Bareboating in the Whitsundays

Newly imported into Australia for Whitsunday Rent a Yacht's bareboat fleet, the Highland 35 is a trawler style catamaran perfectly suited for bareboating.

While not the prettiest boat on the water, the Highland 35, with her twin cat hulls is larger than your average 35 footer. With berths for six and a head taking up both hulls, the large central area doubles as living area and downstairs steering station. Though with a large flybridge, complete with enormous sunlounge, the lower steering station will rarely be used in the balmy climate of the Whitsundays.

Marinas and harbours in the region include Meridien Marinas Abel Point, Hamilton Island Marina and Shute Harbour where Whitsunday Rent a Yacht are based.

Runaway Bay Boat Show

Showcasing their newly upgraded marina with an inhouse Boat Show, Runaway Bay Marina welcome boaties to join them on their new docks over the weekend of 14 and 15 November 2009
Click Here for more information.

Fiji private island retreat

 

Wow! Just back from a site inspection of a recently opened, uber luxe private retreat in northern Fiji.

Five stars? If there was such a rating as a 7 star hotel, this superyacht havena would be a front runner. Simply astounding in the attention to detail. Stay tuned to read more about this island soon.

Good Luck Jessica

As Jessica Watson prepares to depart Sydney on Sunday 18 October, I wish her fair winds and calm seas. I remember well the 'butterfly stomach' jittery feeling prior to just about any voyage I've udnertaken. But, not one of those hundreds of passages has been as ambitious as the long voyage that Jessica has in front of her.

Good luck Jess. I look forward to seeing you sail triumphantly back into Sydney Harbour.
See you in June 2010.

Yacht race tragedy on NSW coast

With a heavy heart and a building sense of horror, I heard the tragedy unfolding during the Flinders Islet Race last weekend. My sincere condolences are offered to the family and friends of the two crew who lost their lives onboard the yacht PriceWaterhouseCoopers Shockwave. Andrew Short is well known in the sailing community, and like most sailors, it was shattering to hear of the tragic accident that took his and Sally Gordon's lives.
Fair winds and God speed on your next voyage.

Marina and boating lifestyle photography competition

We've just launched a photography competition open to amateur photographers who like hanging around marinas. Submit your image that best depicts the marina and boating lifestyle. Details here http://www.marinasguide.com.au/planner/compphoto1.htm

Open for submissions until 18 December 2009

Tenders awarded to Albany waterfront developers

Development of the Albany waterfront is well underway with LandCorp awarding the tender for civil works on Stage 2 of the Waterfront at Albany to South-West based APH Contractors.
APH had completed the Stage 1 works, including site works for the entertainment centre and improvements to Princess Royal Drive.

Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said he was pleased the Stage 2 works could start, bringing the Waterfront vision another step closer for the people of Albany.

“It has taken us a while to work through the details of the tender for this next stage, but I’m confident we will ultimately deliver a high quality product that Albany will be proud of in years to come,” he said.

The next stage of Works would cover construction of the marina and breakwater; and development of the future hotel; short stay accommodation and commercial sites to the east of the jetty.

It is anticipated that works would be completed late in 2010, with boat pens in the marina scheduled to be available in 2011.

The hotel and short stay accommodation sites would be released to market later this year once site earthworks were well under way.

Once complete, the Waterfront at Albany will be a hub of activity, showcasing the Albany Entertainment Centre, hotel, short stay accommodation, restaurants, cafes, shops and a marina.
 
For more information visit Albany waterfront development forges ahead

Rockingham marina one step closer

Boat owners in Rockingham, the coastal community half an hour south of Fremantle, are edging closer to having their own marina complex, with the State Government confirming that it will proceed with the next phase of the Cape Peron marina project.

WA premier, Colin Barnett, said detailed investigations would precede a formal public environmental assessment to be conducted by the Environmental Protection Authority.

“This is an independent and thorough process that will provide the community with several opportunities to have their say,” he said.

However, the project will go ahead only if environmental approval is granted.

The project proposal calls for a new marina precinct that provides much-needed, and long-awaited, boating pens and services as well as a range of recreational, tourism and business opportunities for visitors and locals. West Australian boat owners suffer from a distinct lack of marina berths, with some pundits suggesting that potential boat owners are holding off purchasing new vessels as they can't secure berthing.
The Rockingham marina precinct will include clubhouse sites and pens for local boating clubs, cafes and restaurants, tourism operations, as well as affordable family holiday accommodation and a marine eco-tourism centre.
For more information visit Rockingham marina one step closer.

Ella's Pink Lady undergoes repairs at Gold Coast City Marina

Jessica Watson's recently renamed yacht Ella's Pink Lady is undergoing repairs at Gold Coast City Marina after her recent collision with a bulk carrier while on sea trials off the east Australian coast.

The Gold Coast City Marina is renowned for its substantial haulout and maintenance facilities, making it the perfect choice for her team. Jessica hopes to depart Australia soon in order to reach Cape Horn during favourable summer conditions, as she attempts to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop, unassisted around the world. Read her latest news here.

Magnetic Island marina buzzes

It's not often that I can walk along the dock at Magnetic Island Marina dodging excited yachties engaged in exhuberant conversation. The marina usually operates at the same pace as the rest of the island: pretty laid back with few people around. Much to my (powerboat-leaning) partners confusion, during Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week which finished last Tuesday, the dock was abuzz with foreign-sounding conversation.

"We gybed at the top mark, popped the shute and flew by the lee," one somewhat excited young sailor was overhead telling his mate between gulps of 'kisses from Mum', otherwise known as XXXX beer in states beyond Queensland.

"Huh?" my long suffering partner (who has never quite understood the queer lingo that yachties jabber) queried in puzzlement.

"Don't even try to work it out," I suggested to him, knowing that whatever happens on the racing course will be exagerated a thousand times once back on the dock. That's the nature of yachting. It's actually far more exciting being onboard a racing yacht than it is watching from the shore or a spectator boat. Or listening to others exploits while out there.

49 yachts showed up to compete in just the third regatta. A record sized fleet that keeps on growing, with numbers anticipated to hit 100 competitors within just a few years. While other regattas become more expensive for yacht owners to enter, Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week is the sort of boutique regatta that Audi Hamilton Island Race Week used to be.

Mark 3rd - 7th September 2010 in your diaries now for next years regatta. Entries open 1 April 2010. See you there!