Overview
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Course is the qualification the yachting industry runs on. It is the most widely recognised sailing certificate in the world, respected by employers from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, and the one most professional skippers hold.
Our 12-week course in Sydney takes you from complete beginner to qualified Yachtmaster Offshore, giving you everything you need, the sea miles, the qualifying passages, the theory, and the exam, in one progressive programme.
It is our most popular course, and for good reason. People arrive with different goals, some are chasing a career on the water, others a personal ambition they have carried for years. What they all get is an exhilarating blend of training, adventure and a qualification that means something wherever in the world they sail next.
If you are ready to commit to twelve weeks in Sydney, this course will change the way you sail forever.
Here is an overview of what you will cover on the course:
Dinghy sailing: Your first days on the water. Dinghy sailing builds wind awareness and core sailing instincts faster than anything else, skills that stay with you throughout the entire programme.
RYA Competent Crew and Day Skipper: Build your foundation skills aboard, learning the essentials of sailing, seamanship, and passage making in Sydney Harbour and along the New South Wales coast.
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Theory and Practical: The core of the programme. You will build sea miles, complete qualifying passages, and prepare thoroughly for the Yachtmaster Offshore exam.
Race training and spinnaker handling: Develop boat speed and confidence racing with local yacht owners at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
Yacht maintenance and safety at sea: Practical skills that make you a more capable and employable sailor on any yacht.
By the end of the course you will have logged approximately 2,500 sea miles, hold a suite of internationally recognised qualifications, and be ready to take the helm professionally or for the adventure of a lifetime.
Sydney as your base
Your training waters are the New South Wales coast, one of the finest offshore sailing environments anywhere. During the course you will sail past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, anchor in deserted bays, and complete qualifying passages to destinations including Jervis Bay to the south and Pittwater, Seal Rocks, and Coffs Harbour to the north. These are not just training exercises, they are genuinely memorable sailing experiences.
Unlike the Ocean course, you will not disappear on a long ocean passage, which means more time to get to know Sydney properly. The evenings and weekends are yours. Most students surf, explore the Northern Beaches, and fall into the rhythm of Australian coastal life. Manly has some of the best beaches, bars, and restaurants in Sydney on its doorstep. There is so much to do that most students end up staying on in Australia long after the course finishes.
All course information
The Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is the most popular qualification, the gateway to employment. It provides an excellent starting point when entering the yachting industry as a professional skipper on yachts under 24m or as a Deckhand on a Superyacht.
If working as a professional is your choice, we recommend adding STCW Basic Safety Training. STCW Basic Safety Training is the standard for professional skipper and crew. Adding STCW will allow you to apply for the RYA Master of Yachts 200 Gross Tonnes.
We would advise all customers to complete the ENG1 medical before enrolling on this course. The ENG1 Medical is a requirement for commercial endorsement. Without it, you cannot work as a professional skipper.
Once qualified as a Yachtmaster Offshore, you must apply for commercial endorsement through the RYA.
What if I don’t pass first time?
We do everything we can to make sure you are ready before you sit the exam. Over 90% of our candidates pass first time. In the rare event that you don’t, you will leave with a clear action plan and our full support through any resit.
Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand resident, then you will need a visa to travel to Australia. You can apply for most visas online.
The application process is quick and easy. Please click here for more information on what visa to apply for.
On our Yachtmaster Offshore Course you will earn a suite of internationally recognised qualifications from the RYA and MCA. Flying Fish is an approved RYA training centre and Australia’s longest-established RYA-approved Yachtmaster school.
Qualifications and certifications
- RYA Competent Crew
- RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory
- RYA Day Skipper Practical
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA Dinghy Sailing Level 1 or 2
- RYA Diesel Engine Certificate
- Basic Yacht Maintenance
- RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory
- RYA Coastal Skipper
- RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence (Sail)
- AS/ISAF Offshore Safety and Sea Survival
- RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities (PPR)
- First Aid Certificate
- VHF/GMDSS Marine Radio Operator Licence
Sea time and experience
- Approximately 2,500 sea miles logged
- Qualifying passages including overnight and offshore passages
- Live-aboard experience across multiple passages
- Watch-keeping experience
- Race training and spinnaker handling
- Intro racing and spinnaker handling course
Also included
- All tuition, logbooks, and training resources
- Safety equipment, life jackets, and safety harnesses
- Wet weather gear available to borrow
- Meals during all live-aboard passages
- Shared cabin accommodation on all training vessels
- Free weekend dinghy and windsurfing sailing during the course
Additional costs
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam fee (approximately A$465), paid to the examiner on exam day
- Flights to Sydney
This course is designed for complete beginners and is often described as a zero to hero programme. No previous sailing experience is required, though any background in dinghy sailing, windsurfing, or general boating will help you progress more quickly and confidently through the programme.
You must be 18 or over to train with Flying Fish. All students must hold valid travel insurance for the duration of the course.
All seafarers seeking commercial certification under the MCA or AMSA must have full colour vision.
Medical requirements
If you intend to work professionally after qualifying, you will need an ENG1 Medical Certificate. We recommend you have your ENG 1 medical before you join our course, as it confirms you are fit for sea service and is a requirement for commercial endorsement. Contact us if you have any concerns about your medical eligibility before booking.
The Yachtmaster Offshore Course is divided between live-aboard passages and shore-based theory and day sailing. Training builds progressively, from fundamental sailing skills through to offshore passage making and exam preparation.
Week 1 – RYA Powerboat Level 2 (2 days), Dinghy Sailing Level 1 and 2 (2 days), Marine First Aid (1 day)
Week 2 – RYA Competent Crew (5-day live-aboard)
Week 3 – RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory, VHF Radio Operator (1 day)
Week 4 – RYA Day Skipper Practical (5-day live-aboard)
Week 5 – Race training and spinnaker handling (2 days), Basic yacht maintenance (3 days), Safety and Sea Survival (2 days)
Week 6, 7, 8 – Yachtmaster milebuilder and qualifying passages (16-day live-aboard), PPR (self-paced online)
Week 9 – RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory
Week 10 – RYA Coastal Skipper Practical (5-day live-aboard)
Week 11 – Yachtmaster practical skills and drills (5-day live-aboard)
Week 12 – Yachtmaster prep and exam week (5-day live-aboard)
The programme may run in a different order depending on weather and conditions, but all training units are covered.
Our training fleet
Beneteau 40.7 cruiser racers
Beneteau First 40
SV Arctos, our Radford 55, built for Southern Ocean conditions and loved by everyone who sails on her
Laser Bahia and RS Zest dinghies
Highfield RIBs for training and safety support
Our waterside classroom at Middle Harbour Yacht Club is fully equipped and purpose-built for professional RYA training.
Flying Fish Crew Apartments
When you are ashore, most students choose to stay in Manly, a beach suburb on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and a short bus ride from Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Manly offers beaches, cafés, and a relaxed coastal lifestyle, while staying well connected to the city.
Our crew apartments in Manly are comfortably furnished for shared living and only a short bus ride from our training centre at Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Staying with fellow students is a big part of the experience, and the apartments offer a sociable, relaxed atmosphere ideal for building friendships that often continue long after the course ends.
Accommodation is booked alongside your course and covers the full duration of the programme.
We only offer packages for the whole duration, not shorter stays.
Yachtmaster course reviews
Book Yachtmaster Offshore Course today!
Taking you from complete beginner to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore in 12 weeks, sailing the stunning waters of Sydney, Australia.
82 day(s)
£11,358
Sydney, Australia
Still not sure?
From training to career advise we’ll be happy to sit down and give you the guidance you need!
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