Hi
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for us about hiring a boat and skipper in the whitsundays. Seems an amazing array of options some with eye watering prices. We are coming over from Scotland in October and want to sail for 5 nights. We have an 8 year old son which seems to limit our options. I grew up sailing in Dorset (England) but have not sailed for ages and was not sure I was confident to take on the responsibility of my family who have never sailed - although we sea kayak loads up in the highlands so navigation and sea not a problem. Does anyone have an opinion about hiring a skipper?? Do you have to go with the company's or are there any folk with experience who fancy a trip with us??? We are also vegees which seems to freak people out!
thanks

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highlandlass said...
[br]Hi
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for us about hiring a boat and skipper in the whitsundays. Seems an amazing array of options some with eye watering prices. We are coming over from Scotland in October and want to sail for 5 nights. We have an 8 year old son which seems to limit our options. I grew up sailing in Dorset (England) but have not sailed for ages and was not sure I was confident to take on the responsibility of my family who have never sailed - although we sea kayak loads up in the highlands so navigation and sea not a problem. Does anyone have an opinion about hiring a skipper?? Do you have to go with the company's or are there any folk with experience who fancy a trip with us??? We are also vegees which seems to freak people out!
thanks

There are a lot of charter companies in the Whitsunday that will offer a skipper even for 4 hours so if you started at the marina at lets say Arlie Beach the company usually runs you through the boat before hand for a few hours so by lunch time there done with you and you can sail if you hired a skipper for a few hours he or she would sail with you to one of the closer Islands and get the ferry back to the mainland leaving you and not long after you would have to find a mooring for the night . I think most like you anchored by 4 pm may be 5 pm.
I would recommend this option . Just remember the tides and how much water you have under you when anchoring for the night.
The best time to go would be May till the end of October after that the Jelly fish tend to float down that way.
There would be more experience than me that could offer you more information
Usually they have a book on board called "One hundred magic miles " you could buy one and read up before you leave E bay would sell them
You can also start your hire from Hamilton Island and the charter company will meet you there and do exactly the same routine to start you off.
The advantages of doing this would be stepping off the plane and walking over to the boat ( 10 minuets )and where as the other option would be flying into mainland air port getting the bus to the marina ( maybe a couple of hours)
Then you have the option of the charter company organizing your food so you dont have to go to the supermarket and bring every thing back to the boat (Taxi)
My choice
1 Land at Hamilton Island and start your charter there
2 add a skipper for 4 hours leaving him at a ferry pier close to where you would anchor for the night so he can get to mainland
3 Order your food and beverages with the charter company so there on the boat ready to go when you arrive
4 Buy a copy of One hundred magic miles and read it before you leave
5 Do your charter out of Jelly fish times May to End of October < Less hassle
6 Have a great time
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100-MAGIC-MILES-of-the-Great-Barrier-Reef-Whitsunday-Islands-3rd-ed-1990-/251467605987?pt=AU_Non_Fiction_Books_2&hash=item3a8ca327e3




< This may not be the latests or cheapest copy but remember there is a copy on board but it even a early cheaper copy would

The only other thing I can think of to make it cheaper is add more people on the boat you hire if you had some friends in Australia that may like to sail with you reducing the charter price. Off season is cheaper of course and then you have to add stinger suits.
I would be a pain to do your own supermarket shopping and the logistics of bring it back to the boat.
Remember you have 5 days so make the best of them . Charter companies usually have off season deals 7 days for the price of 5 ect. Some have auctions as well auctioning a charter to get customers

You can hire yachts that come with a full time skipper, just contact the charter companies, it won't be cheap.


The other option is to hire a power cruiser and drive it yourself, easier to handle than a yacht.

My understanding, (& I could be wrong). When making inquiries several years ago, there needs to be at least 2 competent persons on board for a bareboat charter.

Whilst I was experienced and competent, and qualified as a ya skipper, as my wife wasn't, we needed to take a skipper or coxswain with us.....which made the whole thing too expensive for us at the time.

Go with a skipper 1st time as it makes it all easier, particularly with the 8 year old.

Enjoy

Have look at this..
100magicmiles.com/category/boating/

Whitsunday is 50% chance of strong wing.
You get selected anchorages and limited perimeter to sail.

A mate has just sailed through the Whitsundays, heard this over the radio.....

"Base you have to bring out more anchors to us"

"Why? You have three anchors onboard"

"Base you know we have been out for three nights and we have used them!"

Silence from Base!

True event from last month.

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nswsailor said...
A mate has just sailed through the Whitsundays, heard this over the radio.....
"Base you have to bring out more anchors to us"
"Why? You have three anchors onboard"
"Base you know we have been out for three nights and we have used them!"

Silence from Base!

True event from last month.

Makes you wonder who cuts up their meat on the plate and if they wear slip on shoes rather than lace ups

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nswsailor said...
A mate has just sailed through the Whitsundays, heard this over the radio.....

"Base you have to bring out more anchors to us"

"Why? You have three anchors onboard"

"Base you know we have been out for three nights and we have used them!"

Silence from Base!

True event from last month.

That's just gold.......

My mate couldn't stop laughing for days!!

This is why ex bare boats sell cheap....or should.

There is a photo some where of a Benny on its side the charter's dropped anchor and went to out for dinner

< some thing like this one

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nswsailor said..

A mate has just sailed through the Whitsundays, heard this over the radio.....

"Base you have to bring out more anchors to us"

"Why? You have three anchors onboard"

"Base you know we have been out for three nights and we have used them!"

Silence from Base!

True event from last month.

True event, but from about 16 years ago.
I'd just arrived in Airlie Beach and the whole town was laughing about it.

Another bareboat gem: Charterers radio base early morning after their first night on the anchor.
"When we put the motor in forward the mainsail goes up, when we put it in reverse the sail comes down."
Base: (Long pause) "Ermm, that rope that pulls the mainsail up? The halyard? I reckon the end is wrapped around your prop. We'll send someone."

A guy I knew did the call-outs for a big charter company. He'd be bashing a 17' open tinny across the Whitsunday Passage in all weathers to go and fix various disasters, mainly blocked heads.

Highlandlass,
Look at the following site for a view of a catamaran we've had the pleasure of sailing. www.72islands1boat.com.au The owner's name is John and can be contacted at e-mail portlandroads@gmail.com Can arrange a skipper name of Mike who's great company and has had a number of years sailing the Whitsundays. Whatever you decide, you'll enjoy the experience.