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AIRLIE BEACH WEATHER

RYA Sailing courses we offer

Stepping into the world of sailing for the first time is exciting and exhilarating. The courses in the RYA Yachtmaster training scheme will help you learn to sail and build confidence, become a useful crew member and even learn how to skipper a sailing yacht and manage it’s crew.

Most courses can be taken either on your own or with friends and family, including children provided they meet our minimum age recommendations. There are also flexible options allowing you to do the course in one go or split over several days or weekends.

Our sail cruising courses can also help you progress to the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence which are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide and can be commercially endorsed for professional skippers and crew.

So whether you’re new to boat ownership, want to charter a yacht on holiday, or to venture further offshore – there’s an RYA course for every level.

check out our courses

Join us for the ultimate Greek adventure!

Join us for the ultimate Greek adventure!

Imagine spending 7 days sailing the enchanting Ionian Sea — a dream for many, but often left on the “someday” list. Mainstay Sailing is bringing this dream to life with an unforgettable week-long sailing adventure in October 2025, crafted for those who’ve always longed to explore this picturesque region.

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Coral Sea Marina to Percy Island

Coral Sea Marina to Percy Island

RYA Coastal Skipper Course: Coral Sea Marina to Percy Island

7 days + 7 night

Percy Island is part of the Northumberland group, 70 nautical miles south-east of Mackay, the Percy Isles are a stunningly beautiful place of shimmering beaches and wooded hilltops - a Robinson Crusoe island rising from the indigo depths of the Coral Sea.

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RYA Competent Crew Course

RYA Competent Crew Course

RYA Competent Crew Course - Whitsundays

5 days + 5 nights

This is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines.

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RYA Dayskipper

RYA Dayskipper

RYA Dayskipper - Whitsundays

5 days + 5 nights

The RYA day skipper practical is for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

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All RYA Courses

RYA Training (internationally recognised)

Whether you have never been on a yacht, or you just want to learn a bit more, we offer professionally run courses which will give you internationally recognised qualifications.

If you are planning to charter locally or internationally, we can offer courses which will give you the knowledge and ability to make it safe and enjoyable, as well as the certificate to present to the charter company.

Our practical courses are run on “Mohawk” a Bennetau 40.7, which is ideal for training in a safe and comfortable environment. Our training ground is the Whitsunday region in Queensland. All courses are run from our base at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach.

Your instructors are RYA qualified and will ensure your learning experience is fun, and exciting. We adapt the courses to suit all learning styles and personal preferences. The accommodation and food will set the ideal learning environment to ensure that you have a fantastic week with us.

Current course dates

Maritime news

Sailing Adventures: Our RYA Competent Crew Course Experience

Ahoy there, fellow landlubbers and sea enthusiasts alike! Last week, our family embarked on an unforgettable journey, trading our land legs for sea legs as we took on the RYA Competent Crew course. Picture this: a mother and her two energetic kids, all set to conquer the waves and become bona fide sailors. Spoiler alert: it was a mix of high seas adventure, hearty laughter, and a few, shall we say, “learning opportunities.”

Mainstay Sailing

Last weeks 7 day Coastal Skipper course to Percy Island. It took 4 days to get there and 2 days to get back. In my view Percy Island is a hidden paradise and certainly a bucket list item. N

Mainstay Sailing

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/standings

Mainstay Sailing

Mainstay Sailing

One of our students extraordinaire; Jayden Pendleton went bareboating in Greece this year. Jayden did his RYA Dayskipper course last year as welll as his ICC. This allowed him to charter a boat in the Mediterranean. Obviously the Mainstay Sailing t-shirt made the journey as well ! This too could be you - contact us for more info.

Mainstay Sailing

Known to be one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet, the Clipper Race welcomes people from diverse walks of life from all around the world to become ocean racing sailors. Battling through the most extreme conditions, and facing whatever Mother Nature throws their way, it is a true test of determination to the finish line. Crew can either take on the challenge of the full 40,000nm circumnavigation or choose one or multiple legs of the epic adventure. Airlie Beach will feature on the fourth stage of the event's circumnavigation which starts from Portsmouth, UK on 3 September 2023. After visiting Puerto Sherry, Spain, Punta Del Este, Uruguay and Cape Town, South Africa, the fleet will head to Australia. Making their first stop in Fremantle, teams will then travel to Newcastle, New South Wales before heading upwards to make their final Australian stop in Airlie Beach. Here they will enjoy the crystal-clear waters and breathtaking scenery of The Whitsunday Islands and enjoy the rest and recuperation before the next Leg begins. Joscelyn O'Keefe, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Host Port, Coral Sea Marina Resort said "Following the positive economic impact of its previous visits, we are delighted to once again be Host Port for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Having the opportunity to further promote our region as a leading sailing destination in the Southern Hemisphere is one which we couldn't pass up. "This will be the fourth time the Clipper Race fleet has been welcomed to Coral Sea Marina Resort and the team here are very much looking forward to the buzz the race fleet creates at the marina and throughout Airlie Beach during their stay. "We will be working closely with the Clipper Race team to find ways to engage the community with the race and make this another memorable stopover for the race crews and their supporters."

ABOUT US

Mainstay Sailing – through its owners, directors, and entire team – is committed to delivering top-quality training and services to our customers and partners. We’ll stay updated with the latest technology and equipment, sharing this knowledge to enhance the fun and safety of sailing, cruising, and boating in general.

We aim to make learning both educational and enjoyable, sparking a spirit of adventure along the way! Our teaching methods are tailored to support people of all skill levels and learning styles, making every experience with us a true voyage of discovery.

TERENCE SMITH

PRINCIPAL & CHIEF INSTRUCTOR

FAQ's

Who is the RYA?

The Royal Yachting Association is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.

Our internationally renowned training schemes steer 250,000 yacht sailors, power boaters, small craft leisure boaters, windsurfers and canal boaters towards confident and successful boating every year.

So whether your end goal is to spend more quality down time on the water, to travel, to compete, to work, or to advance your career; there’s a course for you.

Our ethos

Our escapades bring you back to the fundamentals of life. Spending a few days on a boat brings out the best in human nature. Living and working together we talk a lot, laugh a lot, and put the world to rights. It is more than an escape from the complexity of life ashore; the fresh air, natural adrenalin and outdoor activity give your body a good physical detox too.

How about vessel deliveries?

We have the knowledge and skills to safely deliver your boat to its new port.

We respect the trust owners place on us. Years of blue water sailing experience has ensured that careful preparation, regular watch keeping and making sure the boat is safe at all times is essential for the safety of the people on board and the yacht.

At the same time we can provide tuition for you and your crew during the planning of the passage and the actual delivery itself. Extra crew can be arranged if required.There are four stages to a delivery exercise – preparation, leaving port, passage making and arrival with debrief

Charters for a couple?

The ultimate getaway for 2! Yacht charters and sailing cruises are one of the best ways to experience beauty of the Whitsundays. Choose from romantic overnight yacht charters for two, sailing cruises with meals and drinks, hands-on sailing trips or something with a touch of luxury. Once out on the glittering waves you'll see why we think yacht charters and sailing cruises are such a treat!

Payments

Payments are taken prior to course or charter start. We have payments plans to make it easier for you.

LATEST REVIEWS

Colin McDonald

Competent Crew/Day Skipper course 20 – 25/10/24. Terrence and Ron went out of their way to make this course a fantastic experience. Everyone was made to feel very welcome and Mohawk was the perfect boat. Terrence customised the itinerary to suit the crew, which meant that we spent a lot of time at isolated locations and did some adventurous sailing – tacking between Hamilton and Dent Islands was a highlight. Terrence is highly experienced and has a way of passing on his knowledge that is both respectful and easy to absorb. He obviously enjoys his work and takes it very seriously. He is also an excellent cook, whipping up a string of delicious meals in trying circumstances. I learnt a lot on this course – everyone got to have a go at pretty well everything and we all learnt from each other’s mistakes. One of the reasons I chose Mainstay is their range of courses. This is one of the few companies that can take you to Yachtmaster level, but even if this is not your goal, the wealth of knowledge and experience on offer will help you to ramp up your sailing skills. The spectacular backdrop of the Whitsundays was an added bonus. Highly recommended!

Samantha Yates

My husband and I completed the Competent Crew course. We have absolutely nothing but praise for the professionalism and way the entire course was run from the first enquiry until the last. Ron and Terrence were so friendly and helpful. Terrence was our instructor on this trip and his knowledge and willingness to teach us as much as possible in a clear and concise way was just what we needed. A thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience. Thank you so much to you both and thanks to the awesome crew we were lucky enough to spend 5 days with. Oh and did I mention the food was fantastic.

Willy de

What an amazing experience, absolutely loved it, I cannot speak highly enough of Terrence and Ron. Not only did I gain the sailing knowledge passed on through Terrence, I got to meet an amazing group of people. Looking forward to coming back in the new year to advance my sailing certification, and for more laughs, great food, beautiful sunsets and amazing people.

Glyn Williams

Five strangers, 40ft yacht, 5 days, strong winds, what can go wrong? It was a fantastic learning experience doing my RYA Dayskipper with them. The Mainstay crew's many years of knowledge shines thru in every aspect of the week. A really professional operation. Oh, and the food, wow, wow, wow. Never eaten so well at sea. Thank you Ron and Terrence.

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