Ahoy there, fellow landlubbers and sea enthusiasts alike! Last week, our family embarked on an unforgettable journey, trading our land legs for sea legs as we took on the RYA Competent Crew course. Picture this: a mother and her two energetic kids, all set to conquer the waves and become bona fide sailors. Spoiler alert: it was a mix of high seas adventure, hearty laughter, and a few, shall we say, “learning opportunities.”

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/standings

One of our students extraordinaire; Jayden Pendleton went bareboating in Greece this year. Jayden did his RYA Dayskipper course last year as welll as his ICC. This allowed him to charter a boat in the Mediterranean. Obviously the Mainstay Sailing t-shirt made the journey as well ! This too could be you - contact us for more info.

Known to be one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet, the Clipper Race welcomes people from diverse walks of life from all around the world to become ocean racing sailors. Battling through the most extreme conditions, and facing whatever Mother Nature throws their way, it is a true test of determination to the finish line. Crew can either take on the challenge of the full 40,000nm circumnavigation or choose one or multiple legs of the epic adventure. Airlie Beach will feature on the fourth stage of the event's circumnavigation which starts from Portsmouth, UK on 3 September 2023. After visiting Puerto Sherry, Spain, Punta Del Este, Uruguay and Cape Town, South Africa, the fleet will head to Australia. Making their first stop in Fremantle, teams will then travel to Newcastle, New South Wales before heading upwards to make their final Australian stop in Airlie Beach. Here they will enjoy the crystal-clear waters and breathtaking scenery of The Whitsunday Islands and enjoy the rest and recuperation before the next Leg begins. Joscelyn O'Keefe, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Host Port, Coral Sea Marina Resort said "Following the positive economic impact of its previous visits, we are delighted to once again be Host Port for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Having the opportunity to further promote our region as a leading sailing destination in the Southern Hemisphere is one which we couldn't pass up. "This will be the fourth time the Clipper Race fleet has been welcomed to Coral Sea Marina Resort and the team here are very much looking forward to the buzz the race fleet creates at the marina and throughout Airlie Beach during their stay. "We will be working closely with the Clipper Race team to find ways to engage the community with the race and make this another memorable stopover for the race crews and their supporters."

Radio 101 - next Tuesday!

Last weeks 7 day Coastal Skipper course to Percy Island. It took 4 days to get there and 2 days to get back. In my view Percy Island is a hidden paradise and certainly a bucket list item. N

Only a week ago we took these gentlemen out for a week's sailing on their brand new Bali 4.4 in the Whitsundays. Yes, we conduct private tuition. Contact Ron on 0402 429 152 for more information.

Hi Guys, We have had a cancellation. Anyone interested in the Percy Islands trip next Friday (14 July), a bucket list destination? This RYA accredited, 7 Day practical sailing course starts and finishes at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. Percy Island is part of the Northumberland group, 70 nautical miles south-east of Mackay, the Percy Isles are a stunningly beautiful place of shimmering beaches and wooded hilltops - a Robinson Crusoe island rising from the indigo depths of the Coral Sea. Although only a day or two's sail from the southern Whitsunday islands, the islands are rarely visited except by cruising yachts and has never been exposed to tourism. https://www.mainstaysailing.com.au/hero/coral-sea-marina-to-percy-island Let me know if you are keen? Ron 0402 429 152

Skipper Extraordinaire Terence on his was around the sun again ! Dylan & Shay threw a surprise party at Northerlies last night.

This week we are joining up with Kristina Travels. Kristina has a YouTube channel with more than 20 million views!

Last week's successful Competent Crew / Coastal skipper course from Coral Sea Marina to Percy Island and back to Airlie Beach. looks like the students had a great time as well as learning the ropes. This was the last Percy Island course for 2022. I have setup new RYA Coastal Skipper courses for 2023. Check our website for more information.

Come sail with us to Percy Island and back to Coral Sea Marina.

Imagine this!

The maiden voyage to the Percy Isles. The first of the hopefully many RYA Coastal Skipper Courses. Beautiful weather. Thanks Sonia, John, Dennis and Bob - Enjoy yourselves! 😁 If you like to join us on the next course let me know.

A few fun days sailing to Thomas Island and Goldsmith Island 😁

Trip to Goldsmith + Thomas Islands, Whitsundays

The Coral Sea Academy is an initiative that provides a series of innovative events designed to educate guests, locals and visitors to the Whitsundays about the environment, the Great Barrier Reef, better boating and sustainability.

Coral Sea Marina to Great Keppel Island RYA Coastal Skipper Course This RYA accredited, 13 Day practical and theory sailing course starts at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach and finishes on Great Keppel Island.

If you have never sailed a yacht before but want to have a go, then Start Yachting is the course for you. This course teaches you the basics of sailing a cruising yacht whilst you enjoy two days and one night onboard with all meals and snacks provided.

The First Mainstay Sailing All Girls Course! 😎

Look what Chantal Henderson sent us from her last RYA Course with Mainstay Sailing ;-) Thank you for the fantastic shots of a cheeky Batfish at Armit Island Chantal!

Bring your best girlfriend and come sailing!

2 Day RYA Start Yachting Course commencing 20/21 November. Book now!

Check this out!

The last one of the series is tonight!

Come along

Last Tuesday, Mainstay Sailing gave a talk/presentation about Boating Basics. A collaboration between Coral Sea Marina Mainstay Training and Mainstay Sailing. What could possibly go wrong ....

Some shots of Airlie Beach Race Week yesterday.

A great weekend sailing to the Great Barrier Reef and Blue Pearl Bay - Hayman island

Want to know about the Great Barrier Reef? Come along

The better boating series continues!

AFTERNOONS on the boardwalk ~ Enjoy this view with our delicious menu Wed - Fri 3pm-9pm & Sat - Sun 12pm-9pm.

Learn to Sail now! Due to Covid restrictions in New South Wales we have availabilities for our Comp Crew and Dayskipper courses starting 15 July -19 July

This is how we meet prior to leaving shore.

After Bob's sudden demise, we have taken on "Oscar" on to help our students with Man Overboard training.

BOB moves on after traumatic years aboard Mohawk. When we asked him to stay on his reply was "I'm a frayed knot"

We finally did it - we moved into a new office at Coral Sea Marina!

At the end of each course the students get together to celebrate an end to a fantastic week in the Whitsundays. Exhausted but very happy.

This message was received today on board Mohawk after a student posted a picture of us peacefully anchored at Gloucester Island.

James and Bec from Sydney managed to get up to Airlie just before borders closed. They spent a week of interesting sailing around the region.

With COVID-19 restrictions around the world as well as the need to move with the times, the official Sea Safety and Survival Course (SSSC) has changed its format to be a blended learning course.

Ricardo, who over the last few years has gone from zero to Dayskipper with us, arrived out of the blue in his van "Bella" He was on his way home from an over-land trip to Cape Tribulation when he decided to pop in.

Tony Stockton from Northern NSW successfully completed his Dayskipper course in the Gold Coast, and went on to breezing through his Coastal skipper course on arrival in Airlie Beach.

Leaving from Rivergate Marina in Brisbane, Mainstay's incredible crew; Tony, Jodi and Dylan, embarked on an epic adventure that would bring many smiles

2 new course dates have been set for the Australian Sailing Sea Safety and Survival course in Queensland.

The course offers a great introduction to navigation and safety awareness for new or inexperienced skippers and crew.

Mainstay Sailing has adopted the newly allowed remote assessment method for VHF marine radio, and HF marine radio licences.

Following a risk assesment on board,we are doing our bit to reduce risk of infection to our students, staff and guests.