The RYA provides globally recognised sailing certificates at various levels, starting from Competent Crew, Day Skipper to Coastal Skipper. These courses are run and recognised all over the world, including in the Whitsundays.
We’re not just offering a sailing course, we’re offering an experience. You will spend five days on a yacht learning how to sail or increase your sailing skills in the world-class beauty of the Whitsunday Islands.
Aimed at novice sailors, this course will introduce you to cruising under sail and equip you with the skills to become an active and competent crew member.
You will acquire a sound knowledge of the yacht and basic sailing techniques including rope work, mooring, and how to help handle a vessel when underway.
All students are taught a range of safety skills, such as the correct procedure for a man-overboard, how to correctly tie knots, how to check the engine, and use the safety equipment and the tender. You’ll also learn how to read charts and plot courses, and how to operate the VHF radio.
Requirements:
As quoted by the RYA, “An RYA Day Skipper is somebody capable of safely skippering a small cruising yacht, or motorboat, by day in waters with which they are familiar”
This is a practical course designed for sailors with previous sailing experience who wish to take their certification to the next competency level.
An internationally recognised qualification, the Day Skipper Practical course is highly recommended if you are planning to sail overseas to a destination that requires compulsory certification. You will learn deck work, navigation, and passage planning and finish the course with the confidence to handle a vessel under power or sail.
Requirements:
The Coastal Skipper course is for experienced sailors seeking to increase their theoretical and practical sailing and navigation skills to an advanced level. This practical course covers all the basics required to skipper a yacht further afield. On completion, you will be confident in offshore sailing and night sailing.
Requirements:
RYA courses are five-day, live-aboard courses. They run from Monday – Friday with an option to sleep aboard on the Sunday night before the course and the Friday after the course.
Not only do you end up with a certification at the end, but you'll also have spent a week in paradise with fellow sailing enthusiasts. Heaven!
Inclusions:
To learn more about the theory components and the itineraries please visit our detailed sailing school page.
All courses run for five days and they cost AUD 1,980.00 per person. This includes accommodation on the yacht and catering.
Participants will also need to purchase a coursebook. Prices range from AUD 25.00 - AUD 35.00 and can be purchased through Boat Books Australia or on check-in at the base.
Books needed:
Competent Crew Course: RYA Competent Crew Skills book
Day Skipper Course: RYA Day Skipper Practical Course Notes
All Courses: Yacht-Master Scheme Syllabus & Logbook
The Whitsundays School of Sailing is located at the stunning Shute Harbour, just 10 minutes from Airlie Beach. Shute Harbour is the perfect location to learn to sail from because of its close proximity to the Whitsunday Islands.
Wayne Reed has been an official RYA instructor for 5 years and recently became the Whitsunday School of Sailing's principal. Wayne oversees all of our student's experience and ensures that everything is running ship-shape.
Wayne has completed 5 Sydney to Hobart races and is racing this year (2019) as the navigator of the vessel Eve. Perhaps one of Wayne's most impressive achievements was racing and winning 12 out of the 15 round the world Clipper Races in 2012. Since then, he has remained heavily involved in the worldwide Clipper Race as a paid crew member for all or part of the event.
All of the instructors in our sailing school are highly qualified and experienced RYA instructors. In our opinion, they are the ultimate people to learn sailing from. The style of teaching is completely hands on. You won’t just be watching your instructor; you’ll be at the helm calling the shots. What a great classroom!
For anyone new to sailing who would like to join a Whitsundays School of Sailing course:
Keep up with your practice or sailing miles. You can never get enough experience.
Between your practical courses, it is surprisingly easy to keep practicing even if you don't have a boat. There are plenty of things you can do while on land to help progress and sharpen up on your skills.
The Whitsundays offer the perfect conditions for learning to sail or upskilling your sailing abilities. Join us at our world-class sailing school in Shute Harbour and learn from our accomplished teachers.
Join us to sail in the Whitsundays. learn to sail and enjoy the freedom to explore
Contact us 1800 075 000 or sales@rentayacht.com.au