Sunday night meetups at the Garden Bar at the Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach.
2 weeks prior to the course commencement we send out an email with joining instructions because we find that students take too much luggage with them. In a marine environment and a confined space like our training vessel 'Mohawk" the less students take the better it goes for everyone. Simple really.

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 had a wonderful time with Mainstay Sailing in the beautiful Whitsundays. Real sailing not that commercial under motor 'sailing' that other operators tend to do now due to inexperienced trainers. The Mainstay team know their sailing, know their boats and they know the Whitsundays. The sailing itself was very informative, the locations spectacular and away from the crowds intentionally. The food was nice and adequate with plenty to go round. Don't get calluses on your hand sitting at home thinking about sailing around a tropical paradise, come get a few learning how to sail on the opalescent turquoise waters of the Whitsundays with the Mainstay.
Fantastic experience. The teaching was clear, practical, and confidence-building. I went in with no real idea what I was doing and came out feeling genuinely confident working around the boat, even got to skipper and run manoeuvres. Great instructors and a well-run operation — highly recommend.
We had a lovely day sailing out to Hayman Island, enjoyed a swim and snorkeling. Sue made us an amazing, fresh and healthy lunch spread. Nick and Sue were gracious hosts, we enjoyed our conversations with them, and learning some sailing tips off Nick. We would highly recommended booking with them for your next sailing adventure.
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.
An ICC (International Certificate of Competence) assessment is a practical and theoretical test for boaters, proving competence for sailing in countries requiring formal qualifications, covering safety, navigation, rules, pilotage, and boat handling (power/sail), often based on RYA standards, with experienced sailors able to take a shorter assessment or convert existing qualifications.
What it covers:
Safety: Onboard procedures and emergency situations.
Rules & Regulations: Collision avoidance (COLREGs) and maritime rules.
Navigation & Pilotage: Chart work, buoyage, and coastal navigation.
Boat Handling: Under power and sail, including close-quarters maneuvering and berthing.
Man Overboard: Recovery procedures.
How to get it:
Convert Existing Qualifications: If you hold a recognised RYA qualification (like Day Skipper), you can apply to convert it.
Take an Assessment: For experienced boaters without formal certification, a one-day practical and theoretical assessment is available.
Take a Course: You can take an RYA training course (like Day Skipper) and then apply for the ICC.
Key Points:
It's a certificate of competence, not a qualification itself, providing assurance to foreign authorities. An RYA Essential Navigation course is recommended for theory. You might also need a VHF Marine Radio license.
Payments are taken prior to course, tour or charter start. We have payments plans to make it easier 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!