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.

					  Can't rave enough about Oceanwest's customer service. I ordered the Coastal Skipper online materials from them and not only found the price better than other places I explored but found... read more their responsiveness and customer service above and beyond. I live in China, and when materials got held up in customs, Oceanwest's team continued to pursue making sure I received the materials, despite the headaches of different time zones, languages, and systems. I look forward to sailing with them in Australia in the future.				
RobertShields32
November 16, 2019 

					  Just returned from a two week adventure sailing trip from Exmouth to Bunbury, it was a fantastic 14 days of learning and adventure. We were welcomed to the yacht early... read more and helped to settle in. Made to feel very welcome. Great introductions and given time to discuss what we wanted to gain from our time on-board. 

Fantastic yacht, Samsara is a delight to sail and it is a genuine privilege to spend time aboard. The food was varied and plentiful, with careful attention to victualling so that there was always easily accessible and wholesome food available. 

Very professional, great instruction focused to individual requirements offering a very enjoyable environment to learn. Nick was so knowledgeable, not only about sailing but also any wildlife we encountered, always willing to share his knowledge. He was inspiring and encouraging throughout the journey, even when asked questions during the night watches. Nick carefully took time to reflect on any skills that needed further development before giving us the opportunity to practice them further. We had varied conditions from calm seas to some challenging conditions, with far too many highlights to mention snorkelling in the Abrolhos islands, the humpbacks, sailing out of Steep Point or through Shark Bay so many.  

It was truly a memorable experience, and I cannot recommend Oceanwest Charters highly enough.				
Jaci-Mason
September 16, 2021 

					  I have just finished a Day Skipper course with Gary and crew. It was the best thing I have done for ages. An immaculate, modern yacht with the best facilities... read more and amazing instructors who made my course so easy to understand and the greatest adrenalin buzz . I recommend Oceanwest for any yacht courses and imagine that a charter with Gary, Joanne and Nick would be unrivaled in fun, education and pure pleasure. Thank you so much Gary and team				
Alisdair S
November 4, 2019 