Mainstay Sailing is a very well oiled machine that has delivered outstanding customer service, communication and support through my sailing qualification needs. I attended the Competent Crew and the Day Skipper courses over a three week period. Both instructors were extremely personable with beautiful yachts in great material state. The food over both weeks offshore was nothing short of outstanding. Whilst I have been sailing since 11 years of age, this 54 year old guy learned a lifetime of skills over this period. The fact that the course is backed by RYA and that the company is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) was very important to me. If I could offer some constructive criticism, I must say there were some minor gaps in what was delivered in the first week’s practical in comparison to the following week. This was primarily due to the incompatible weather. Regardless, a practical syllabus for all staff to follow will ensure this is issue is addressed. Overall, the period spent with Mainstay has been great fun, rewarding and challenging for me. Thanks Terrence, Nick and Ron.

5 stars are not enough to rate these guys, Terrence, Nick and Ron are such lovely and caring people!! Learning always in a fun way, 100% recommended!!

We have done the 1 week RYA Day Skipper pracical course, chartering the Mohawk 40ft just for my wife and myself, with Terence as instructor. From the moment we started booking everything Ron was great. And then our week with Terence was fantastic. Despite lots of rain, he always had a smile in his face and went not an extra mile but 10 extra miles! to make us feel comfortable, looking for the best sheltered anchorages, moorings, and best spots for snorkel (he was a diving instructor too so he knows them all!). He is also a great and patient teacher. And a great cook, I can't emphasize that enough! He is sociable, has great conversation, and a plasure to sail with. We would come back, 100%!

Best course ever, I learned so much. The instructor was very patient, had lots of sailing experience, and was a great cook! I recommend Mainstay for any kind of sailing, great value, lots of joy.

Terence was very knowledgeable on all things maritime and has a wealth of experience to share. Taking part in this training has motivated me to do more. I would highly recommend Mainstay Sailing for your sail and maritime training needs.

Captain Terence is a wealth of knowledge. Definitely huge value for money.

Competent Crew/Day Skipper course 20 – 25/10/24. Terrence and Ron went out of their way to make this course a fantastic experience. Everyone was made to feel very welcome and Mohawk was the perfect boat. Terrence customised the itinerary to suit the crew, which meant that we spent a lot of time at isolated locations and did some adventurous sailing – tacking between Hamilton and Dent Islands was a highlight. Terrence is highly experienced and has a way of passing on his knowledge that is both respectful and easy to absorb. He obviously enjoys his work and takes it very seriously. He is also an excellent cook, whipping up a string of delicious meals in trying circumstances. I learnt a lot on this course – everyone got to have a go at pretty well everything and we all learnt from each other’s mistakes. One of the reasons I chose Mainstay is their range of courses. This is one of the few companies that can take you to Yachtmaster level, but even if this is not your goal, the wealth of knowledge and experience on offer will help you to ramp up your sailing skills. The spectacular backdrop of the Whitsundays was an added bonus. Highly recommended!

My husband and I completed the Competent Crew course. We have absolutely nothing but praise for the professionalism and way the entire course was run from the first enquiry until the last. Ron and Terrence were so friendly and helpful. Terrence was our instructor on this trip and his knowledge and willingness to teach us as much as possible in a clear and concise way was just what we needed. A thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience. Thank you so much to you both and thanks to the awesome crew we were lucky enough to spend 5 days with. Oh and did I mention the food was fantastic.

What an amazing experience, absolutely loved it, I cannot speak highly enough of Terrence and Ron. Not only did I gain the sailing knowledge passed on through Terrence, I got to meet an amazing group of people. Looking forward to coming back in the new year to advance my sailing certification, and for more laughs, great food, beautiful sunsets and amazing people.

Five strangers, 40ft yacht, 5 days, strong winds, what can go wrong? It was a fantastic learning experience doing my RYA Dayskipper with them. The Mainstay crew's many years of knowledge shines thru in every aspect of the week. A really professional operation. Oh, and the food, wow, wow, wow. Never eaten so well at sea. Thank you Ron and Terrence.

Fantastic experience! Even though I managed to jam the propellor only 30 seconds after leaving the dock, Terence didn't bat an eye, took control, fixed the problem and never looked back! An amazing Captain, great instructor, awesome chef, and plenty of stories too! We had a great time and learnt so much. Thanks Terence and Ron. We'll be back for our Day Skipper soon!

Martha Furucho

I had an amazing time! Terrance is an excellent instructor! And chef!! One of the best experience ever!