Established in 1995 by Olympic yachtsman Matt Hayes, Sydney By Sail offers premier sailing instruction from the heart of Sydney Harbour. Our school, located in Darling Harbour, features a modern fleet of luxury yachts, including Hunter, Elan, and Dufour models, ranging from 31 to 50 feet.
Why Choose Us?
Sailing Courses
Accreditation
We are accredited by IYT Worldwide, the global leader in yacht training, offering a range of certifications from entry-level to advanced.
Get Started
Explore our courses and meet our fleet on our website. Join us and start your sailing journey with Sydney By Sail today!
Whether you dream of skippering your own yacht in the Whitsundays, racing in the Sydney to Hobart, chartering in the Mediterranean, or you just want to give sailing a go on the world’s most beautiful harbour – your journey begins right here, with Sydney’s most experienced and accredited sailing school.
Founded in 1995 by Olympic yachtsman Matt Hayes, Sydney by Sail has trained thousands of new sailors over the past 30+ years. Our Sailing School is based in Darling Harbour, just minutes from the CBD, with discounted parking and easy public transport.
What makes us different?
✅ Premium Yachts – Sydney’s newest fleet of luxury sailing yachts (31–50ft) including Hunter, Elan & Dufour, allowing you to learn on different shapes and sizes to best prepare for real world adventures.
✅ Experienced Instructors – Ocean-tested professionals, many with Sydney to Hobart & international offshore experience.
✅ Small Class Sizes – High instructor-to-student ratio for more time on the helm
✅ Comprehensive Training Packages – Real-world sailing in the world’s most beautiful harbour. Flexible packages to suit a variety of schedules and skillsets (take our learn to sail quiz below!)
✅ Globally Recognised Certification – See below
We don’t just teach sailing – we prepare you for a lifetime on the sea.
Perfect for beginners, this 2-day course (10am–4pm) gives you hands-on experience in boat handling, sail trimming, and basic navigation. You’ll get a taste of life under sail and learn key foundations to build your confidence. We will let you in on a secret, the goal of this course is not only to teach all the fundamental principles of yachting, but to enable you to fall in LOVE with sailing.
✔ Small groups
✔ Runs frequently
✔ No experience required
The International Crew Package enables you to own your first pair of sea legs. The package takes aspiring yachties from beginner to competent and confident inshore skipper, also providing the necessary certification to bareboat charter yachts in areas like the Whitsundays. It includes several courses packaged up at a discounted rate, allowing you to learn more for less.
All course notes, instruction, time aboard, safety equipment, fuel and tax is included. The only additional cost to consider is the admin cost of ordering the Crew Certificate.
The International Skipper Package will provide you the competence, confidence & certification to sail anywhere in the world. The package takes aspiring yachties from absolute beginner to advanced sailor, while also providing internationally accredited certification. It includes several courses packaged up at a discounted rate, allowing you to learn more for less.
There is no time limit to finish all courses in the package. All course notes, instruction, time aboard, safety equipment, fuel and tax is included. The only additional cost to consider is the admin cost of ordering the Certificates.
Embark on an unforgettable sailing trip through Sydney By Sail’s Mile Builders program. Designed to help you gain valuable sea miles in diverse conditions, our programs offer the perfect opportunity to work toward your desired sailing certifications, like IYT or RYA YachtMaster, or simply enhance your sailing skills.
Sail aboard high-quality vessels like the Elan E6 along the stunning East Coast of Australia, guided by expert skippers. Build confidence, improve your navigation and boat handling, and accumulate real-world experience for your future voyages.
If that’s not your style, join us for Hamilton Island Race Week. Hamilton Island Race Week is one of Australia’s premier yachting events, set in the stunning Whitsunday Islands. Known for its perfect trade wind sailing conditions, it’s a must-attend for sailing enthusiasts. The program kicks off with two days of race training, giving crews the chance to get familiar with the boat, their roles, and build team cohesion before the regatta begins.
If you are not sure where to start – have a go at filling out this questionnaire and we can send through a customised lesson plan.
If you have little to no experience, or you sailed a long time ago – the best place to start is the Introduction to Yachting Course.
See dates and book online here.
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark TwainTo young men and women contemplating a voyage, I would say, “Go!”
Joshua Slocum“Adventure before dementia” Matt Hayes
Sydney By Sail is accredited by the most widely recognised Sail Training provider in the world. IYT Worldwide stands for International Yacht Training and no other organisation offers such a diverse range if nautical training. IYT Worldwide was started in 2002 to standardise yacht training across the globe and offers an entire range of recreational courses from entry level sailing up to International Bareboat Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore. With IYT, your certification opens the door to sailing anywhere – from Sydney to Santorini, the Whitsundays to the West Indies & Thailand to The Caribbean
