Internationally Recognised
International Yacht Training is the most internationally recognised boating standards system in the world. It offers the widest range of courses, ISO quality management and is truly international.
Learn to Sail with Melbourne’s
most popular sailing school
BLUE WATER SAILING SCHOOL
- FUN INTRODUCTORY SAILING EXPERIENCES
- practical SAILING LESSONS
- Quality ONLINE Video COURSES
- Adventure Sailing & Racing
- Cruises and skippered charters
Check out our offerings and find your next sailing adventure
Gift Vouchers Available
Discover the joy of sailing in these four-hour, low cost introductions to life on the water.
Experience Sailing
Step on board and discover a new sport and exciting lifestyle. Develop new skills and try your hand on the wheel!
Duration:
4 hours
Cost:
$220
Night Sail
An amazing 3.5 hour stand-alone experience or part of the International Crew Certificate. Sailing at night is a surreal experience as you rely on different senses, steering by feel and enjoying the eerie quiet.
Duration:
3.5 hrs
Cost:
$220
Weekend Crew Courses
Become a competent crew or bareboat skipper during this comprehensive course taken over a 4-day 'weekend'. An immersive and fun experience of life on a yacht.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
From $1590
Two-day (9am-5pm) introductory courses are the perfect start to sailing. Take all three and receive the International Crew qualification. Package price $1200.
Learn to Sail
Learn to sail in just two days on a 40' yacht with no pressure. Discover sailing, and explore a whole new lifestyle!
Duration:
2 days (9-5)
Cost:
$620
Competent Crew
Take the next step as you learn to helm, reinforce prior learning and grow in confidence. Held concurrently with Learn to Sail.
Duration:
2 days (9-5)
Cost:
$660
Night Sail
An amazing 3.5 hour stand-alone experience or part of the International Crew Certificate. Sailing at night is a surreal experience as you rely on different senses, steering by feel and enjoying the eerie quiet.
Duration:
3.5 hrs
Cost:
$220
Sailing Courses
Become a competent crew or bareboat skipper during this comprehensive course taken over a 4-day 'weekend'. An immersive and fun experience of life on a yacht.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
From $1590
Weekend Crew Courses
Become a competent crew or bareboat skipper during this comprehensive course taken over a 4-day 'weekend'. An immersive and fun experience of life on a yacht.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
From $1590
Gain internationally recognised qualifications charter overseas and train in an immersive liveaboard context.
Sailing Courses
Become a competent crew or bareboat skipper during this comprehensive course taken over a 4-day 'weekend'. An immersive and fun experience of life on a yacht.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
From $1590
Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper
Go to the next level and achive the IYT Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate. A comprehensive live aboard course consisting of six days, which includes the practical on water examination.
Duration:
6 days
Cost:
$2,490
Weekend Crew Courses
Become a competent crew or bareboat skipper during this comprehensive course taken over a 4-day 'weekend'. An immersive and fun experience of life on a yacht.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
From $1590
International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
Become officially certified to charter in the Med and many other parts of the world. Fast track available for experienced skippers.
Duration:
Various
Cost:
Various
International Crew
Take the next step to becoming a competent crew with this comprehensive course taken over a 4-day 'weekend'. A great introduction that assumes nothing.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
$1,590
International Bareboat Skipper
Build your skills and take command of a yacht and crew inshore in daylight hours. Qualify for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
$1,690
Challenge yourself on a remarkable adventure around Tasmania, to the Whitsundays or in the Mediterranean.
Queensland Coastal Cruise
Be part of the crew for an unforgettable adventure. Plenty of fishing, snorkelling and swimming as we island hop down the Queensland coast. Take a turn on the helm, navigate through some challenging waters and build your sea miles.
Duration:
10 days
Cost:
$3,900 (Twin Share)
Sydney to Mooloolaba
Complete a crew or skipper course (including ICC) sailing between Sydney and Mooloolaba. Enjoy some sensational sailing, build your experience and confidence on this challenging east coast passage.
Duration:
7 days
Cost:
$2,900 (Twin Share)
Greece 2025
Enjoy smooth sailing in warm torquoise waters, stunning bays, ancient cities, fascinating
ruins and unique family-run restaurants. Join our luxury hosted 57 footer or skipper your
own charter yacht in the security of our flotilla.
Duration:
13 days
Cost:
$4,400
Join our crew for some of the world’s most exciting yacht racing regattas!
Geelong Festival of Sails
Crew on a Beneteau First 40 in the largest regatta in the southern hemisphere over the Australia Day Long Weekend. Each evening features fantastic entertainment. Sleep on board.
Duration:
3 days
Cost:
$1000
Petersville Regatta – Blairgowrie
Held at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron December 27-30 this series is a great entry point into regatta sailing, with its relaxed and social atmosphere.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
$1,100
Hamilton Island Race Week
Crew on a competitive yacht in this iconic race which offers incredible sailing in beautiful trade-winds and great food and entertainment on-shore.
Duration:
9 days
Cost:
$3,250
Twilight Racing
Join the Boomer Racing Team for a fun, social evening and discover the joy of social racing. Relaxing on the water is the best way to beat the mid-week blues, leave work behind and really unwind.
Duration:
4 hrs
Cost:
$90 per race/$300 for 5 races
Petersville Regatta – Blairgowrie
Held at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron December 27-30 this series is a great entry point into regatta sailing, with its relaxed and social atmosphere.
Duration:
4 days
Cost:
$1,100
Bespoke, flexible training and cruises. Corporate events, team-building and leadership development.
Private Sailing Lessons
Identify the skills you want to develop and enjoy a program customised for your needs. Private lessons are available for one to six people and can have a social or serious, depending on your preference.
Duration:
1 and 2 day
Cost:
$1190-$1390 per day
Cruises and Skippered Charters
Enjoy a private cruise in Melbourne on our luxury yacht. Lunch cruises, sunset and cruises and multi-day private charters.
Duration:
4 hours to 3 days
Cost:
$660 (4 hrs) to $2,640 (3 days)
International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
Become officially certified to charter in the Med and many other parts of the world. Fast track available for experienced skippers.
Duration:
Various
Cost:
Various
Online courses for VHF (Short Range) and MF/HF Long Range marine radio make getting your licence flexible, quick and easy. Online AMC exams. AMC accredited.
MF/HF Marine Radio Online Course
Study for your Long Range Certificate of Proficiency online with our professional course for just $99. We also offer online exams which you can take at home (exam fees apply).
Duration:
5 hours
Cost:
$99
VHF Marine Radio Online Course
Take our popular VHF radio course online for just $99. Flexible, engaging and easy. Sit your AMC exam and get your license from home (exam fees apply).
Duration:
4 hours
Cost:
$99
Marine Radio Exam
Sit your AMC marine radio licence exam and get your licence from home for just $88. First Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm.
Duration:
30-60 mins
Cost:
$88
Sailing offers some of the most amazing experiences in the world. Learn to sail and a whole new world opens up!
Sail the Mediterranean or Whitsunday Islands. Race in iconic regattas, cruise the coast or even circumnavigate the world. When you sail, a whole new world of freedom and adventure are yours.
Accessing the world of sailing can feel intimidating and overwhelming. There is a great deal to learn before you can handle a boat and crew safely with skill and confidence. Our students constantly rate us for our welcome, teaching style, calmness and hospitality.
At Blue Water Sailing School you not only learn to sail, but enjoy our resources, community and support to join the world of sailing.
Contact Tim
to discuss your training needs:
Gift Vouchers
Give the gift of sailing!
Ideal for Experience Sailing afternoons or credit towards any of our sail training or adventures. Purchase, pay and download from our online shop here.
Go From Zero to Hero
Many of our trainees begin with no sailing experience, but they have a dream – to sail the Whitsundays, explore the Mediterranean or even sail the world. For some, it becomes an obsession.
We love taking people from zero to hero, as quickly and easily as possible. And, our pathway give you a taste of the sailing life along the way.
Going from Zero to Hero is not without its challenges. There’s lots to learn, it can be physically challenging and the responsibility can be overwhelming. But, we are here to guide you each step of the way and offer expertise, resources and support to make your dreams a reality.
At the end, you will be confident, skilled and experienced – ready to own a own boat or charter on your own.
Your Principal Instructor
Blue Water Sailing School Principal is Tim Foster. Now based in Melbourne, Tim has been sailing for over 40 years. He is a commercially certified skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, with a Yachtmaster (Offshore), Sea Safety and Survival, Safety Boat Handling, YA Dinghy Instructor, Cert IV in Training and Assessment and many other qualifications. Former Commodore of the Dobroyd Aquatic Club where he won several club championships, divisional winner of the Geelong Festival of Sails and currently sailing at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and Sandringham Yacht Club.
Professional Sailing Instructors
RYA and IYT qualified sailing instructors, with 40+ years of sailing experience each, numerous other sailing qualifications and racing success.
Online Learning Specialist
Tim has over ten years' experience is online learning development and instructional design in the Australian tertiary sector.
International Certification
IYT Worldwide is the trusted standard of excellence in yacht training, maritime certification and safety around the world. IYT operates more boating courses with more government approvals through more schools, in more countries than any other boating organisation in the world.
Meet 'Boomer'
‘Boomer’ is a Beneteau 40.7, an ideal and very popular training vessel. Certified by AMSA for training and cruising, she is a comfortable, safe and exciting platform for sail training. We love the roomy cockpit, wide gunwales and high boom. With all new sails, rig, engine and various upgrades she is well-maintained and feels like new. And she’s fast! She offers three double berths and two additional berths in the saloon. Now featuring a Nespresso coffee machine! If you want to learn to sail in Melbourne in style then hop on board! Note that we do not have a sprayhood or bimini as they obstruct the view of the sails and inhibit communication (and learning).
