Become a Yacht Skipper in Australia

Taking a Gap Year

Traditionally students would take a Gap Year after college and before university. Today many take a Gap Year at any stage of their career. We see a large number of people taking gap years in their 50’s, we call it Gap Year for grown ups!

Taking a Gap Year before university is attractive for so many students. After a hard few years with your head in the books you now want to escape, get some well earned winter sunshine, see some world and leave the home comforts behind to be replaced by a backpack and passport. Taking a Gap Year really helps the CV too; having some experience of working abroad or travelling gives a different perspective on how the world works and how other people live their lives.

Australia is one of the world’s most popular Gap Year destinations. In fact it is the original Gap Year destination with its warm climate and friendly people, it is no wonder thousands of people flock down under each year to escape the winter and spend time travelling, surfing and sailing in the sunshine.

There are many different ways to spend your year out and it is sometimes hard to decide what is right for you. This is where we come in! Flying Fish have been providing Gap Year programmes for the last 20 years.

Gap Year Sailing in Australia

Flying Fish provides professional Yachtmaster training programmes in Australia. You will gain a professional qualification, the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean qualification. You can then use that qualification to work and earn money for the rest of your Gap Year.

A typical customer will complete a 12 week training course in Sydney with Flying Fish over the Northern Hemisphere winter. Once qualified the usual route is to return to the Mediterranean in March to work as a yacht skipper for a holiday company like Sunsail, or work as a Deckhand or Stewardess on one of the many beautiful Superyachts based in the South of France.

Some customers stay in Australia choosing to travel and explore Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

The Yachtmaster qualification opens so many doors for you, both during your Gap Year and for the rest of your life. A Yachtmaster not only needs to be a very good sailor but also required exceptional management and leadership skills. You must also be able to fix the yacht’s equipment while at sea and of course keep your crew safe and happy!

Flying Fish will teach you all there is to know about life at sea, the art of being a great yacht skipper. Training in Australia offers so much more than the hot climate. You will learn to sail on the beautiful Sydney Harbour and offshore along the East Coast of Australia.

There is so much to do off the water too. You can relax on beautiful sun-drenched beaches, enjoy world class food and of course learn to surf!

Accommodation

When not out on the water you will need somewhere to stay. Flying Fish crew apartments are located in Manly, a stunning location right in the heart of the Northern Beaches and a stone’s throw from the centre of Sydney. Flying Fish apartments are comfortably furnished and a short walk from the bars and restaurants. Most customers on a Gap Year with Flying Fish learn to surf spending their weekends in search of the perfect wave or chilling out in one of the many cafe’s dotted around Manly beach.

Night life

Manly has a vibrant night life with many bars and restaurants to choose from. There are so many bars that you will find it difficult to choose! If this is not enough then a short ferry ride will have you in the heart of Sydney. 

Everybody loves Manly: we guarantee that you will have an amazing night out. Christmas is a special time to be in Australia, not forgetting the New Year’s Eve fireworks display!

See how Giles got on down under during his Gap Year.