On passing your RYA/ MCA Yachtmaster Ocean examination, you will be qualified to take command of a commercial sailing vessel of up to 200 gross tonnes on passages unrestricted by distance. 

Our innovative course programme provides an exhilarating mix of training and a reliable route to certification.

We promise expert tuition, a stimulating learning environment and a great Australian sailing adventure.

Course schedule

The programme comprises a package of individual training courses built into a balanced and progressive training schedule. 

Training time is divided between live-aboard periods, daysailing courses and shore-based theory classes. 

Weekends are usually free, but we encourage you to join our dinghy sailing and windsurfing classes (at no cost) to develop core sailing skills or join a Flying Fish weekend course as a mate to one of our qualified yacht instructors. Racing enthusiasts can often go yacht racing with Middle Harbour Yacht Club owners.

If you join our September course, there is a 4-week training break over the Christmas period, and the ocean passage to Lord Howe Island begins in Hobart, Tasmania, and finishes in Sydney. If you choose the February course, there is no break in the schedule, and the Ocean Passage starts and finishes in Sydney.

📌 See our FAQ section below for details of the week-by-week training schedule. 

World-class sailing destinations

The Yachtmaster Ocean Fast Track is based at Flying Fish Sail Academy, located at the stunning Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney. This prime location offers access to some of the best sailing waters in the world.

Weather conditions vary from warm sea breezes to cool southerly busters. You will experience magnificent seascapes, dolphins, whales and, of course, flying fish! This is offshore sailing at its best. 

⛵ Sail in Sydney Harbour, Australia’s top yachting destination, passing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
🗺️ Explore the New South Wales coastline, with passages to:
⚓ Jervis Bay (south) – crystal-clear waters and stunning beaches.
🏝️ Pittwater, Seal Rocks, and Coffs Harbour (north) – rugged coastlines and secluded anchorages.

🌍 Ocean Passage – Lord Howe Island

🧭 Complete an ocean-qualifying passage to the breathtaking Lord Howe Island.
🤿 Enjoy world-class diving and snorkelling in its pristine coral lagoon.
🌴 Weather permitting, spend a few days exploring this remote Pacific paradise before sailing back to Sydney.

Top-quality yachts & equipment

We operate a fleet of excellent training vessels, including:

⛵ Beneteau 40.7 cruiser racers – Ideal for offshore and inshore training.
⛵ Beneteau First 40 – A modern performance cruiser-racer.
⛵ SV Arctos (Radford 55) – Our flagship yacht, built for Southern Ocean conditions.
🚤 Laser Bahia & RS Zest dinghies – Perfect for developing core sailing skills.
🚤 Highfield RIBs – Used for early-stage training and support.

Our waterside classroom at Middle Harbour Yacht Club is fully equipped with modern teaching aids, providing the perfect space for shore-based learning.

Expert Instructors

Our experienced and highly qualified instructors will guide you every step of the way with the friendly, professional teaching style that defines Flying Fish. 

Where to stay ashore

If you're coming from outside Sydney, you'll need accommodation for the duration of your course.

We offer limited spots in Flying Fish crew apartments in Manly, just steps from one of Australia’s most stunning beaches.

Stay with fellow trainees, soak up the coastal lifestyle, and make the most of your time off the water.

Prefer to arrange your own accommodation? No problem!

📌 See our FAQ section below for more details 

• Tuition, logbook, pre-course reading, training resources, and certification. 
• Life jackets and safety harnesses are provided, and we can loan you wet weather clothing if required.
• Shared cabin accommodation and meals onboard on live-aboard passages 
• All vessels have an enclosed bathroom on board.
• Fast-track customers can join our weekend dinghy and windsurf classes free of charge.
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam fees (approximately $465) are not included and are payable directly to the RYA on the exam day.
• Having attained YM Offshore, the RYA YM Ocean oral exam is arranged by the candidate directly with the examiner for a time after completion of the course; the candidate pays exam fees. 
• If you book our September course, you need to factor in the cost of an economy-class flight from Sydney to Hobart to start the ocean passage.

Qualifications and experience

See the FAQ section below for a complete list of the qualifications and experience acquired on the programme.

• The course is often described as a 'Zero to Hero' programme, making it suitable for newcomers to sailing and boating. However, prior experience in sailing and boating, such as dinghy sailing or windsurfing, will be highly beneficial.
• If you start the course as a beginner, you will log all the miles and passages needed for the practical and oral exams.
• If you join us, having logged some miles and time on yachts, you can expect to leave as a confident, qualified Yachtmaster Offshore, ready to enter the RYA oral exam as Yachtmaster Ocean. NB we do not include the Yachtmaster Ocean oral examination in the programme, but this can be arranged directly with an examiner at a time of your choosing.
• Please note that all seafarers seeking certification as Commercial Yachtmasters and Deck Officers under the MCA or AMSA must have full-colour vision.
• To plan your own pathway to Yachtmaster Ocean with a custom package of short courses, see here. 

The course is often referred to as a 'Zero to Hero' programme, making it suitable for newcomers to sailing and boating. However, prior experience in sailing and boating, such as dinghy sailing or windsurfing, will be highly advantageous.• If you begin the course as a beginner, you will log all the miles and passages required for the practical and oral exams.• If you join us after logging some miles and time on yachts, you can expect to leave as a confident, qualified Yachtmaster Offshore, prepared to enter the RYA oral exam as Yachtmaster Ocean. Please note that we do not include the Yachtmaster Ocean oral examination in the programme, but this can be arranged directly with an examiner at a time of your choosing.• Please be aware that all seafarers seeking certification as Commercial Yachtmasters and Deck Officers under the MCA or AMSA must have full-colour vision.• To plan your own pathway to Yachtmaster Ocean with a custom package of short courses, see here. 

• If you leave the course as a qualified, commercially endorsed Yachtmaster, you will be ready to start work as a skipper.
• As a Yachtmaster Offshore, you are approved by the MCA to take charge of a sailing vessel of up to 200 gross tonnes on passages up to 150 miles from a safe haven. A Yachtmaster Ocean is unrestricted by distance. 
• If you want to work as an instructor at an RYA school, you will need to complete a Yacht Cruising Instructor course.

• Cameron Pimentel
• Yachtmaster Ocean Fast Track
• 
• “ I've been lucky enough to be hired by an incredible carbon ketch based out of New Zealand. So many thanks again to George and everyone else at Flying Fish! ”
• Willem Rootselaar
• Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track
• 
• “ This has been the greatest life experience I ever had!! and with the result: Yachtmaster! Now I'm a REAL Sailor! ”
• Lyndsay Barnes 
• Dayskipper to Yachtmaster Fast Track 
• 
• “ Joining the Flying Fish Yachtmaster programme was one of the best decisions I ever made, My new office is floating on Sydney Harbour. If you’re considering doing the course, sign up now and don’t give it a second thought. But be warned, it could change your life. ”

• Course programme 
  • Week 1 -  RYA Powerboat Level 2 (2 days) / Dinghy Sailing Level 1/2 (2 days) /Marine First Aid (1 day) / ACMA  Marine Radio Operator (1 day)
  • Week 2 -  RYA Competent Crew (5 days aboard)
  • Week 3 -  RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory 
  • Week 4 -  RYA Day Skipper Practical  (5 days aboard)
  • Week 5 -  Racing and Spinnakers (2 days) / Basic Yacht Maintenance (3 days) / Safety and Sea Survival (2 days)
  • Week 6, 7, 8  - Yachtmaster Milebuilder and Qualifying Passages (16 days live-aboard) / PPR (Self-paced online)
  • Week 9 -  RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory (6 days) 
  • Week 10 - RYA Coastal Skipper Practical (5 days live-aboard)
  • Week 11 - Yachtmaster Practical Skills (5 days)
  • Week 12 - RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Theory (6 days)
  • Week 13, 14, 15 - Ocean passage planning (2 days) / Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying Passage (16 days live-aboard)
  • Week 16 - Yachtmaster Prep and Exam Week - (5 days aboard) 
  • The above programme may be run in a different order, but the training units are correct
• Qualifications and experience 
  • Approx 3700 sea miles logged
  • RYA Competent Crew
  • RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory
  • RYA Day Skipper Practical
  • RYA Powerboat Level 2
  • TCP Marine First Aid (Workplace Approved)
  • RYA Diesel Engine certificate
  • Basic Yacht Maintenance 
  • RYA Yachtmaster qualifying passages/watchkeeper experience 
  • RYA Dinghy Sailing Level 1 or 2
  • Intro Racing and Spinnaker handling course
  • ACMA VHF/HF GMDSS Marine Radio Operator Licence
  • RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory
  • RYA Coastal Skipper
  • RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence (Sail) - subject to meeting medical fitness requirements
  • AS/ISAF Offshore Safety and Sea Survival
  • RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities (PPR)
  • AMSA Sailing Master Offshore NC - subject to meeting medical fitness requirements
  • AMSA Coxswain Grade 3 - subject to meeting medical fitness requirements
  • RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Theory
  • RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying sights 
  • RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying passage
• Where to stay ashore
• Flying Fish crew apartments - stay with other Flying Fish customers on one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches. Our crew apartments in Manly are comfortably furnished for shared living and only a short bus ride or Uber ride to our Middle Harbour Yacht Club training centre. These apartments offer a sociable, relaxed atmosphere ideal for building friendships. Room share (twin): A$790 per week / single room: A$1190 per week. Book your accommodation package when you book your course. We only offer accommodation packages for the whole duration of the programme. 
• Book your own Backpackers in Manly – basic accommodation for those on a budget (approx. A$60/night for a 4-6 berth mixed dormitory). Popular hostels include Manly Backpackers, Boardrider Backpackers, and Stoke Beach House. But be sure to do your research and check the latest Google reviews 
• Book your room or apartment on Airbnb for flexibility and privacy, with various options available in Manly, Fairlight, Balgowlah, and Mosman. All are an easy bus ride to the Flying Fish training centre at Middle Harbour Yacht Club
• Check out Flatmates.com.au, which has listings across the Northern Beaches and Mosman for shared living—an excellent choice for a cost-effective, community-focused stay. 
• It's also worth checking Facebook groups like Manly Living for additional rooms and recommendations on living in the area.
• Visas for international students
• Apart from Australians and New Zealanders, everyone travelling to Australia must apply for a visa in advance. Don't apply for a student visa. These are only available for government-sanctioned higher education courses at universities and other tertiary establishments.  Tourist visas or working holiday visas (for those seeking employment) are acceptable. 
• What happens if I fail the Yachtmaster exams?
• We do our best to make sure that you don't. However, if the worst comes to pass, you'll leave with an action plan to complete.  Typically, this involves revising any missing skills or knowledge and then retaking the exam.
• Over 90% of our Yachtmaster candidates pass the first time.
• Can I customise the course or complete the programme over a longer period?
• Yes, if you would like to complete a personalised course programme either by omitting specific training units or by spreading the course out over a year or more, please contact us with your requirements
• Booking information
• To secure your place in the course, please pay a 10% holding deposit via the links provided above. This deposit will reserve your position until sixty days prior to the course start date, at which point the remaining balance of the course fees will be required. Please be aware that the deposit is non-refundable; however, it can be transferred to any other course or event offered by Flying Fish. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment, as spaces are limited. 
• What are the work opportunities once I am qualified?
• Find out more about job opportunities on yachts here