“ Well the forecast is good for the next three days, as it generally is here in the Whitsundays,” said Andy. “ Fine, warm, sunny and a frisky 15-20 knot breeze from the south-east, so the sailing should be great.” Andy was the skipper of Jaspurr, one of the crew of two to look after 8 guests for three nights aboard Prosail’s 50ft catamaran. The eight guests were very comfortably accommodated in four surprisingly spacious private cabins, each with private facilities. By yachting standards this was real luxury, with plenty of headroom and storage, and generous comfortable double beds. There was plenty of room in the communal areas to lie down, curl up and chill out with a ‘tinny’ and definitely without feeling that you were encroaching on anyone else’s space.

The second member of the crew was Fern, an accomplished cook and hostess who provided a seemingly endless supply of delicious meals. As we watched the sun set while sipping a sundowner or two, the main course for dinner was expertly prepared by Andy using the ‘barbie’ slung over the yacht’s stern rail.

Now, two months after the experience, what sticks most in the mind, apart from the conviviality of the guests and the hospitality of the crew, was the total sense of freedom and relaxation brought on by having your own boat. With guidance from Andy, we just decided from day to day where to go and what to do, sharing the water with the dolphins and turtles who frequently appeared off Jaspurr’s bows. If you’ve never been on a yacht before, there’s nothing to fear since you can be as idle or active as you choose. Nobody has to lift a finger as everything is done for you, and you can opt to help sail the boat or do nothing other than soak up the rays, occasionally swimming from the stern.

The Whitsundays nestle just off the coast of tropical Queensland. Most are uninhabited, save for a handful of resort properties, and all are attractively cloaked in dense vegetation and rainforest. Nights are spent moored in protected inlets or 50 metres off a deserted beach with two or three other craft for company. Pure escapism!

Highlights were the visit to magnificent Whitehaven Beach with its vast expanse of pure white silica sand (if there’s a more stunning beach anywhere in the world, please enlighten me) and snorkelling over the small reef off Hayman Island. Though only a few metres from the beach, the reef was teeming with life and revealed as much colour and variety as the Great Barrier Reef itself, a few miles further out to sea.

Although Jaspurr is unashamedly at the luxury end of the market, a three-night cruise with all meals provided (take your own alcohol and bottled water aboard) works out at around £250 per person. At the other end of the scale is Southern Cross, a magnificent former America’s Cup 12-metre racing thoroughbred, now converted to accommodate twelve in modest comfort.

There are several yacht charter operators in the Whitsundays. The one recommended by TMG Leisure is Prosail who have the best crews and a hard-earned reputation for quality, value and safety. Prosail operate Jaspurr, together with a range of other yachts equipped to a high specification. Full details are available from TMG Leisure.