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.
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.
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