About us / Contact us

Oceanwest Charters is a locally owned, family run business providing high quality sail training and sailing charters on the west coast. Oceanwest is owned by Gary and Joeanne Shea.

We have a great deal of investment in our reputation as a quality sailing provider. You will find professional, friendly service onboard, and personal attention to detail.

Please contact us on 0412 060 130 or email sailing@oceanwest.net.au and read our reviews on Trip Advisor

Joeanne Shea – Operations Manager

Joeanne is the Oceanwest Operations Manager (and recently qualified RYA Dayskipper) who takes care of all the administration. Being a self confessed foodie, she loves to look after all of the catering arrangements. Her aim is to provide you with the best possible sailing experience.

Joeanne’s standards are:

Modern reliable yachts surveyed to AMSA and Western Australian Government standards.
Professional Yachtmaster qualified Skippers / Instructors who respect our customers.
Providing value for money, live aboard learn to sail courses, sailing holidays and day charters.
Providing quality certified safety equipment.
Having an absolute commitment to customer service.
Good communication with customers.

Gary Shea – Principal

Gary is the Principal of the Sailing School and a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor / Examiner. In addition to this, he also holds an Australian Master 24m commercial qualification.

This combination of qualifications means that he has met the exacting requirements of the RYA / Australian Sailing as well as the West Australian Government and AMSA.

Gary has sailed the West Coast of Australia, Queensland, the Mediterranean, and the UK. He has well over 50,000 cruising miles on yachts and knows the West Australian coast intimately.

Having spent over 22 years as an engineer in the Royal Navy, Gary appreciates safety as the most important consideration and is excellent at training for heavy weather conditions.

Nick Macpherson – Chief Instructor

Nick is Oceanwest’s Chief Instructor. He is a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor who also holds an Australian Master 24m commercial qualification and MED 2 engineering qualification. He has an extensive sailing background from working as a sailing instructor, to blue water yacht deliveries to even completing a leg of the Clipper Race from South Africa to Fremantle!

From his time spent working in the offshore oil and gas industry, Nick has become an experienced Master of both mono and twin hull vessels, with both single and twin engines and jet powered vessels. He is also a prolific tea drinker!

Nick will always work hard to ensure that you get the most out of your training and that you enjoy your time out on the water with him.

					  Thorough,highly professional and fun. Gary takes the time to ensure you not only understand the principles of sailing but can apply them too.				
Bram75
March 9, 2020 

					  Gary is a highly competent, professional, friendly and calm instructor. He managed to get me up to speed and ready for my Yacht master exam in just five days and... read more I had a blast doing it.

Samsara (the boat...a 41ft Beneteau) is a delight to sail and it is a genuine privilege to spend time aboard. 

Gary's wife Joanne is a gorgeous lady who does an absolutely wonderful job of victualling. Food aboard is way above the standard of most tour boats...and far exceeded my expectations for a sailing school.

Despite a couple of strange personalities on my course, the vibe remained positive and Gary was unwavering in his professionalism and focus on the task at hand in a fun and friendly manner.

As a self taught sailor I was personally lacking a lot of the finer points of sailing and related skills but with the guidance and demonstration offered during the Oceanwest Yacht master exam prep week I ended up with not only a qualification...but a lot of new skills and a few new friends.

I would highly recommend Oceanwest for anyone wanting to begin, improve or learn anything about sailing. 

Genuine heartfelt thanks to the whole team.				
Marineboheme
May 30, 2019 

					  Hi, my name is Gianluca Cavaiola, I'm an Italian kiteboarder and surfer and the last October I had my first sailing experience with Gary, the instructor and owner of Oceanwest... read more Charter. I started from the "Competent Crew" sailing course and after that, I literally couldn't stop. The course was amazing, on a beautiful boat (Oceanis 41.1) at Geographe Bay near Busselton. During this course, I've learned so much, and for this reason, I decided to run through the theory courses (day skipper and Coastal skipper theory courses). I passed the theory exams and I went back on board of Gary's boat for two more weeks. During these two weeks, I become Day skipper and Coastal skipper and I had two perfect instructors: Gary and Nick. Their teaching techniques are brilliant, they always had the answer to all my questions and doubts. During the Coastal Skipper course, I had a chat with Gary and together we decided that my skills were high enough to give a try to the Yacht-Master exam. So, I booked one more practical course in may and Gary prepared myself for the exam in the best way possible. On the first day of the preparation course I was completely scared about the exam, but day after day, thanks to Gary I felt better and when the exam on Saturday came I was 100% ready and relaxed for it. After a long examination day, I passed my exam. My season with Oceanwest has been amazing and I couldn't imagine achieving this goal just in few months. I strongly recommend Oceanwest, a perfect sailing school for everyone and for every sailing level. The instructor skills and experience are so high that for me was always a good moment to learn something.  I'm proud that I've been one of your first students and also your last one for this season. Thank you, I do hope to see you soon for more.				
GIANLUCA C
May 29, 2019