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Old 07-07-2018, 03:27   #1
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Whitsundays Itinerary

I have 7 Days in the Whitsundays on a 38' Leopard Cat at the beginning of September and I am just starting to think about my Itinerary.


Any suggestions for islands & areas to see and also great places to anchor would be appreciated as well as the best place to re-provision for the essentials such as beer
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Old 07-07-2018, 05:23   #2
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

Charter or private? If it's a private boat, Hill Inlet is a fantastic anchorage if you're prepared to sit on the bottom. Charter boats aren't allowed.

Again for a private boat, if light winds are predicted, then a visit to the reef - Bait and Hardy can be special.
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Old 07-07-2018, 17:39   #3
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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Originally Posted by UFO View Post
I have 7 Days in the Whitsundays on a 38' Leopard Cat at the beginning of September and I am just starting to think about my Itinerary.


Any suggestions for islands & areas to see and also great places to anchor would be appreciated as well as the best place to re-provision for the essentials such as beer
Get a copy of 100 Magic Miles. It will allow you to make your own choices, which will also be affected by the weather at the time. I agree with 44-cruising cat, the outer reefs are great, and most comfortable during neaps and light winds. If you are an experienced diver, you may find the lack of visibility disappointing around the islands, due to runoff bringing silt down.

About the only re-provisioning will be in Airlie Beach /Cannon Vale. Bus transport is available, if desired. Better to not need to re-provision if you're going out for a week, going in to re-provision really shoots a whole day of your holiday.

Ann
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Old 07-07-2018, 18:00   #4
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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Get a copy of 100 Magic Miles. It will allow you to make your own choices, which will also be affected by the weather at the time. I agree with 44-cruising cat, the outer reefs are great, and most comfortable during neaps and light winds. If you are an experienced diver, you may find the lack of visibility disappointing around the islands, due to runoff bringing silt down.

About the only re-provisioning will be in Airlie Beach /Cannon Vale. Bus transport is available, if desired. Better to not need to re-provision if you're going out for a week, going in to re-provision really shoots a whole day of your holiday.

Ann

Got 100 Magic Miles on its way to me


Its a Charter, so limited by their rules.



Thanks for the info about re-provision - I was hoping maybe Hamilton island had some stores.
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Old 07-07-2018, 19:38   #5
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

My wife and I were in the Witsundays in the 80s. Our youngest son's middle name is Hamilton
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Old 07-07-2018, 19:38   #6
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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About the only re-provisioning will be in Airlie Beach /Cannon Vale. Bus transport is available, if desired. Better to not need to re-provision if you're going out for a week, going in to re-provision really shoots a whole day of your holiday.

Ann
Woolworths or Coles do deliveries to Hamo don't they?
And I'm sure local yachties would have found a deliverable point accessible by dinghy on the mainland?

Op won't need it only being a week but we certainly will getting our every 2nd mth shop.(free freight over $300)
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Old 07-07-2018, 21:04   #7
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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Woolworths or Coles do deliveries to Hamo don't they?
They didnt last year.
But there is a new good sized IGA that carries most stuff.

For the OP.
7 day charter isnt a heap of time, so try to stock the boat so you dont need to waste a day reprovisioning. Hammo is fun for a night out at the pub, but you can probably do that at home.

Within the area you are allowed as a charter boat, these are my favourites:
Whitehaven beach - great for swimming, can roll a little.
Saba bay - best snorkling on the main islands, need light or northerly winds
Butterfly bay - pretty mooring field and pretty protected from southerlies. If its full, the NW of hayman is surprising good. We watched a humpback give birth in there last year.
Border island - bit quieter, sneak across to Deloraine for a snorkle

If you can get down to Linderman or Shaw, they are a lot less crowded, and you will most likely see cruisers rather than charterers.

Nara or Macona are both very protected - good places if it gets bumpy. Cid harbour is Ok, worthwhile for a night so you can climb Whitsunday peak.

Happy Bay on long Island was better than I expected, but you need to book in if you want to go eat at the resort. Likewise Glouster island has a couple of laid back resorts for a meal if you go that far north.

Oh... try to fly the mainsail, just for something different on a charter cat.

Mike
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Old 07-07-2018, 21:20   #8
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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They didnt last year.
But there is a new good sized IGA that carries most stuff.
Mention of Hamilton island delivery on their website.
https://colsitext.coles.com.au/a/a-n.../home-delivery
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Old 07-07-2018, 21:55   #9
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

Here's my tips. Get yourself a copy of "100 Magic Miles" well before departure.

Where you stop will depend on the prevailing wind direction and speed. Statistically the winds will be predominantly somewhere from the Northeast through East to the South East and should stay fairly benign.

My list of interesting things to do in no particular order:
  • Sail a beam reach down Whitsunday Passage, preferably in brisk winds.
  • Night at Nara Inlet with a look at the cave art.
  • Snorkel, beach walk at Langford Island with lunch and swim at Black Island followed by a night at Stonehaven Bay.
  • Snorkel at Butterfly Bay. Stay overnight if you can stand the rolling otherwise find a close protected anchorage
  • Visit Saba Bay (and take a fishing rod) if weather permits, although it most likely won't.
  • Visit the lookout over Whitehaven at Tongue Bay
  • Visit Whitehaven beach (but perhaps overnight at Chalkies, Tongue Bay or Turtle Bay depending on conditions). Sail through Solway Passage.
  • Visit Hammo for the night (or anchor at Beach 26 and dinghy across) if that's your thing
  • Night at Cid Harbour and bushwalk up the mountain.
  • Stay at Thomas Island and sail around the back of Shaw island when returning north.
  • Sail up to the Gloucester Passage and have a beer at Monties or the Eco resorts.
  • Keep an eye out for whales. Should be lot's of them still around then.
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Old 07-07-2018, 22:52   #10
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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They didnt last year.

Oh... try to fly the mainsail, just for something different on a charter cat.

Mike

So do most charterers Just use the Genoa or are they strictly engine?


I'll be flying it all
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Old 07-07-2018, 23:52   #11
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

You will not be able to plan a set itinerary as you will need to work it out as you go based on winds and tides. If you are picking up at Hamilton, then the IGA is very good. I would not spend a night in the marina, you are paying a stack to be on the boat in places you cannot access any other way.

Last year we spent six weeks in the Whitsundays, and in 2015 about four. These are our favourites and the must dos.

Spots to anchor/moor overnight:

1 Butterfly Bay (get there early as you cannot anchor and only nine moorings) - you can dinghy to nearby spots
2 Cid Harbour - walk to top of Whitsunday Peak
3 Tongue Bay - turtles and dugongs and walk to see Hill Inlet
4 Whitehaven Beach - one of the best beaches in Australia, but lots of day tourists
5 Macona Inlet - walk to Aboriginal paintings
6 Stonehaven - nice spot in SE or NE winds
7 Blue Pearl Bay , Hayman Island - nice in E winds

There are plenty of other places to stop off on the way from point A to point B, especially on the east side of Whitsunday Island.

There are plenty more places, but these are the pick. Our all time favourite is Butterfly Bay, nice snorkelling all along the E shore, even saw some small manta rays.
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Old 08-07-2018, 01:50   #12
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

Hi, we have explored the Whitsundays over 15 or so years and own a cat in charter there. There's lots of good detail in these posts for you, which I'd summarise as:
  • work out what you're going for: sailing, cruising short distances, coral, beaches, sunsets etc.
  • look at your options before going (most of the companies have a 'teaser page' such as (https://www.whitsundayescape.com/pla...ds-anchorages/), and compare against likely winds (probably SE trades, but you can get variations)
  • if you don't pre-buy 100 Magic Miles, prepare to 'cram' on arrival
  • be ready to quiz the charter company on destinations during your compulsory briefing before getting under way; their daily radio skeds will help, too
  • you can then put together an itinerary 2-3 days ahead that takes account for the weather you actually have, to the comfort of all
  • stock up before leaving Airlie Beach, because you won't want to go in to Hamo ($20/hour or $120 overnight for an 11.6m cat) once you get sailing - unless you prefer resorts to sailing
  • remember, Airlie/Cannonvale is a country town with more 'food miles' than most towns on the coast; food is a bit more expensive than elsewhere and the hour's barge ride to Hamo adds more to that cost. Coles and Woolies on the mainland and IGA on Hamo offer a good range, but not if you eat gourmet in a capital city.
Don't forget to have fun!
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Old 08-07-2018, 02:50   #13
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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Originally Posted by clownfishsydney View Post
You will not be able to plan a set itinerary as you will need to work it out as you go based on winds and tides. If you are picking up at Hamilton, then the IGA is very good. I would not spend a night in the marina, you are paying a stack to be on the boat in places you cannot access any other way.

Last year we spent six weeks in the Whitsundays, and in 2015 about four. These are our favourites and the must dos.

Spots to anchor/moor overnight:

1 Butterfly Bay (get there early as you cannot anchor and only nine moorings) - you can dinghy to nearby spots
2 Cid Harbour - walk to top of Whitsunday Peak
3 Tongue Bay - turtles and dugongs and walk to see Hill Inlet
4 Whitehaven Beach - one of the best beaches in Australia, but lots of day tourists
5 Macona Inlet - walk to Aboriginal paintings
6 Stonehaven - nice spot in SE or NE winds
7 Blue Pearl Bay , Hayman Island - nice in E winds

There are plenty of other places to stop off on the way from point A to point B, especially on the east side of Whitsunday Island.

There are plenty more places, but these are the pick. Our all time favourite is Butterfly Bay, nice snorkelling all along the E shore, even saw some small manta rays.

Thanks for that - Going out of Abel Marina and will spend no time in any Marinas
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Old 08-07-2018, 03:46   #14
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

Its easy to provision at Cannonvale if you're leaving from Abel point. There are supermarkets and bottle shops there. It's just a couple of kilometres so even if you have to take a taxi it won't break the bank.

A lot of people spend the first night in the marina because of how long it takes to do the briefing and provisioning. But you dont have to.

Depending on what time you get out of the marina you could anchor for the first night in double bay or funnel bay, both attractive mainland anchorages close to Abel point.

If you have a bit more time, Stonehaven is a nice reach across Whitsunday passage. Its quite deep there, and there's coral about, so it's definitely preferable to pick up a mooring if one's available. By around 3pm ish, they're often all taken. There are also moorings at nearby Black island and Langford island, but if the trades are blowing they may not be as comfortable as Stonehaven.

There's easy anchoring in Nara inlet, but it's a longer sail and often a beat across Whitsunday passage. If you get away by lunchtime it should be easy enough.
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Old 08-07-2018, 04:31   #15
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Re: Whitsundays Itinerary

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Its easy to provision at Cannonvale if you're leaving from Abel point. There are supermarkets and bottle shops there. It's just a couple of kilometres so even if you have to take a taxi it won't break the bank.

A lot of people spend the first night in the marina because of how long it takes to do the briefing and provisioning. But you dont have to.

Depending on what time you get out of the marina you could anchor for the first night in double bay or funnel bay, both attractive mainland anchorages close to Abel point.

If you have a bit more time, Stonehaven is a nice reach across Whitsunday passage. Its quite deep there, and there's coral about, so it's definitely preferable to pick up a mooring if one's available. By around 3pm ish, they're often all taken. There are also moorings at nearby Black island and Langford island, but if the trades are blowing they may not be as comfortable as Stonehaven.

There's easy anchoring in Nara inlet, but it's a longer sail and often a beat across Whitsunday passage. If you get away by lunchtime it should be easy enough.
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