Sailing Australia

[BobRivard]

G'day anyone out there have any first hand experience with 2 or 3 day captained charters in and around Whitsunday Islands, positive and negative comments appreciated. Heading down under in the next week and would like to book an interesting couple of day trip on a comfy boat with interesting singles.

[k1vsk]

Bob
It's been a few years but there are a few charter boats in Darling Harbor in Sydney from which you can charter to the islands - that's a trip of more than 2 days but well worth it

[tdw]

Originally Posted by k1vsk

Bob
It's been a few years but there are a few charter boats in Darling Harbor in Sydney from which you can charter to the islands - that's a trip of more than 2 days but well worth it

Sydney is some 800nm south of the Whitsundays so i wouldn't suggest Darling Harbour as your starting point.

I've never chartered up there but somewhere like Airlie is the place to start your search. There are lots of Charter Busnesses in that area. December - February is peak season so you'll need to act fairly fast.

[SimonV]

I have not done the singles scene, but bare boated there a couple of times. Yes, Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour are the start points. There are no bad operators in the area, the locals would not allow it. Most of the business is stiched up tight by Whitsunday Rent a Yacht , Gretel II does day trips and smaller group over nighters.
If you can hire a yacht your self and enjoy the area.

[Sasha_V]

It is the race boat Gulag.

Famous boats that have shaped the dreams and ideas of whole generations that have grown up to own yachts of their own are to be had, in their reconditioned forms for the type of charter you describe. Condor Of Burmuda is down there, as is Helsel II and any number of America's cup 12 meter yachts from bygone eras.
Most operators are pretty good or even great, and cruises tend to range form 4 to 8 days, if you only want two days then you would be looking at a sail in fly out option fomr a place like hamilton island or such.

Any number of Victorian and Tasmanian sailors (the southern states) escape the winter blues by heading up to the whitsundays and playing on the big charter boats for a few days, without having all the burdens of skipperdom upon their shoulders.

We were planning to make a go of it last season...but had major family issues instead. Maybe next year.


Sasha