The 74 Whitsunday islands on Australia's Queensland coast are renowned for being a boating paradise. Tourism has been quick to realise this fact and the past few decades have seen the expansion of what is now the largest charter boat fleet in the southern hemisphere. Holidaymakers in the Whitsundays can rent a variety of vessels to suit differing budgets, tastes and time constraints.
A bareboat holiday involves renting the craft without crew. The charterer becomes the master of the vessel with the freedom to explore at will. A bareboat break can be relaxing, adventurous, or a combination of the two. Ultimately the holidaymakers set the pace. Below is an overview of the major operators in the Whitsunday bareboat business.
Yacht Charter Companies
- Whitsunday Rent A Yacht - Run from private premises at Shute Harbour, WRAY are among the longest standing bareboat operators in the region.
- Cumberland Charter Yachts - This Australian owned and operated company runs a fleet of catamarans, monohulls and motor cruisers from Abel Point Marina in Airlie Beach.
- Queensland Yacht Charters - Owner-operated QYC is a multi-award winning charter company also located in Airlie Beach.
- Charter Yachts Australia - A family owned and operated charter company, CYA are situated at Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach.
- Whitsunday Private Yacht Charters - WPYC at Abel Point Marina, offer all levels of bareboat charters aboard a fleet of high quality vessels.
- Whitsunday Escape - Specialists in bareboat chartering, also based at Abel Point Marina.
- Sunsail - This international charter company has an office on Front Street at Hamilton Island Marina. Walk-ins are welcome.
Sailing Yacht Charters - Practicalities of Whitsundays Boat Hire
The first stage in a bareboat charter is familiarisation with the chosen vessel and sailing conditions. A briefing is standard procedure and typically takes around four hours. Some companies post out a briefing DVD ahead of time. Others recommend the book 100 Magic Miles by David Colfelt. This colour publication is widely regarded as the boating bible for the Whitsundays and is used for reference on all Whitsunday bareboats.
Charterers receive classroom-style instruction on the nuances of Whitsundays sailing such as local winds, tides and recommended/prohibited anchorages. Simple navigation is taught and potentially hazardous areas are identified. Phase two of the briefing focuses on the demonstration of practical skills aboard the charter vessel. Briefers will run through the art of anchoring and sail-handling techniques.
At present charterers are not required to possess boating qualifications or previous experience. If the charterer is not confident or appears unable to grasp the basic principles, the briefer will usually suggest that a sail guide accompanies the party, at least for the first day. Charter operators normally ask for a credit card bond to cover the condition of the vessel. This is only processed in the event of damage.
Whitsundays Sailing - Anchorages and Activities
Holidays of five to seven nights or less will characteristically focus on the central and northern Whitsunday islands. These include Hook, Hayman, Border, Whitsunday, Daydream, South Molle, Long and Hamilton Islands. Divers and snorkellers will find exceptional coral reef systems on the northern coasts of Hook and Border Islands. The silica sands of Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island are not to be missed. Anchorage is possible right off the beach or in nearby Tongue Bay.
Visiting Whitsunday Island Resorts
Whitsunday islands offer a mixture of solitude and sociability to those aboard boats. For charterers seeking a little action on land, moorings can be rented through the island resorts on Daydream, Long, Lindeman, Hook and South Molle Islands. Mooring fees usually entitle charterers to full use of the resort facilities. Hayman and Hamilton Islands both have marinas. Overnight guests on Hayman Island must book accommodation ashore.
Sharon Smallwood - Sharon Smallwood is a freelance photo-journalist specialising in boating, lifestyle and travel. Sharon's entertaining, well informed and ...
