Our Yeppoon to Mackay sail may look a little like this.
Our sail from Yeppoon to Mackay is approximately 250nm.
This passage will provide a taste of the cruising life. There will be passages which may commence at the crack of dawn or arrive after dark. Some passages will need to be timed so as to take into consideration distances, pilotage for entering an anchorage, weather and tides/currents.
There may be long days aboard but these will be rewarded with time ashore at our destination.
Your safety is of paramount importance and our sailing route, anchorages and destinations along the way will be decided with your safety as a priority. The winds and weather will be our guide.
The mile builder is an opportunity for those wishing to gain sea miles, experience sailing at night, consolidate skills or just experience the cruising lifestyle.
There is the option to complete sail training whilst aboard (RYA Certificate) including RYA Competent Crew, Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper.
There will be all levels of experience aboard with participants completing different courses based on his/her level of experience. The instructor will tailor the learning to meet each participants learning goals whilst also ensuring each participant develops the confidence and skills/knowledge to continue safe and harmonious sailing into the future.
Please note, for safety and comfort of our sail, routes and anchorages will be altered to suit our variables – weather and tide.
Leg One
Depart Keppel Bay Marina bound for Great Keppel Island
- Day sail and overnight anchorage with opportunity to walk along the beach and swim
- Anchor overnight
- Distance: 10nm
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Sail training:
Knots, lassoing, manoeuvring in tight spaces, berthing, helming, sail plan and points of sail; anchoring and safe tender usage; safety.
Leg Two
Great Keppel Island to North Keppel Island.
- Day sail and overnight anchorage
- Anchor overnight
- Distance:10nm
- Sail training includes navigation, passage planning, meteorology, tides/tidal streams, Man Overboard, safe downwind sailing (setting a preventer and a spinnaker pole with goosewinging)
Leg Three
North Keppel Island to Pearl Bay
- Day sail and anchor overnight
- Distance: 45nm
- Sail training: includes heaving to, knots, helming, passage planning, Day/Coastal Skippers ‘skippering’ for the day; individual ‘presentations’ on a relevant topic.
Leg Four
Pearl Bay to Middle Percy Island
- Anchor overnight and spend a day exploring the iconic Percy Island Yacht Club and A frame. There is opportunity to walk up to the Homestead.
- Distance: 55nm
- Sail training will include sailing on/off a mooring; Man Overboard practice; a night sail and pilotage; preventative engine checks and trouble shooting.
Leg Five
Middle Percy Island to Scawfell Island (the beginning of the Whitsunday chain of islands)
- Anchor overnight
- Distance: 60nm
- Sail training will include each participant skippering for the day with passage planning incorporated; anchoring/weighing anchor; sail choice and trim.
Leg Six
Scawfell Island to Brampton Island
- Distance: 15nm
- Anchor overnight and swim/explore the island. There is a walk to the peak.
- Sail training will focus on consolidating all the skills learnt throughout the sail and complete each participants presentation.
Leg Seven
Brampton Island to Mackay Village Marina
- Anchor overnight
- Distance: 20nm
- A leisurely sail to our destination with the goal to arrive no later than 1700.













