Planning to charter a bareboat in the Whitsundays for several days end of March/beg of April. I've chartered with the biggies before, but they tend to be so much more expensive than the local companies so I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions of good local companies. Also if anyone has done any sailing in the area, suggestions of good anchorages and ports would be nice.

Would like to revive this... letiole, did you ever do your bareboat charter or does anyone have any current leads or suggestions? We will be in Queensland May 5-16, 2006, and are interested in a bareboat charter (motor, not sailing vessel) for a portion of that time, around the Whitsundays.

Have begun researching on the web but maybe someone here has done one that can provide a few leads. We own a 22' motorboat and have extensive experience in a variety of inland waters and rivers in the US, but no offshore experience.

Thanks

Sorry, I can't provide any leads. We ended up chartering out of Auckland, instead of in Australia, on that trip.

We own a 22' motorboat and have extensive experience in a variety of inland waters and rivers in the US, but no offshore experience.

I have done numerous bareboat charters around the world (all sailboats) and will tell you that, in general, charter companies want to know you can set a good anchor overnight. You could have won the Transpac, but all they really want to see is that you have a lot of nights on the hook.

Good luck with your trip.

Thanks, letiole. We are discussing options now with Whitsunday Escape out of Abel Point Marina at Airlie Beach, for a 33' motor yacht. Quoting $2150 (unprovisioned) for five days, seems about right compared to other bareboat charters I am finding. Currently "Mid" season there.

Sounds like it is going to turn into a Trip Report! We are very much looking forward to the thought of five days alone out in the Whitsunday Islands. Other activities planned for the remainder of the trip.

G'Day.

Try the following links as well.
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/whitsundays/hire.cfm?action=display_results&error=false&sub_type_list=WATER|Water&searchFilter=full

Lists all the companies that offer bareboat charters. Things to note are does the boat have a tender (powered), access to various areas differs with each company. Provision it yourself as it will be cheaper, buy a book called "100 magic miles" if you can find it. It details all you need to know. Don't miss Whitehaven beach, Nara inlet, Hook Point Observatory, Mantaray bay and choose the rest yourself. Hamilton Is is cool if you like to spend a few $$. The area around Hayman has the best snorkelling bar none (maybe except Border Island but may not be easy to get to). The power boats are easier to get going without any experience as the saliboats will require more time around the marina before you are familiar with them wasting a little time.

I should add a followup to say that we did go with Whitsunday Escape out of Airlie Beach for our bareboat charter (early May). It was a great five days/four nights, minus the rough weather on the first day (quite rainy, 25 knot winds, wind against tide while crossing Whitsunday Passage made for interesting conditions).

Once on the leeward side of the various islands it was magical. Definitely something we will do again but for a longer duration.

I will get around soon to posting a proper trip report on the whole holiday.

I'll offer up this in the meantime... a panoramic photo from the top of One Tree Hill on Hamilton Island, looking west over Plum Pudding Island and the Whitsunday Passage at sunset. http://www.jgav.com/Whitsundays-small2.jpg

I will get around soon to posting a proper trip report on the whole holiday.

I'll offer up this in the meantime... a panoramic photo from the top of One Tree Hill on Hamilton Island, looking west over Plum Pudding Island and the Whitsunday Passage at sunset. http://www.jgav.com/Whitsundays-small2.jpg

Hi, I am planning to do something along the lines of the trip above. BTW, omarhajim, if you have come planning notes, would you mind sharing them via pm or in the thread?

I am going to fly from ORD to Sydney on UAL, spend 4 days in Sydney with potential 1 daily side trip and then spend fly to Porsepine and sail in Whitsundays for 5 days 4 nights with leaving the yacht at Pepper Resort for one night and then fly back to ORD via Sydney.

Has anybody done this namely:
1) picked up the yach at one place and left in another (how much extra would it cost me)
2) sailed in Whitsundays in the beginning of September (2007) supposedly warm enough to snorkel and no stingers
3) sailed without any experience (planning to take sailing lessons 3-4 in the summer of 2007)

Does anybody have any recommendations on the sailing companies? This will be 2 of us, me and my wife so we are looking for a smallish yacht unprovisioned.

Is this worth flying to Australia and sailing in Whitsunday vs sailing in the Carribean or somewhere else?

Has anybody sailed or snorkeled in the "OTHER" australian coral reef, off Perth? Can you share your experience?

My other option for the Australian vacation is to spend 5 days in Sydney and then spend 5 days in Perth to see the wildflowers and put some 2-3 days of snorkeling.

Are any of my possible itineraries crazy? Should I just do Sydney, Brisbaine and Cairns in 10 days as everybody else does in their first trip to Australia.

I don't want to do the Alice Springs. I considered Tasmania and leaving it for my second trip to this part of the world. I have 2 weeks and try to get a good first glance at Australia before I come here again.

I know I am asking a lot of somewhat random questions. Just looking for anybody who has any comments/answers to these questions.

TIA,

GoldPremier,
Why not have a look at Sunsail (http://sunsailwhitsundays.com/./whitsundays-yacht-charters?PHPSESSID=ab6d8c2e3db1aa0768c832de42a83aa 8) yacht charters (http://sunsailwhitsundays.com/), who might arrange for you to start from Shute Harbour, near Airlie Beach/Proserpine and return the charter to Hamilton Island.

Next time we are there I'd try to do this.
Hamilton Island was a lovely place to stay, if you want to stay after you return the charter.

We were there late August/September this year and the water was fine.
We took 3 days/nights to get around the islands, and I think five days would be even better.

Then fly from Hamilton Island (HTI) either to SYD or BNE (with VirginBlue or JetStar), depending on your itinerary, or to CNS with QF, if that service is still running.

Hope this is helpful.
Ben