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Bareboat Charters in the
Whitsundays
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Almost all of the islands are national parks, covered with trees and bush, creating the impression that they have yet to be discovered, and offer visitors a hint of adventure. Charters
officially run from midday to midday, however we prefer to start your
briefing at 9:30am (this must be confirmed by our office prior).
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Navigation around the islands is quite easy with so many readily identifiable landmarks throughout the Whitsundays. On the day of charter, you receive a very comprehensive vessel and area briefing (between 2 - 4 hours depending on your experience level.) This includes making sure you are familiar with every aspect of the vessel itself, and a detailed outline of your charter area. An indication to the briefer of your itinerary will ensure you will see most of what you came to appreciate!
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When sailing here, the tide is a major factor in planning your day. A copy of the tide tables for this area is provided onboard as part of the navigation equipment and the days high and low readings are part of our 'radio scheds' each morning at 9.10am. The tidal flow floods the area to the South, and ebbs to the North flowing around 3 knots. Where the islands are situated close together (Solway, Fitzallen and Hook Island passages) the tide flows at around 5 knots. So using the tide to your advantage when planning your day is important!
You
don't need any formal qualifications or licence here and with some basic sailing
knowledge almost anyone can enjoy a safe and exhilarating sailing holiday with
us. If you have no boating experience at all, you will benefit from
having the briefer stay with you for the remainder of your first day for a reasonable
cost. This way you will gain valuable knowledge, experience and confidence from
a qualified (local) sailor.
Unless you have chartered a vessel before, you probably have never anchored a boat for the night, and again the briefer will explain and demonstrate the procedure in detail, to ensure a comfortable night in your chosen piece of paradise. Each island has it's own fringing reef system, and choosing your perfect anchorage is best done with the aid of a pair of poleroid sunglasses! With the angle of sun to the water, anchoring before 4.00pm each day is required as this provides the bow person on 'look-out' the best chance of locating these reefs.
Reef protection markers with public moorings have been installed in sensitive areas in several locations around the islands including Butterfly Bay, Luncheon Bay, False Nara Inlet (Hook Island), Blue Pearl Bay (Hayman Island), Sunlovers Bay (Daydream Island) and Black Island Reef. These buoys are fixed to the bottom along the edge of the fringing reefs. You are required to either pick up one of the many buoys or anchor outside of the reef markers, thus protecting the coral from any damage. These markers and mooring buoys are clearly marked in the book '100 Magic Miles of The Great Barrier Reef' onboard every vessel, and if you have any questions regarding the proceedure, you can always radio us for advise.
The best way to prepare for your bareboat charter with us is to purchase our pre charter pack, containing a map of the Whitsunday charter area, the navigation book (sailing guide) used here and a video of the rules and regulations of the Australian water ways which will assist in preparing you and aid in your itinerary selection:
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PLEASE EMAIL US your order for prompt delivery (A copy of this book is provided onboard your vessel as part of the navigation equipment you will use during your charter.) |
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Whitsunday
Private Yacht Charters
PO Box 800 / Shop 18 Abel Point Marina
Airlie Beach, Queensland, 4802, Australia
Freecall 1800 075 055 (within Australia)
Phone: 07 49 466 880 International: +61 749 466 880 Fax:
07 49 464 943
Email: wpyc@whitsunday-yacht.com.au
© Whitsunday Private Yacht Charters - All Rights Reserved 2005
AUD$85.00
posted within Australia (express post bag)