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“
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.
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