Before you go: Charter company tips for pre-trip planning

Practical: The Whitsundays

A promising new adventure excites the senses but taking note of tips from those who have gone before is a sensible precaution. Petrea Heathwood asks the experts.

1. You don’t need a boat licence to charter in the Whitsundays, but you do need boat
handling skill and common sense.

2. Trevor Rees of Whitsunday Escape suggests preparation should include learning or revision on how to use a chart and compass.

3. It’s essential to recognise chart symbols relating to depths and reefs.

4. Trevor stresses that GPS and chartplotters should never be your sole navigation tool.

5. You must also understand cruising fundamentals like tides, daily planning,
choosing anchorages, anchoring properly, towing and using the dinghy.

6. Familiarity with the size boat you’re chartering increases confidence and safety.

7. Although only one person has to be a competent sailor, it helps if everyone contributes, even non-sailors should learn some basics before leaving.

8. Book a sail-guide for half a day or more if you feel you need a refresher course.

9. Queensland Yacht Charters has an online questionnaire to rate capability. Depending on your experience they suggest considering a course like Learn to Sail, RYA Day Skipper, AYF Inshore, Prepare-to-Charter or even Competent Crew. http://www.yachtcharters.com.
au/experience_questionnaire.php

10. Most companies offer a pre-trip boat and area briefing DVD. Suzette Pelt of QYC recommends frequent viewing to really assimilate the information, especially valuable for first timers.

11. Obtain David Colfelt’s ‘100 Magic Miles of the Great Barrier Reef’ and become familiar with it before leaving home. This book is aboard all Whitsunday charter boats as the
main reference to anchorages, but also contains just about everything you’ll need to know about the Whitsundays.

12. You may choose to pre-plan your itinerary; anchorages, islands and resorts to visit, places to snorkel, hike and swim. Harmony af loat will be greatly enhanced if everyone
has similar expectations, so get the crew together to discuss ideas.The book and the Shute Harbour tidal information allow detailed advance planning. Find tide times at: http://
www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/tides/MAPS/qld.shtml

13. Pelt points to the 10/90 rule of cruising: 10 percent of time going somewhere, 90 percent at anchor, relaxing. Many charterers make the mistake of trying to see everything,
instead of just enjoying.

14. Use soft, wheel-able luggage that can be stowed flat.

15. Minimise your clothing. You’ll only need sarongs, shorts, lightweight shirts, swimmers, sunnies, hat, deck shoes and reef walkers. Add light, warm gear in winter. One casual outfit for dining at resorts. Polaroid sunglasses (with a retaining strap) are useful for spotting bombies and shallow water.

16. Keep separate clothes for going home in – packed in a vacuum bag to save space.

17. You won’t be near a chemist, so bring sufficient toiletries, prescription medication and seasickness tablets: you may not need them but you also might.

18. Sort camera gear, especially memory and batteries for digital cameras. A UV
or polarising filter is handy. Binoculars are a great aid to navigation.

19. Bring CDs, DVDs or ipods.

20. Plan your provisioning. Options are:

• Bring your own supplies with you. This is practical when arriving by car.

• Buy locally on arrival. Most mainland flights arrive at 3pm, so if you spend your first night aboard in the marina, you will have time for grocery shopping.

• Preorder all provisions – one less worry on departure day. Each company offers a provisioning service.

More information:

http://www.yachtcharters.com.au/
http://www.whitsundayescape.com/
http://www.charteryachtsaustralia.com.au/

Petrea Heathwood
Petrea is a long-term liveaboard cruising sailor who has enjoyed the Whitsundays in all seasons.