — overnight not ideal.

Day anchorage only, May–September. The SE/E exposure and Freeport proximity make this unsuitable as an overnight anchorage at any time of year. Best as a lunch stop or swimming break on passage along the south coast between Valletta and Marsaxlokk. May–June mornings are the most pleasant — beach uncrowded, Scirocco risk low. July–August: beach busy with local families; anchor well offshore in mid-bay. Not recommended after September due to increasing Xlokk/Gregale frequency.

Navigation Hazards

• SE/E exposure (Xlokk/Scirocco): steep short seas develop rapidly from SE — leave for inner Marsaxlokk Bay immediately if S/SE swell builds
• Freeport container terminal to NW: commercial vessel traffic and 24-hour crane noise; keep clear of commercial port approaches and shipping channels
• Swimming beach with marked zones in summer — anchor outside buoy lines; jet skis and water sports possible
• Passage to/from Freeport: large container vessels use the W approach — monitor VHF Ch 16 for vessel movements

Rules & Regulations

• EU member (not Schengen): No customs formalities for EU boats arriving from EU ports. Non-EU boats: clear customs at Grand Harbour (24/7) or Mġarr Gozo (24/7). Fly yellow Q flag. EES biometric recording required for non-EU crew since October 2025.
• Valletta VTS: Mandatory report on VHF Ch 16/12 at 10nm and 2 hours before arrival. Commercial vessels have absolute priority at all times.
• Anchoring fee: Free — public beach bay; no overnight fee
• Restrictions: Keep clear of the Freeport commercial channel and vessel traffic to the NW. Stay outside the marked swimming beach zone (buoys in summer). SE/E exposure — leave for inner Marsaxlokk Bay at first Xlokk/Scirocco forecast. Freeport crane noise 24 hours — overnight anchorage not comfortable.

For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Birżebbuġa town (0.2nm)
• Restaurant: Birżebbuġa town (0.2nm) has cafes, a small supermarket, and ATMs directly accessible. Marsaxlokk village (1.5nm NE by sea) has excellent seafood restaurants and the Sunday fish market. No dockside facilities at the anchorage.
• Provisions: None on site — Birżebbuġa town (0.2nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Clean sand bottom — reliable holding for daytime stops
2. Day anchorage and lunch stop rather than overnight — Freeport crane noise is constant
3. Birżebbuġa town provisions directly ashore — good reprovisioning stop on south coast passage
4. Move to inner Marsaxlokk Bay (1.5nm NE) for overnight — better shelter and no crane noise
5. In Scirocco: leave immediately for inner Marsaxlokk Bay — SE exposure across the full bay fetch