Southern Passages — Launching Soon
Maritime training
for Canterbury.
Competent Crew · Day Skipper · Yachtmaster Offshore — coming 2026/27. Register your interest now.
About Our Courses
Classroom and on-water. Christchurch and Lyttelton.
Practical courses are delivered live-aboard our offshore sailing yacht, departing from Lyttelton. The sailing pathway runs from Competent Crew through to Yachtmaster Offshore.
Every qualification we issue is internationally recognised — valid for charter, professional endorsement, and offshore passages worldwide.
Canterbury's Offshore Sailing
Based in Lyttelton
Offshore sailing yacht
Our training vessel
Internationally Recognised
Qualifications accepted worldwide
Coming 2026/27
Register your interest now
Courses & Certifications
The Sailing Pathway
Courses launching 2026/27. Enquire now to register your interest and be first to hear when dates are confirmed.
The Sailing Pathway
From first sail to offshore skipper
01
Competent Crew
No experience required. Learn to be a useful crew member on any yacht. 5 days aboard our 65ft offshore performance yacht.
Enquire for availability — coming 2026/27
02
Day Skipper
Take the helm. Coastal navigation, passage planning, and skippering in familiar waters.
Enquire for availability — coming 2026/27
03
Yachtmaster Offshore
The highest recreational qualification in the world. Recognised globally. Independent examiner assessment.
Enquire for availability — coming 2026/27
Availability
Courses launching
2026/27.
We are building the course schedule now. Dates will be confirmed and announced to registered interest holders first.
All practical courses depart from Lyttelton and are delivered live-aboard our 65ft offshore performance yacht on the Canterbury coast and beyond. Places will be limited.
Register your interest
Tell us which course interests you and your preferred timeframe. We will contact you as soon as dates are confirmed — no commitment required.
Common Questions
Everything you need to know
- Do I need experience to start?
- No experience is required for Competent Crew — it's designed for complete beginners. You'll leave with the skills and confidence to crew on any offshore sailing yacht.
- Where do courses depart from?
- All courses depart from Lyttelton Harbour, 12km from Christchurch city centre. Easy parking and waterfront access.
- Are the courses live-aboard?
- Yes. All practical sailing courses are conducted live-aboard our 65ft offshore performance yacht, operating from Lyttelton along the Canterbury coast and beyond.
- When do courses start?
- Courses are launching in 2026/27. Register your interest now and we'll notify you as soon as dates are confirmed — no commitment required.
- What does Yachtmaster Offshore qualify me for?
- Yachtmaster Offshore is the highest recreational sailing qualification in the world, recognised globally by maritime authorities, charter companies, and professional skippers. It qualifies you to skipper a yacht on passages of any length, in any conditions.
- What's the difference between Day Skipper and Yachtmaster?
- Day Skipper qualifies you to skipper a yacht in familiar waters in daylight. Yachtmaster Offshore qualifies you for offshore passages of any length, day or night, in any conditions. Most sailors complete Day Skipper first, then build sea miles toward Yachtmaster.
Explore more
Sailing Passages
Log qualifying sea miles on a skippered offshore passage — Marlborough Sounds, Stewart Island, Tonga & Fiji.
Corporate Sailing
Half and full-day offshore sailing days for Canterbury businesses from Lyttelton.
About Southern Passages Expeditions
Meet Peter Eastmure and learn about the history behind Southern Passages Expeditions.
From the blog
Article
How to Choose a Sailing School in NZ
The questions to ask before you book — vessel, conditions, instructor experience, and qualifications.
Article
Offshore Sailing Qualifications Explained
Competent Crew, Day Skipper, Yachtmaster — what each qualification means and which one you need.
Article
Building Offshore Sea Miles in NZ
How to log qualifying miles for Yachtmaster — the best passages and what to expect.
Ready to get started?
All courses depart from Lyttelton. Practical courses are live-aboard our offshore sailing yacht. Get in touch and we'll help you find the right course.