First established in 1990 as the Sunshine Coast Sailing Academy we are now called Sunshine Sailing Australia Pty Ltd and recognised as one of Australia's leading sail experience providers.
We are located at The Wharf Mooloolaba,  Parkyn Parade on the edge of the Mooloolah River, meters from the sea and 100 paces from the best beach in Queensland. MAP

Mooloolaba offers a unique shopping experience that is unrivalled by other holiday destinations. There is an exciting new shopping precinct with many upmarket retail stores and dinning, Mooloolaba has something to offer everyone. Mooloolaba's great accommodation, fashionable cafes and shops make it a top vacation and leisure spot for locals, Brisbane, out-of state and overseas visitors.

Mooloolaba is also well known as an excellent venue for state, national and international sailing events, as well as other water sports and social activities.

Our location provides sheltered waters for dinghies in the Mooloola River, yachts in the small bay and open ocean sailing in minutes. The Sandy Straits and Fraser Island are just to the north; Moreton Bay, its inland waterways and Gold Coast are just to the south; it's perfect for overnight courses.

We teach sailing to people from 7 to 77 years old, in dinghies and yachts, inshore and offshore, beginner to yachtmaster. All completed courses include certificate and logbook endorsed by the RYA, recognised nationally and internationally.

Our satisfied customers include local schools, Maroochy council programs and sailing enthusiasts locally, nationally and internationally.

We also offer sailing adventures: skippered local yacht cruises for introductions to sailing, 3-day getaways, 6 and 12-day offshore trips for the more experienced yachtsperson, and ocean sailing adventures to Lord Howe and the Louisiades in the Coral Sea Basin.

At the helm of Sunshine Sailing Australia is John Bankart, winner of the 2003 and 2007 Melbourne-Osaka double handed yacht races. John is one of only two Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yachtmaster Ocean Examiners in Australia as well as a RYA Yachtmaster Offshore examiner.

John is an accomplished yachtsman, highly respected by his peers throughout the world. John has sailed over 130'000 sea miles worldwide, competed in 4 Sydney to Hobart yacht races, the infamous Fastnet, and was skipper of the yacht 'Maiden' racing around the world. John amoungst other things is now preparing on the next sailing adventure, we'll keep you posted!!

As skipper/instructor for The Challenge Business [UK], John skippered 'Nuclear Electric' and trained the crews for the BT Global Challenge, the toughest around the world yacht race for amateurs.

John continues to contest major ocean races, campaigning to enter the worlds Solo Ocean Yacht Races in 2010-2012 and also working on his next Melbourne to Osaka in 2011. See www.oceanman.net

John has put together a team of world class skippers and instructors including Warren Boadle and James Morris, our Senior Instructor and our Corpoarte Events manager, both having sailed extensively within Australia and abroad.

This is a sailing school run by offshore racing professionals, a school with a difference!

James Morris, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor:
James joined us over two years ago and is now our full time instructor here at Sunshine Sailing Australia. Originally from Wales, James started his sailing career dinghy racing at school and living onboard various types of vessels throughout the UK.

Completing his RYA Day Skipper at 18 he then went on to spend time cruising the coastlines of SE Asia. Crewing on different racing yachts, competing in the Kings Cup, Singapore Straits, Phang Nga bay and Raja Muda Regattas.

While living and working in Thailand James acheived PADI Open Water and First Aid Instructor levels before coming to the Sunshine Coast to complete his Yachtmaster training.

Training with Sunshine Sailing Australia over 5 months James acheived the level of RYA Yachtmaster Intructor and has been our cheif instructor here for 18 months, teaching all ages at all levels. This has included people taking there first tentative steps into sailing up to the commercial Yachtmaster level.

Working as part of the team James plans to stay on and further his experience as an instructor before looking to acheive other goals such as skippering ocean racing or luxury classic yachts.

"For me it's about sharing my knowledge and enjoyment of sailing while giving people the best possible training and experience out on the water. What ever the level of the student it is great to see them acheive their goals, plus, what a fantastic place to sail."

Our Hanse 370 and 400 are designed for optimal sailing performance with the comfort of a 3 cabin layout.
Our 400e has a deep draft of 1.98m lead keel, big suspended rudder, high aspect mast & other racing equipment as standard. Overall length is 12.1m, hull length 11.99m, waterline length 10.8m, beam 4.08m, 29.4Kw (40HP) diesel engine. Please access the Virtual Tour below for magnificent views of the yacht you will be sailing on!!