Course Overview

Sunshine Sailing Australia’s Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track offers you a reliable and direct route to the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification.

In this program, you will spend 12 weeks immersed in exciting, supportive and in-depth training and adventures. The qualification and certificate you will earn is valid for use as Master of yachts of up to 200GT (gross tonnes) on commercial and privately registered yachts. In addition, the certificate is a benchmark around the world for commercial skippers and is essential for professional yachting. Whether you are an experienced sailor, a beginner, planning a career in sailing, or achieving a personal goal, this thorough RYA Yachtmaster Fast Track is for you.

Course Details

Course Duration: 3 Months
Start and Finish Times: Start at 9:30am on the Start Date.
Minimum Age: 17 years or over.
Course Format: Blended learning in the classroom and on the water. Prerequisites: None.

Who is this course designed for?

The course is designed for those aspiring to the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore level of competence. This program will give you the experience, miles and qualifications to gain your commercial endorsement for the MCA Master of Yachts 200GT (gross tonnes) up to 24m. When you’re done, you can cruise the world as a paid skipper in the Superyacht industry, or cruise the world on your own yacht with the confidence and capability of an Offshore Yachtmaster.

What will this course enable you to do?

The Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence demonstrates that you have the knowledge and ability to the level of an Offshore Yachtmaster. You may do this qualification for personal or professional reasons.

If you want to use this qualification commercially, the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence allows you to skipper commercial vessels around the world. You may find work in any of the following professions:

  • Superyacht deck and skippering
  • Yacht delivery
  • Private skippering
  • Commercial sail vessel master
  • RYA Instructor
  • and more

Becoming an RYA Instructor

After completing your RYA Yachtmater Offshore Certificate of Competence with a commercial endorsement, you will be able to undertake the first stage of RYA Instructor training, the RYA Cruising Instructor course. Upon successful completion of the Cruising Instructor training, you will be able to deliver RYA Start Yachting, RYA Competent Crew, and RYA Day Skipper Practical training with an accredited RYA school, such as Sunshine Sailing Australia. If you are interested in this, please talk to us about potential career opportunities. We are always looking for high quality instructors.

Course Content (Syllabus)

The RYA Yachtmaster Fast Track Course includes the following courses in the schedule and the full syllabus contained within each of these:

  1. Completing the RYA Essentials -Navigation (Online) course prior to the orientation day
  2. Learn to be an effective member of crew on the RYA Competent Crew course
  3. Two days developing sailing skills on J24 keelboats
  4. Build your knowledge with the RYA Day Skipper – Theory
  5. Developing skippering skills on the RYA Day Skipper – Practical
  6. Going deeper in to theory with the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore – Theory
  7. Deepening your skills with the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore – Practical
  8. Learning about powerboats and superyacht tenders on the RYA Powerboat Level 2
  9. Yacht Maintenance, Rigging and Sail Making experience
  10. Mile Builders on the East Coast of Australia to build your sea miles
  11. Spinnaker Handling Course
  12. Marine First Aid
  13. Sea Safety and Survival
  14. Short/Long-Range Radio Operators Certificate
  15. RYA Radar
  16. Diesel Maintenance
  17. International Certificate of Competence
  18. Yachtmaster Exam Preparation
  19. RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Examination

Request Course Information Pack

After this, you will have acheived:

  • 52 days on your logbookhttps://nut.sh/ell/forms/355220/8GXONL
  • 2700 miles logged
  • 60 night hours

Conditions:

Whilst unlikely, due to the unpredictability of weather systems there may be courses that need postponing. In this situation, you may be required to extend your dates slightly to ensure you meet all the requirements.

Training Locations

Our sailing areas include the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Fraser Island, Great Sandy Straits, and the Whitsunday Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. An excellent base for Yachtmaster training, these areas provide ideal conditions: perfect winds, warm tidal waters, busy shipping lanes and a wide variety of interesting sailing passages. With exotic destinations, these are some of the best sailing grounds in the world!

What qualification do you receive?

At the end of this course, you will be examined for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate of competence. In addition, you will gain the required supporting qualifications and miles to work as a paid skipper around the world.

RYA Certificates of Competence are some of the most useful and credible of all yachting qualifications. They thoroughly test the skipper’s ability and give you a new level of confidence in your capabilities.

Upcoming Training

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track

Our courses begin in March, June, and September.  Please check the Dates & Booking, or contact us directly.

Accommodation

Over the duration of the fast track course there will be many days when you are living aboard the training yacht. On those days you can leave any excess gear in our storage facilities. There are also some days when you will not be living aboard the training vessel.

You will need local accommodation for approximately 30-days throughout the course.  With several weeks of classroom, and local training, you will need to secure accommodation.  Reach out to us, and we can tell you what dates you will need to stay ashore.

Accommodation Options

Local Hotels and AirBNB’s

There is plenty of accommodation options nearby. Mooloolaba is a tourism destination, with options ranging from luxury hotels to bed and breakfasts accomodations.

What We Offer

Pro Instructors

We constantly strive to recruit and develop the most experienced and professional instructors. We expect our instructors to not only guide you through the course syllabus, but to do this in a way that meets your learning style, and to always go above the minimum requirements of the course.

Perfect Locations

Our training locations are chosen to provide you with a broad opportunity of learning experiences on the water. All of our locations have access to open ocean, busy waterways, and a range of different learning opprotunities.

Expert Advice

The team at Sunshine Sailing Australia are here to talk to you. Whether you are a recreational sailor, or someone who would like to enter the commercial superyacht industry, our team is always up for a friendly chat. We can assess your needs and will help guide you down the path that suits your experience and goals.

More Information

You are the captain of your journey, and we’re here to make that voyage as smooth sailing as possible. Our friendly team is ready at any time for a question you might have about this course, or which training plan will work best with what you want out of your time on the water. Please touch base with any questions you may have.

Call the team

Make an enquiry about this course.

    Reviews

    Alison Kirkwood course completed 15th July 2021

    I am signed up for the Yachtmaster Fast Track and have just completed 2 x 6 days sailing from Brisbane to Yeppoon then Yeppoon to Hamilton Island (Competent Crew & Mile Builder). I have had a fantastic time and can't wait for the start of my next course in a couple of weeks. Our instructor Finn has been great - very patient, calm and an excellent teacher. I knew it would be fun but the last two weeks have surpassed my expectations. I have no hesitation in recommending Sunshine Sailing School.

    Sacha Berlinguette-Chabot course completed 7th April 2019

    Great sailing school! Did a RYA Fast track up to Coastal Skipper and feel I've gained relevant and useful skill for safe and fun sailing. John and Carl and the team of instructors are very helpful in helping out toward your success and getting confidence in your theoretical and practical skill. Would do again in an heartbeat.

    Terry Silk course completed 9th March 2018

    Recently I had the pleasure of completing my RYA training with the Sunshine Sailing Australia (SSA). John Bankart, the proprietor of SSA… proved to be everything that I expected from a professional instructor whose skills were up to the high standards of RYA…I readily recommend Sunshine Sailing Australia to people seeking a highly qualified and professional sail training establishment.

    Chris Prewitt course completed 21st September 2018

    The Fastrack course was fantastic, not only did we learn so much, but most importantly it was absolute fun! The way the program was put together from start to finish was perfect. Thanks again for all your help along the way.