Monday, April 4, 2011

Yacht Charter In The Whitsundays

By Brendan Wilson


The Whitsunday Islands is a mecca for those wanting to chartering a yacht to venture through the islands. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to experience this fantastic region of Australia on multiple occasions. The Island group consists of 74 islands, the majority are completely uninhabited National Parks. The type of scenery you experience varies from rain forest vegetation to tall Hoop Pine forest, that are unique to the area. This tall and unusual is rumoured to have been used by Captain Cook to repair the badly damaged HMS Endeavour, which had hit a reef.

When you elect to do a Whitsunday yacht charter there are some important considerations, such as the price, size and type of the yacht and the reputation of the charter company in question. Also you probably want to consider the style of yacht you wish to charter. Catamarans for example have become very popular in recent years with charterers. The fact they make a stable platform which also appeals to non-sailors make them a popular choice. Almost all of the charter companies offer catamarans in their fleets. Also these days the quality of the average charter yacht has greatly improved. Over the years no doubt people have become far more discerning about the quality of the yachts they choose.

The most important thing to consider is your itinerary. This might depend on the length of the charter. The longer the charter the more Islands and destinations you can visit. To get the most from your Whitsunday yacht charter I would strongly advise at least 5 days. Most Whitsunday charter yacht companies state 5 days as a minimum anyway, but if you can spend more time all the better. It really takes a few days to relax and get into the Whitsundays routine which holidays are all about. With our hurried lifestyles some people might have forgotten just how to relax. Take it from me relaxing in the Whitsundays comes naturally.

One of the things that makes the Whitsundays such a great venue to sail are the well protected waterways offered inside the Great Barrier Reef. In the months between May and October the typically reliable South East trade winds give you near perfect sailing conditions, and typically the breeze dies out at the end of the day once you have set anchor in any one of the amazing array of anchorages on offer within the Whitsundays. Some of the most popular anchorages are, Nara Inlet on Hook Island or Cid Harbour on Whitsunday Island. Where you end up will invariably depend on wind direction and strength, but regular updates by radio from your chosen Whitsunday yacht charter company will provide you will detailed information on prevailing weather conditions and suggestions on the best spots to visit and anchor for the night.

Many people also choose to visit some of the resort Islands during their charter, to visit restaurants and perhaps enjoy some of the other resort facilities or simply replenish supplies. The Island resorts vary greatly from backpacker style resorts such as Koalas on South Molle to five star resorts such as Hayman Island. Perhaps Hamilton Island offers you an alternative with shops and hotels to cater for most tastes and budgets. Wherever you decide to visit we are sure you will enjoy your Whitsunday yacht charter.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment