Hi all,<BR>This is the one piece of our 4 week Australia trip which is still totally up in the air with two weeks to go - do we take in a Whitsunday bareback charter or not? We can spare 3-4 days (not 5), we can manage to get there en route from Brisbane to Cairns, and there are several companies who will give us a last minute charter (or we can join a professionally crewed group).<BR><BR>Not so keen on a group, even a small one, part of the appeal was getting away on the water by ourselves. Part of the appeal was also lazing around swimming, eating, exploring bits of the islands. We didn't picture having to spend a lot of each day getting to grips with the boat, anchoring, etc. For novices this seems a more realistic scenario. In fact, Whitsunday Escape say we would need a fulltime skipper or to spend an intensive 2 days studying.<BR><BR>Is this true? Has anyone done this? Do you lose the benefit of the idyllic Whitsundays and the leisurely pace of life if you are a novice trying to manage a vessel for the first time? Just want some opinions please.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Anna

Even in a relatively safe place like the Whitsunday Islands, it would still be a bad idea to do a bareboat charter without sufficient experience. There are lots of shallow spots where you could easily run aground, and securely anchoring can be difficult. We have chartered with Whitsunday Escape, and it seems to me that they are one of the most relaxed companies in the area (i.e. if they think you need a captain, so will everyone else). One thing to consider is to hire a captain for a day or two, then drop him/her off at Hamilton Island after you have been certified to continue on your own. You can still go wherever/whenever you want, and it will still be leisurely, as most of your cruising will be tooling along at 6-8 knots between islands. You will also learn enough to be able to charter another boat somewhere else later on.

Can't help 'cause don't understand the term &quot; bareback&quot; - we ride horses bareback sometimes if that helps,

Hi Anna,<BR>I think the term is bareboating, but I understood what you meant! As an alternative, did you know that Fantasea ferries run like buses to and from the islands and Shute Harbour on the mainland. You could island hop each day or stay on one island and visit others if you wanted to. There are even deserted islands the boats will drop you at and pick you up on a designated day. Fares are reasonable and the distances aren't that far. <BR><BR>Trying to learn how to manage a yacht and then sailing it safely doesn't sound very relaxing to me. Perhaps if you had longer it might be worthwhile putting in the effort but for a few days, I'd choose a different option.<BR>Kay<BR>Kay

Anna<BR><BR>Kay, Liz, and Alf are right! Let someone else do the driving and sit back and enjoy your honeymoon. No one needs the possibility of impending disaster on their honeymoon.<BR><BR>There's waaaay too much to learn about boating and waaaaay too much enjoyment to be had in Australia. Take the enjoyment and forget the bareboat chartering. <BR><BR>Drop us a note when you've returned and let us know how wonderful your stay was.<BR><BR>Enjoy!!<BR>

Hi everyone,<BR>Thanks. We'll divert to Airlie Beach alright, but plan to look at other options than just bareboat. Thanks again.<BR><BR><BR>Anna

Anna, ALF was absolutely correct. I've sailed the Whitsundays with my husband, who had a trimaran for several years, and knows how to sail. They give you a test (as well they should) before they let you sail off into the sunset. Trust me, those of us with no sailing experience could have never passed it! It was a wonderful experience...emphasis being on &quot;experience&quot; -- you would no more think of taking that boat out than you would handing over the car keys to a 14 year old!<BR><BR>That said, one of my proudest moments was grabbing the boat hook after my husband's hat blew off and getting it as we sailed (very fast) past it!<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Melodie<BR>Certified Aussie Specialist