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.
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.
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:
No prior experience is required—just a willingness to learn and get involved.
For more experienced sailors, Coastal Skipper is the next step up:
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.
Your adventure begins with a night onboard in the marina, preparing for an early offshore departure.
From there, the itinerary unfolds something like this:
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.
This course is designed to challenge and develop you in real conditions—not simulations.
Throughout the week, you’ll be involved in:
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.
There’s a big difference between sailing locally and undertaking an offshore passage.
An extended trip like this builds:
It’s the kind of experience that fast-tracks your progression as a sailor.
Yes, you’ll gain internationally recognised RYA qualifications. But more importantly, you’ll leave with something far greater:
And, for many, it’s the moment sailing truly “clicks.”
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.
Coral Sea Marina
Shingley Drive
Airlie Beach
QLD 4802
AUSTRALIA
Postal address
PO Box 890
Cannonvale
QLD 4802
AUSTRALIA
Lat: 20° 16′ South
Long: 148° 43′ East
Phone: +61 402 429 152
