Yachtmaster Coastal Course

Our Yachtmaster Coastal course takes you from novice sailor to RYA Yachtmaster Coastal in 9 weeks

61 day(s)

From £7,722

Sydney, Australia

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Yachtmaster Coastal Course

Overview

The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal is the qualification for sailors who want to venture beyond sheltered waters and explore further afield with confidence and competence. It is the entry point into the commercial world of sailing, and a genuine achievement in its own right for anyone who loves being on the water.

Our 9-week course in Sydney takes you from complete beginner to RYA Yachtmaster Coastal in one progressive programme, combining live-aboard passages, shore-based theory, and hands-on sailing in some of the finest coastal waters in the world. It is an exhilarating blend of training and adventure, and a reliable route to a qualification that means something.

People come to this course for different reasons. Some want to work commercially as a skipper in coastal waters. Others are passionate sailors looking to consolidate years of experience into a recognised qualification. Many go on to complete the Yachtmaster Offshore Course once they have the Coastal under their belt. All of them leave better sailors.

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: Learn the fundamentals of sailing, seamanship, and passage making aboard our fleet on Sydney Harbour and the New South Wales coast.

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Theory and Practical: The core of the programme. You will build sea miles, complete qualifying passages, and prepare thoroughly for the Yachtmaster Coastal 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 confident sailor on any yacht.

By the end of the course you will have logged approximately 900 sea miles, hold a suite of internationally recognised qualifications, and have the confidence to skipper a yacht in coastal waters anywhere in the world.

Nine weeks in Sydney Harbour

There are few better places in the world to learn to sail than Sydney. Flying Fish is based at Middle Harbour Yacht Club, set within Port Jackson, the largest natural deep-water harbour in the world. With more than 55 square kilometres of water to explore, countless bays, and iconic landmarks around every headland, it is an extraordinary training environment.

During your course you will sail past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, build your coastal skills on Sydney Harbour, and venture offshore along the New South Wales coastline to destinations including Jervis Bay to the south and Pittwater and Seal Rocks to the north. The sailing is varied, the conditions are excellent, and the scenery makes every passage genuinely memorable.

Full course information

I want to work as a professional skipper

The Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate is the starting point for a career at sea. The qualification allows you to skipper a yacht up to 24m to 20 miles from a safe haven.

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.

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 Coastal, you must apply for commercial endorsement through the RYA.

Course programme

The Yachtmaster Coastal Course is divided between live-aboard passages and shore-based theory and day sailing. Training builds progressively, from fundamental sailing skills through to coastal passage making and exam preparation.

Week 1 – RYA Competent Crew (5-day live-aboard)
Week 2 – RYA Powerboat Level 2 (2 days), Dinghy Sailing Level 1 and 2 (2 days), Marine First Aid (1 day)
Week 3 – RYA Day Skipper Practical (5-day live-aboard)
Week 4 – RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory (5 days shore-based)
Week 5 – Race training and spinnaker handling (2 days), Basic yacht maintenance (3 days)
Week 6 – RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory (6 days shore-based)
Week 7 – RYA Coastal Skipper Practical (5-day live-aboard)
Week 8 – Yachtmaster practical skills (5 days), Safety and Sea Survival (2 days)
Week 9 – 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.

Life outside the course

Weekends are generally free. Students are encouraged to join the racing scene at Middle Harbour Yacht Club, where local owners regularly welcome crew aboard their boats. Manly’s famous surf beach, bars, and restaurants are right on the doorstep, and Sydney’s Northern Beaches are some of the finest in Australia. Make the most of them.

What's included

On our Yachtmaster Coastal 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 Coastal 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 900 sea miles logged
Qualifying passages including overnight and coastal passages
Live-aboard experience across multiple passages
Watch-keeping experience
Race training and spinnaker handling

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 Coastal exam fee (approximately A$465), paid to the examiner on exam day
Flights to Sydney

Visas

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand resident, you will need a visa before travelling to Australia.

The application process is straightforward and can be completed online.

A tourist visa or working holiday visa is the right option for this course. Do not apply for a student visa, as these are only available for government-sanctioned higher education courses at universities and other tertiary institutions.

Working holiday visas are available to eligible nationals aged 18 to 30 (or 35 for some countries) and are a popular choice for students who want to work in Australia before or after their course. Check the Australian Government’s visa finder for the most up to date eligibility information before applying.

Please click here for more information on what visa to apply for.

Accommodation

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.

Prerequisites and medical requirements

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.