Manly Tours
Learn to Sail on Sydney Harbour: Australian Sailing Start Crewing
5

Learn to Sail on Sydney Harbour: Australian Sailing Start Crewing

By Manly Sailing
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
This is the exciting first step on the Australian Sailing Keelboat training pathway. You will begin to familiarise yourself with the vessel and the responsibilities associated with being a crew member. Your experienced Instructor will introduce you to the basics of sailing on a small boat, including boat handling, safety and sailing theory. You will cover basic sailing terminology and rules, basic knots, tacking and gybing and man overboard recovery. All of our instructors are qualified by Australian Sailing with years of experience. This is a 12 hour course consisting of 2 x 6 hour lessons. We will provide life jackets, don't forget to bring sun safe clothing, sun cream, wear non marking shoes and take a bottle of water. For this course no experience is necessary, so come along and enjoy sailing here in Manly, one of the best locations to sail in the world!
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation

Ages 12-99, max of 4 per group
Duration: 2 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket


  • Professional Instructors and equipment necessary
  • We supply the Lifejackets and Sunscreen
What's not included
  • We recommend you bring some lunch and water for the course
  • Hotel pick up and drop-off
  • Transport to and from attraction


Start:
  • Manly Yacht Club, E Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095, Australia
    We start our lessons on the ground floor of Manly Yacht club, we are in central Manly and very easy to get to. If you are arriving in Manly via ferry then all you need to do is head out of the ferry entrance and turn right, walk along the beach front until you reach the yacht club.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 43122P3

    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Wheelchair and stroller access is possible to yacht club but not the boat itself
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 43122P3

    From
    ₹33,512.01
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Manly Sailing
      121
      Australia
      Joined in December 2012
    • l0ve2travel93
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Try Surfing experience
      Really enjoyed our Try Sailing experience. Jack was a great instructor, weather was beautiful, ocean was calm, although a little bit more wind would have been nice!
      Written 2 February 2025
    • Neil D
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic Private Sailing on the Southwinds
      We chartered the Southwinds for our family of four adults for a two hour sail in Sydney Harbor. This ended up being an absolute highlight of our trip to Australia! Thank you, Finn! The private charter was arranged through the Capella Hotel in Sydney, who did a wonderful job of arranging the trip and coordinating the details. While they offered several variations for the sailing, we opted for the two hour trip that included champagne and charcuterie. Finn, the skipper, had a helper (Bella), who saw to our every need during the trip—-music, snacks, taking a turn at the helm; they were wonderful and extremely friendly. The boat itself was very nice—-so well maintained and luxurious. The views from the water were extraordinary. And we were very happy with the time we had; we departed from the Darling Harbor side of the Sydney bridge, broke out the sails halfway up the harbor, then sailed nearly to Shark Beach and turned around for the trip back. Can’t say enough about this very positive and fun experience!
      Written 15 January 2025
    • travelingfreak
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Really enjoyed being on the water and especially going to a beach that only could be accessed by the water.
      What a beautiful experience and the guides were great. Definitely have to be ready to work, especially if there’s any wind!!
      Written 5 January 2025
    • ryanbR2471UQ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great afternoon sailing around Sydney
      This was a relaxing trip from Manly Beach to a little before the Sydney Opera House and back. Folks we are interested can take their hand at some of the sailing, while others are welcome to relax and just enjoy the ride. The staff are friendly and the views were great.
      Written 22 December 2024
    • ishtiaqrabiul
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice Day Out
      Had amazing views at some beaches that are not accessible by road. Enjoyable experience facilitated by the friendly guide.
      Written 20 December 2024
    • 319beatel
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic Team Experience! Thank you!!!
      Our team had an amazing time on the harbour! The team from Manly Sailing was very flexible to accomodate all our needs and asks and very patient to sort out all our requests! Thank you very much for this! We would love to be back and will certainly recommend this as a fantastic team experience! Thanks also to the crew on the boat, Rob, Toby and Maria!
      Written 14 November 2024
    • foodacholic1
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Must book this
      I booked the 3 hour luxury yacht experience as a gift for my Dads 70th birthday. Manly sailing was very accomodating and made arrangements for myself and father to attend today. It was an excellent experience and highly recommend if you are visiting Sydney to book with Manly Sailing either as a solo or group adventure . The Yacht was presented in immaculate condition and very well looked after. Southwinds was beautiful to look at and very fun to sail. Finn included everyone in sailing the Yacht and we got hands on experience. He did a great job at coaching everyone and made it fun. Other crew members onboard also friendly and welcoming. Overall It was a fun, enjoyable and relaxing experience sailing out in the ocean, we even spotted a whale. We were lucky to have great weather, perfect seas and wind as we sailed through the heads and out to sea. Thank you for a memorable day!
      Written 14 September 2024
    • Family_fr0m_Europe
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sydney Harbour Cruise in Style
      We had a lovely 4 hour winter cruise around Sydney harbour on classic sailing yacht Southwinds with 3 families, incl some teenagers. It was the perfect way to get up close with some of the famous landmarks, and explore the various bays around the harbour at a leisurely pace. We were picked up from the wharf in front of our accommodation which was an ideal start. A tender shuttled us to Southwinds. The skipper and his crew made us feel very welcome. We had chosen to 'self-cater' and our wines and nibbles were served in style, making for lovely sundowner drinks. It was a calm day with hardly any wind, but that did not bother us. It made for a very comfortable cruise with great photo opportunities and we even had some playful dolphins on the bow. Very memorable experience for our family. We hope to be back in board in the future.
      Written 7 August 2024
    • michaelnW6742TJ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommend
      Really enjoyed exploring the beaches and being on the water. It’s a part of the harbor/Sydney area that most people don’t see and is a little less crowded, so it was a great break to be out in nature. I came solo but had a great time talking with the instructor and other guests.
      Written 4 June 2024
    • 963faithp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great experience!
      What a wonderful way to spend time in Sydney!!! Our guide, Onur, was both knowledgeable and passionate about sailing and made us all feel comfortable even though we had little to no experience sailing. He gave each of us a chance to participate in steering and jibing and we learned so much! A wonderful introduction to sailing and a great way to see many of the beaches and bays. One of the best experiences we had in Sydney. Highly recommended!
      Written 15 January 2024
    • jessicadX7630WK
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kayaking
      We really enjoyed the three beaches that we explored and loved learning the history of each. It was nice that the beaches were secluded, they were full of shells! Great tour guide!
      Written 9 January 2024
    • letanias2019
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great hands-on sailing experience
      We had an amazing time on the harbour. Olivia was a great skipper and guide. We got to do as much or as little as we wanted to. This was a birthday gift for my girlfriend who's been sailing for most of her life so she wanted to be very hands on. She loved it!! The views were spectacular, we saw a race near us, jellyfish and so much more.
      Written 6 January 2024
    • N6510BIjessicar
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic interactive experience!
      We spent a lovely two hours on the water with Dani. Learned a little and had lots of fun. Good boat with lots of explanations.
      Written 1 January 2024
    • L8074RKjohnh
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Just do it
      A very good operation and overall good value. Whether a novice or seasoned sailor this is what you should do if you’re in the Manly area. No better way than to get straight out on the harbour and best to launch from Manly. You can fully participate or watch and good for a family or friends Special thanks to Olivia who is a very talented young lady and excellent sailor
      Written 5 November 2023
    • F4319UGclaudiam
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience
      Beautiful day spent on a sailing boat. Our instructor Steve was amazing. He explained to us with passion and patience how to sail and gave us so much extra information about the bay and historical details. Highly recommended tour.
      Written 4 November 2023
    See all 121 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles9 reviews
    Excellent
    9
    Very good
    0
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    Bella
    Stroud, UK1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2024 • Solo
    The weekend course was set out very accessibly and easily to follow. Our instructor Izzy kept it fun and engaging whilst still fitting a lot of information into a small space of time. We had an amazing time out on the water and I would strongly recommend to anyone who is keen to get an idea of how to start sailing
    Written 27 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Brix W
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Family
    Brilliant. I took my son for his first sailing experience and we both had a great time. They contacted me to arrange an earlier time slot as the wind was going to build later in the day. Our instructor was Issy, knowledgeable friendly and patient. First class experience all round. Would definitely do this again.
    Written 10 April 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for your review, we're happy to hear you had a nice time and we'll pass your kind words onto Issy.
    Written 12 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jono
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    We spent our weekend learning to sail with Craig. As complete beginners, we were talked through all of the basics in theory before heading out on the Aqualuna. When we were on the water, everyone in our group was given experience working on all parts of the boat and we were working as a team before long. Craig always made sure we were safe and in control while teaching us exactly what we needed to do to crew a yacht. From simply learning the various names given to the parts of the boat to completing a successful man overboard drill to save a wayward baseball cap, we learnt a lot and had a great two days on the water.
    Written 26 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Kate Leaver
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Friends
    We had a wonderful time at Manly Sailing. The instructor (Craig) was thorough and patient and lovely. The boat (Aqualuna) was great. I was quite nervous about learning to sail but I felt comfortable and confident by the end of the weekend. It’s just a terrific thing to do - and in one of the most beautiful places in Sydney.
    Written 26 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Alex G
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2019
    Took the weekend crewing course with an instructor called Finn. Very knowledgeable sailor and encouraged any questions. Made the experience really cool and ensured that we were all comfortable with new learnings before proceeding to the next step. I will be completing another course here and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to learn to sail or upskill.
    Written 20 October 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Amanda H
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Family
    A wonderful time on the water learning to sail with Finn. Great guy who made me feel safe the entire time while having a fantastic time sailing
    Written 7 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lennon
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020 • Friends
    Awesome experience learning to sail with Manly sailing. 2 very experienced and likeable instructors and a lot of hands on experience out on the boat. Highly recommend.
    Written 23 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    John P
    Fairlight, Australia1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2019 • Solo
    I just completed the Start Crewing and Start Helming courses with Manly Sailing, and it was a really fantastic experience. Everyone I met at Manly Sailing was extremely friendly and helpful, and my instructor Finn was about the nicest guy you could hope to meet, as well as being a great teacher. The setting is amazing; we even had a pod of dolphins frolicking in the water around us during one of the lessons. It's also a great way to get involved in the local sailing community. Highly recommended!
    Written 20 May 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the review, we are still getting those dolphins when we go out.
    Written 11 June 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Christian G.
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2019 • Family
    We just finished our first sailing course with Finn from Manly Sailing.
    Our family had a fantastic experience during the 2 days.
    Finn is a great instructor, very knowledgeable, passionate and happy to answer all questions.
    We are planning to be back soon for the next course!
    Written 22 April 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Learn to Sail on Sydney Harbour: Australian Sailing Start Crewing provided by Manly Sailing

    All Manly HotelsManly Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Manly
    All things to do in Manly
    Day Trips in Manly
    RestaurantsFlightsHoliday homesTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire