The
tranquil and turqoise waters surrounding Queensland's Whitsunday
Islands and Great Barrier Reef are rated as one of the
world's best sailing locations for yacht charter holidays
and regattas alike.
The
Whitsundays are located in the heart of the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park and comprise 74 tropical islands and inlets,
the majority of which are unspoilt national parks.
The
Whitsunday Islands are renowned for their lush rainforests,
deserted beaches and spectacular reefs.
Whitehaven
Beach on Whitsunday Island has been voted one of the top
three beaches in the world with its unspoilt white silica
sand spanning an incredible 6 kilometre stretch up the
coastline.
The
Whitsundays are also famous for superb coral formations
and marine life.
Whales,
dolphins, turtles and mantarays are a common sight in the
sheltered waters of the Whitsundays making it a mecca for
snorkellers and diving enthusiasts and the perfect location
for a yacht charter holiday.
The Whitsundays has a selection of island resorts
that cater for every taste and budget, with accommodation
and activities to suit romantics, adventure-lovers, families
and eco-friendly travellers.
Sunsail's
Whitsunday base is located on Hamilton Island - the Whitsundays'
largest island destination. Sunsail's yacht charter guests
can enjoy all of Hamilton Island's facilities, and can
also make day trips to the other island resorts during
their sailing holiday.Hamilton Island , Hayman Island ,
Lindeman Island , Daydream Island
South Molle Island , Peppers Palm Bay, Long Island, Club Croc, Long Island
Each Sunsail yacht has information onboard regarding the mooring fees or day
visit charges that apply to each resort.
Time
difference is GMT 8 Hours
The
unit of currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar,
which is divided into 100 Australian cents. The Australian
dollar is available at the airport and all cities for exchange.
We recommend that sufficient money is changed before arriving
at the Sunsail Whitsundays base.
The
predominant language used in Australia is English.
Clients
must ensure that their passport is valid for up to six
months beyond their stay.
You
will be asked to pay both International and Domestic Departure
Tax at the airport.
Sunsail's
Whitsunday base is located on Hamilton Island - the heart of
the Whitsundays and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, which
is a World Heritage Listed National Park.
With
its own jet airport, 10 cosmopolitan restaurants, an expansive
range of resort and self-contained accommodation and a
tonne of activities, Hamilton Island is Australia's largest
and most popular island holiday destination.
It
has never been easier to get to the Whitsundays
By
Air
Hamilton Island is only a 1.5 hour direct flight from Brisbane, 2.5 hours from
Sydney and 3.5 hours from Melbourne.
Fly
Directly to Hamilton Island:
Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Blue all offer direct flights to Hamilton Island's
jet airport from most Australian capital cities.
Fly
to to Proserpine Airport:
Fly Jetstar, Virgin or Qantas to Proserpine airport (Whitsunday Coast airport),
which is located on the mainland. Proserpine is a 30 minute coach ride to Shute
Harbour followed by a 40 minute ferry to Hamilton Island. Alternatively you
can fly in a light aircraft from Proserpine airport to Hamilton Island airport.
Fly
to Mackay Airport:
Fly Jetstar, Virgin or Qantas to Mackay airport which is also on the mainland.
Mackay is a 120 minute coach ride to Shute Harbour followed by a 40 minute
ferry to Hamilton Island. Alternatively you can fly in a light aircraft from
Mackay airport to Hamilton Island airport.
Sunsail's
cruising area is three times larger than other Whitsunday
yacht charter companies, meaning our guests have the freedom
to explore hundreds of islands and inlets between Bowen
and Mackay. Discover our magical cruising grounds and secluded
anchorages with information on suggested itineraries, interactive
maps, distance charts plus weather guides so you can make
the most of your sailing holiday
Sunsail operate in The Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef, which is a World
Heritage National Park. The Whitsundays are situated on the north east coast
of Queensland, Australia, inside the Great Barrier Reef, between latitude 20° and
21° south and longitude 148° 48’ and 148° 30’ east.
Sunsail's
cruising area is three times larger than other Whitsunday
yacht charter companies, meaning you have the freedom to
explore hundreds of islands and inlets between Bowen and
Mackay.
In
addition, Sunsail's sailing hours are longer, extending
from an hour after sunrise to an hour before sunset.
No
other yacht charter company gives you so much room - or
time - to lose yourself in this seventh heaven.
Explore
deserted islands, sandy beaches or simply relax aboard
your yacht as you soak up the sunshine in this aquatic
wonderland.
With
so many islands and anchorages, you will need to return
to the Whitsundays many times before you think you have
seen it all!
The
most informative cruising guide for the Whitsundays is "100
Magic Miles" by David Colfelt. This book clearly outlines
all islands, reefs and features in the sailing area making
navigating through the Whitsunday Islands a breeze. The
book also details fishing guidelines and snorkelling spots
plus has loads of information on the local area and individual
destinations.All
Sunsail vessels have this guide onboard, but we do recommend
you purchase and read the book prior to your charter.
Sailing
through the waters of the enchanting Whitsunday Islands
is the holiday of a lifetime and careful provisioning is
an important part of preparation. Why not pre-order all
of your food and beverages with our fantastic range of
self-select or package options? Sailing through the waters
of the enchanting Whitsunday Islands on a Sunsail yacht
is the holiday of a lifetime and careful provisioning is
an important part of the preparation for your trip.
Running
out of food, forgetting basic ingredients, or having to
put up with unappetising meals can spoil the most idyllic
holiday.
There
are a number of options when it comes to stocking your
yacht with food and beverages for your sailing holiday.
You
can bring your stores with you, you can spend part of your
holiday shopping in Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach and Cannonvale,
or you can have Whitsunday Provisioning do the legwork
for you.
2 people on board with sailing experience are required
. The skipper must have sailed this size yacht before for
at
least 5 days or more, and have good navigation skills and
must know how to anchor the yacht. The 2nd adult must have
sailing knowledge and they need to know what to do in an
emergency man over board.
No
official qualifications or licenses are required to charter
a yacht or catamaran in the Whitsundays. However, Sunsail
does insist that at least one member of your party has
sailing experience to Level 3-4.
Level
1: Handling a yacht under motor, basic wind
awareness, mooring and anchoring skills and/or flotilla
course at a Sunsail Club or Sailing School.
Level
2: Handling a yacht under sail, reefing, reading
a chart, line of sight navigation, competent at bows
to and stern to mooring.
Level
3: As above plus previous skipper experience
on flotilla holiday or equivalent experience. You will
need to be competent of handling a yacht in close quarters
and picking up a mooring buoy in varying conditions.
Passages are longer with more varied conditions and stronger
winds.
Level 4: More taxing sailing areas where extended
coastal experience is beneficial. RYA Day Skipper or equivalent
experience, you should be able to:
* handle longer passages cope with tides and currents
* call on navigation and pilotage skills
* know your position at any one time
If
you have any queries about your level of skill, please
don't hesitate to contact the Sunsail Team for more information.
Sheltered
by the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays
offer smoother seas for spectacular sailing all year round
With line of sight navigation, the islands of the Whitsundays
are ideal for novices and experienced sailors alike.The
region's tidal nature means that you should consult the
tide tables prior to planning each day's itinerary.Wind
direction from March to September is generally south-east
to east, while September through February brings more north-easterly
winds. |
