Spend five unforgettable days living and learning aboard a yacht in the spectacular Whitsunday Islands.

This practical course is designed to build real confidence through hands-on sailing, short passages, and expert coaching.

You’ll develop skills in yacht handling, seamanship, pilotage, navigation, and skipper decision-making in a supportive and enjoyable environment.

Wherever possible, you’ll take charge as skipper, helping you build leadership, confidence, and practical command experience.

By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to skipper a small sailing yacht confidently in familiar coastal waters by day.

RYA Day Skipper — key skills

• Preparing a yacht for sea, provisioning, and managing life on board
• Reefing, sail trim, and yacht handling under sail and power
• Mooring, anchoring, marina manoeuvres, and picking up buoys
• Navigation using charts, GPS, visual fixes, and pilotage techniques
• Tides, course to steer, dead reckoning (DR), and estimated position (EP)
• Basic meteorology and collision regulations (COLREGS)
• Engine checks, routine maintenance, and basic fault finding
• Emergency procedures, VHF radio use, and man overboard recovery
• Passage planning, watchkeeping, and day and night pilotage

Sailing location and conditions

Your sailing adventure starts and ends at Hamilton Island Marina and explores the protected waters and island anchorages of the Whitsundays.

The Whitsunday Islands offer warm trade winds, crystal-clear waters, sheltered anchorages, and some of the world’s best cruising conditions.

It’s the ideal environment for learning, building confidence, and enjoying relaxed tropical sailing.

You may also encounter dolphins, whales, turtles, and flying fish during the week.

The yacht and instructors

Training is delivered by experienced RYA-qualified instructors using Flying Fish’s supportive and professional teaching style.

Groups are limited to five students to maximise hands-on experience and individual coaching.

You’ll train aboard one of our Beneteau 40 cruiser-racer yachts and take part in all aspects of yacht operation and daily life on board.

Private course option

Private courses are available for groups of up to five people, with only four places charged.

See the FAQ section for more details

• Five days of professional RYA sailing instruction, pre-course reading and your RYA logbook.
• This is a hands-on training course, not a cruise — everyone takes part in sailing the yacht and shares day-to-day onboard duties including cooking and cleaning.
• Accommodation aboard one of our Beneteau First 40 yachts with enclosed toilet and wash facilities.
• Standard pricing is based on shared single-sex cabins. Private cabin upgrades may be available for an additional fee.
• Food, tea, coffee and drinking water are provided from lunch on Day 1 through to breakfast on the final day. During the course briefing, the crew will agree food preferences and make a supermarket stop together to provision the yacht.
• Life jackets, safety harnesses and loan wet weather gear (if required).

Qualifications and experience

• 150 sea miles logged
• RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate
• On successful completion of the RYA Day Skipper Practical, you will be able to apply for the International Certificate for Operator of Pleasure Craft (ICC) from the RYA for a cost of approximately UK 50 pounds. You will then be able to Skipper/Charter vessels in the Mediterranean and other countries worldwide.

• You have completed the RYA Competent Crew course or have at least one week’s experience on a sailing yacht and are confident as a crew member under supervision. Experience on dinghies or keelboats is helpful.
• You have a basic understanding of pilotage and are familiar with navigation using paper charts.
• If your knowledge of navigation and safety is limited, we recommend completing the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory course. Alternatively, you can take the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course online before you start.
• For a deeper understanding, you may also wish to complete the COLREGS (IRPCS) Rules of the Road online course, which, combined with Essential Navigation, covers much of the Day Skipper theory syllabus.
• The minimum age for RYA Day Skipper certification is 16.

• We recommend anyone operating as a Day Skipper should also hold a First Aid certificate and a Marine Radio Licence
• Your next Flying Fish course should be RYA Coastal Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Shore-based Theory.

• William Jamieson - Sydney, Australia
• RYA Day Skipper Practical 
• 
• "My wife and I had an absolutely amazing experience with Mathew on Let Loose. His kindness, patience and teaching methods helped us build the confidence we needed to tackle our next adventure - bareboat skippering in Gippsland in a few weeks time. We’ve worked with several RYA instructors, but we founds Mathew’s gift for teaching beyond compare.  Thank you so much. We will be back!"
• Rob Scott - Queensland, Australia 
• RYA Day Skipper Practical
• 
• "I cannot speak highly enough of the RYA Day Skipper course Flying Fish offers. The combination of expert instruction, practical hands-on experience, a world-class boat, and a stunning environment made this a truly unforgettable experience. I am confident about taking on the responsibilities of a Day Skipper, and I owe it all to Jim and your fantastic team. Thank you once again for providing such an outstanding course. I look forward to levelling up with the Day Skipper to Yachtmaster Fast Track soon."
• Lyndsay Barnes - UK
• Yachtmaster Offshore 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 ”

• How do I book and what is the payment schedule?
• Book online and pay a 20% holding deposit to secure your place.
• Your deposit reserves your position until 60 days before departure, when the remaining balance becomes due.
• Deposits are non-refundable but transferable to another Flying Fish course or event.
• Receive a 10% discount when booking three or more courses in a single transaction.
• Places are limited so we recommend booking early.
• View our Terms and Conditions.
• How do I travel to Hamilton Island and where should I stay?
• We recommend flying directly into Hamilton Island Airport, a short transfer from Hamilton Island Marina where the course starts and finishes.
• Many students arrive a day or two early or stay afterwards to enjoy the Whitsundays.
• Sunday night boarding before the course and an additional Friday night onboard after the course may be possible by prior arrangement.
• Do I need previous sailing experience?
• Yes — Day Skipper is designed for sailors who already have basic crewing experience.
• We recommend experience equivalent to RYA Competent Crew and approximately five days at sea before joining.
• The course focuses on building the skills and confidence to skipper a yacht on short coastal passages by day.
• How fit do I need to be and what if I get seasick?
• Day Skipper involves moderate physical activity including moving around the yacht, sail handling and steering.
• Most people with reasonable mobility can participate comfortably.
• The Whitsundays are generally sheltered but if you are prone to seasickness we recommend bringing suitable medication.
• What happens if the weather is bad?
• Sailing is an all-weather sport and courses normally run as planned.
• Weather conditions form part of the training and activities are adapted where necessary for safety and learning.
• What type of yacht will I sail on?
• You’ll live aboard one of our Beneteau First 40 cruiser-racer yachts.
• Groups are limited to five students to maximise time helming, skippering and individual coaching.
• What should I bring?
• Quick-dry clothing and a warm layer
• Non-slip shoes
• Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• Personal toiletries and medications
• Life jackets are provided and wet weather gear can be loaned if required
• A willingness to take charge and get involved
• Can I book a private course?
• Yes — private courses are available for groups of up to five people, with only four places charged.
• Private courses are ideal for couples, families and groups of friends wanting a more personalised Whitsundays sailing adventure.
• One of the advantages of a private booking is that we can often combine different RYA levels on the same yacht. For example, two people could complete RYA Day Skipper while two or three others complete RYA Competent Crew, allowing everyone to train at the right level while sharing the same trip.
• Please get in touch and we’ll help design the right programme for your group.