If you’re looking for a sailing course that goes beyond the classroom and into true offshore adventure, our combined RYA Coastal Skipper and RYA Competent Crew course to Percy Island delivers exactly that.

This is not your typical training week. It’s a 7-day liveaboard experience where learning, exploration, and real offshore sailing come together in one unforgettable journey.

A Course Like No Other

Departing from Airlie Beach, this course takes you well beyond the Whitsundays and into the open waters of the Coral Sea. Over the course of the week, you’ll sail hundreds of nautical miles, experience night passages, and visit remote anchorages rarely seen by tourists.

The highlight? Reaching Percy Island—a secluded, untouched paradise that feels like stepping into a Robinson Crusoe story.

Unlike shorter courses, this passage gives you real offshore experience—something that is essential for developing confident, capable sailors.  

Two Courses, One Yacht, One Team

One of the unique aspects of this trip is the combination of two RYA courses onboard:

RYA Competent Crew

Perfect for beginners or those building confidence, Competent Crew focuses on:

• Basic seamanship and sailing skills
• Rope work, helming, and sail handling
• Safety onboard and teamwork
• Living comfortably at sea

No prior experience is required—just a willingness to learn and get involved.

RYA Coastal Skipper

For more experienced sailors, Coastal Skipper is the next step up:

• Offshore passage planning and navigation
• Night sailing and watchkeeping
• Advanced boat handling and decision-making
• Crew management and leadership

By the end of the course, candidates should be able to skipper a yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.  

Learning alongside mixed experience levels creates a dynamic onboard environment where everyone benefits—beginners gain insight from advanced sailors, and skippers develop leadership by managing a real crew.

The Journey South

Your adventure begins with a night onboard in the marina, preparing for an early offshore departure.

From there, the itinerary unfolds something like this:

• Island hopping through the southern Whitsundays
• Overnight passage to Mackay
• Offshore sailing to the remote Percy Isles
• Exploring Middle Island and its famous sheltered anchorage

Located around 70 nautical miles southeast of Mackay, Percy Island is rarely visited and remains one of Queensland’s true hidden gems.  

Think white sandy beaches, clear blue water, and complete isolation.

Real Offshore Experience

This course is designed to challenge and develop you in real conditions—not simulations.

Throughout the week, you’ll be involved in:

• Passage planning and navigation
• Night watches and decision-making
• Weather assessment and route adjustments
• Preparing the yacht for sea and managing safety procedures

You won’t just learn—you’ll do.

Living onboard also adds another dimension, as you become part of a functioning crew, sharing responsibilities from cooking to watchkeeping.

Why Train Offshore?

There’s a big difference between sailing locally and undertaking an offshore passage.

An extended trip like this builds:

• Confidence in unfamiliar waters
• True navigation and passage-making skills
• Resilience and adaptability
• Leadership under real conditions

It’s the kind of experience that fast-tracks your progression as a sailor.

More Than a Course

Yes, you’ll gain internationally recognised RYA qualifications. But more importantly, you’ll leave with something far greater:

• Offshore miles and real experience
• Lifelong memories
• Strong friendships forged at sea

And, for many, it’s the moment sailing truly “clicks.”

Ready for the Adventure?

Whether you’re starting your sailing journey or stepping up to offshore skippering, the Percy Island course offers something rare—a genuine sailing expedition combined with world-class training.

If you’re ready to challenge yourself, explore beyond the horizon, and experience sailing the way it’s meant to be… this is your course.