This RYA accredited, 13 Day practical and theory sailing course starts at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach and finishes on Great Keppel Island. The practical all hands on deck 5 days sailing and 6 days theory on Great Keppel Island. 7 days accommodation on Great Keppel Island. Optional Course on Great Keppel Island: Radio licence course.
The first night is spent on board in the marina, ready for an early start the next morning.
We head offshore to Thomas Island in the Smith group anchor overnight. Some say this is a South Seas Paradise! The next day we aim for Mackay Marina. At daybreak we head for Percy Island and explore the island followed by a very early start the next day to navigate towards Great Keppel Island.
This exciting new course allows you many offshore miles and night sailing as well as night navigation. You will be required to plan the passage, provision the boat and manage the crew.
The yacht has 8 berths, two double aft cabins, two berths in the saloon, and a double berth in the forepeak (usually skipper / instructor's cabin)
All meals are included, except when we over-night in Mackay where the crew go out for a meal.
This course can also be done in reverse: Great Keppel to Coral Sea Marina with a start of May 16 for theory followed by practical on May 22 -27.
Previous Experience Required for Coastal Skipper- 15 days sea time (2 days as Skipper), 300 miles and 8-night hours. Navigation to Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Shorebased or equivalent and sailing ability to Dayskipper practical standard. The minimum age for award of the certificate is 17.
The aim of this course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night. To do this well requires strong navigation, seamanship and leadership skills.
During the week your instructor will guide you through preparations for sea and the safety equipment required for offshore passages, passage planning and pilotage and navigating in restricted visibility. A Coastal Skipper needs good boat handling skills and you will have time to practice berthing and mooring under power and sail in various conditions. You will live onboard during the week and we will be visiting many different ports by night and day and you will learn about preparations for adverse weather sailing and emergency situations.
On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper certificate which is recognised worldwide and can lead to commercial qualifications.
Course cost
Investment of $5,950.00, GST inclusive.
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.”
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.
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."
Hi Guys, We have had a cancellation. Anyone interested in the Percy Islands trip next Friday (14 July), a bucket list destination? This RYA accredited, 7 Day practical sailing course starts and finishes at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. 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. Although only a day or two's sail from the southern Whitsunday islands, the islands are rarely visited except by cruising yachts and has never been exposed to tourism. https://www.mainstaysailing.com.au/hero/coral-sea-marina-to-percy-island Let me know if you are keen? Ron 0402 429 152
Last week's successful Competent Crew / Coastal skipper course from Coral Sea Marina to Percy Island and back to Airlie Beach. looks like the students had a great time as well as learning the ropes. This was the last Percy Island course for 2022. I have setup new RYA Coastal Skipper courses for 2023. Check our website for more information.
Ricardo, who over the last few years has gone from zero to Dayskipper with us, arrived out of the blue in his van "Bella" He was on his way home from an over-land trip to Cape Tribulation when he decided to pop in.
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.
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.
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.
Fantastic experience! Even though I managed to jam the propellor only 30 seconds after leaving the dock, Terence didn't bat an eye, took control, fixed the problem and never looked back! An amazing Captain, great instructor, awesome chef, and plenty of stories too! We had a great time and learnt so much. Thanks Terence and Ron. We'll be back for our Day Skipper soon!
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 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.
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
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 are taken prior to course or charter start. We have payments plans to make it easier for you.