In December last year we moved into the Coral Sea Marina, located on the beautiful tropical coast of Queensland, is the gateway to Airlie Beach, the Whitsunday Islands and the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef. Obviously we did this to serve our loyal client base and develop new ways to offer our services. Give us a call (or email) if you are interested in RYA accredited sailing courses.

Meet Kayami, the yacht we use for our 5-night / 4-day RYA Day Skipper course here in the Whitsundays.⛵️ - Today, our newest skipper Kate is giving you a quick tour of the boat she called home during her training. - Kayami has four cabins, two bathrooms, and plenty of space to learn the ropes while exploring the islands. Her name means summer in Japanese - fitting for the warm, relaxed sailing life we get out here. - If you’ve been thinking about levelling up your skills or starting your sailing journey, this is a little glimpse into what your week onboard might look like 👀 #whitsundaysailing #dayskippercourse #learntosail #sailingaustralia #sailinglife #boattour #sailingeducation #sailinglifestyle #australiatravel #sailingwhitsundays

Dreaming of sailing through the Whitsundays? 🌴 With Mainstay Sailing, you don’t just learn to sail — you live it. From helming the yacht to mastering the ropes, every course takes you out on the water and into the adventure. ⚓️ #MainstaySailing #WhitsundaysSailing #LearnToSail #SailingAdventure #RYA

We had some unexpected dinner guests in Nara Inlet this week - A group of curious cockatoos decided to join the crew mid-meal, just another reminder of how special this part of the Whitsundays are. Beautiful water, good company, and the friendliest locals around. 🌅 #mainstaysailing #dayskipper #whitsundays #sailinglife #australianwildlife #narainlet #boatlife #sailing #sail #sailors #birds #australia

Just 30 seconds on the boat = happiness ⛵️ Nothing makes life’s problems fade away faster than the sea breeze and some wind in your sail. 📲Book now!! Link in bio - - - #sailing #sailinglife #sailinglifestyle #sailingadventure #australia #whitsundays #dayskipper #learntosail #sail #sailing⛵️ #whitsundays #happiness #vitaminsea🌊☀️ #dayskipper #rya

Meet our newest skippers! 🌅 - This October the crew spent the week with Captain Nick completing their Day Skipper training - learning the ropes, navigating the Whitsundays, and soaking up plenty of sunshine along the way. Such a great group and an even better week out on the water! 🌅 - - #sailinglife #sailinglifestyle #sailingadventure #australia #whitsundays #dayskipper #learntosail

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.
I recently completed my Competent Crew course on Mohawk and my Day Skipper course on Kayami with Mainstay Sailing, and I could not have chosen a better place to start my sailing journey. I arrived with zero experience and left feeling confident, capable, and completely hooked on sailing. Terence, our instructor for the Competent Crew course, was incredibly patient, calm, and knowledgeable as was instructor Nick for Day Skipper. They explained everything clearly, never made anyone feel rushed, and created an environment where learning felt exciting and achievable. The food on board was a huge highlight—fresh, healthy, and delicious every single day. Between training sessions we explored the Whitsunday Islands, snorkelled in crystal-clear water, and hiked some breathtaking trails. Learning to sail in one of the most beautiful locations in the world felt almost unreal. The islands were magical and the perfect backdrop for gaining new skills. Whether you’re brand new to sailing or wanting to take your skills to the next level, I cannot recommend Mainstay Sailing highly enough. This was an unforgettable experience and the best place to start my sailing journey!
Great quality sailing training in the best sailing location in Australia. These guys don’t take shortcuts and left us feeling confident in our ability across all qualifications. For the price of a Whitsundays sailing holiday we got to see all of the best places while also learning to sail confidently and competently. The meals were amazing, instructors were top notch and we even had free access to the resort pool on the day we got back to harbour. This is by far the best value for money in any sailing courses in Australia, cannot recommend high enough.
What an amazing experience - skillfully delivered hands-on education that is vital knowledge for staying alive, being safe, and feeling at the end confident about taking to the ocean and handling a sailing yacht. All delivered in one of the most beautiful places on earth, guided by a professional and very competent instructor. Just do it!
Just completed the Day Skipper course with Mainstay Sailing and had a fantastic sailing experience combined with balanced learning. For someone wanting to learn or improve their sailing knowledge this course offers a great sailing location which allows the practical skills to be demonstrated and practiced while receiving thorough instruction. Course content was presented in a way that allowed students at all levels to achieve great learning outcomes. Combine this with delicious meals and tropical destinations, looking forward to my next course.
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.