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Sailing academy / training
About
Airlie Beach sailing school teaching IYT courses from beginner to skipper level on the liveaboard yachts Eureka II and Starlight in the Whitsunday Islands.
Service area: Whitsunday Islands, with coastal passages in North Queensland between Mackay and Townsville
Whitsunday Sailing School has been teaching people to sail in the Whitsundays for more than 30 years. Its courses are liveaboard programs: students stay aboard the school's yachts, Eureka II and Starlight, sailing among the Whitsunday Islands while they learn.
Courses run from beginner to advanced under the International Yacht Training (IYT) scheme, from an Introduction to Yachting course and the International Crew Certificate to flotilla and bareboat skipper qualifications and the ICC. The islands offer both protected anchorages and more challenging passages, and between sessions students can snorkel the fringing reefs, visit beaches and walk the islands. Shore-based theory, including celestial navigation for the commercial Master of Yachts 200 Ton certificate, is taught at the Whitsunday Sailing Club's Maritime Training Center in Airlie Beach, which the school uses as a venue. It also offers mile-builder passages and private coaching.
It suits sailors who want to learn by living aboard in warm, sheltered island waters. The school publishes few fixed dates, so contact principal Malcom Robertson to confirm schedules and which yacht a course runs on.
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Pick a stable, simple, forgiving dinghy with a single sail or basic sloop rig, affordable handling and easy maintenance—ideally one with a local class or school nearby so you can access coaching and spare parts.
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Pick a protected bay, estuary or river reach where you can rig, launch and arrive on calm water within a short, sheltered transit; choose a site with a good ramp or jetty, clear recovery options and a nearby sailing club, marina or commercial operator for local knowledge and help.
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Late spring to summer is usually the best time for beginners to start learning to sail in Tasmania because the weather is generally warmer, days are longer and conditions are often more settled. Expect lighter to moderate winds with regular afternoon sea breees in summer, while spring and autumn bring more changeable and sometimes stronger conditions; winter is colder, wetter and typically windier with more fronts and swell.
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Progress gradually by increasing exposure, practising specific skills, sailing with more experienced crew/skippers, and deliberately training for each new step—start in calm sheltered bays, then move to longer trips, busier waters, stronger winds and finally open coastal passages when you and your crew are consistently competent and comfortable.
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A practical, Australia-focused guide for planning and sailing around the Whitsunday Islands: weather and seasons, navigation and anchoring, moorings and parks, provisioning and charters, safety and common mistakes, plus checklists and next steps.
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A concise, practical guide to the points of sail and how to trim sails effectively for common Australian conditions. Learn the basics of wind angles, sail shape, telltales, reefing considerations and simple steps to improve boat speed and balance.
Explore →Practical guidance for recreational sailors planning passages to and between the Abrolhos Islands, choosing secure anchorages, and navigating reef-strewn waters safely using charts, local knowledge and conservative seamanship.
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Practical guidance for recreational sailors in Australia on assessing swell, tide and wind, choosing the safest time to cross a coastal bar, preparing crew and gear, and making the decision to go or turn back.
Explore →Burke Yachtsman Gear Bag 40L - Shop Now Zip Pay | Tamar Marine Skip to content 59 – 63 Holbrook Street, Invermay Online Shop Open 24/7 Products search Contact us 1300 MARINE $ 0.00 0 Cart Burke Yachtsman Gear Bag 40L $ 79.90 Colour Choose an option Black Blue Black Blue Clear - Burke Yachtsman Gear Bag 40L quantity + Add to cart Enquire about this product SKU BAGB-Y24/BLACK* Category Bags - Sail & Gear A Burke classic and customer favourite, the Yachtsman’s Gear Bag is built tough to handle wet, salty conditions while keeping your gear dry and protected. Made from double coated waterproof…
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Feathering propeller designed for larger cruising yachts. Diameter range 18"–25"; shaft range 1¼"–1¾"; hub lengths 120mm or 165mm (with anode). Sail drive option available.
Explore →Imported from Tamar Marine. This draft has no editorial summary yet.
Explore →Imported from Tamar Marine. This draft has no editorial summary yet.
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