Beneteau 34 Premium Sailing Yacht

Vessel Features:

Length: 10.34 m
Beam: 3.65 m
Draft: 1.87m
Headroom: 1.85 m
Fresh water capacity: 290 litres
Fuel Capacity: 130 litres
Inboard diesel engine: 21hp
Approx fuel consumption per engine hr - lts: 2.5
Berths: maximum pax 6
Recommended passengers: 2-4
Private double cabins: 2
Hot/Cold Fresh Water: Yes
Fully Equipped Galley: Yes
2 Burner Stove & Oven: Yes
Refrigeration - Top loading: 110 litres

In the Galley:
Soucepans, Frying pan, Baking Dish, Kettle, Mugs, Dinner Plates, Cereal Bowls, Knives, Forks, Dessert Spoons, Tea Spoons, Acrylic Drinking Glasses, Sharp Knives, Egg Flip, Mixing Bowls, Plastic Containers, Salad Bowls, Potato Peeler, Can Opener, Tongs & Salad Servers, Cork Screw Cutting Board.

General Items:
Spray & Wipe (spray cleaner), Toilet Paper, Garbage Bags (Trash), Foil, Paper Towels, Dishwashing Liquid, Scourer & Sponges, Guest Soap, Matches & Gas Lighter, Airfreshener, All bedding, Linen & Bath Towels, First Aid Kit with vinegar, Life Jackets (adults size), Wet Weather Jackets, Safety Equipment, Navigation Equipment, Snorkelling equipment.

Additional information

Operator Profile
The Operator offers luxury bareboat charters, sailing around the magical Whitsunday Islands near The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Bareboat, skipper yourself sailing charters or sailboat charters offer you the freedom and flexibility to create your own holiday itinerary depending on how YOU feel.

Thet have carefully chosen a fleet of top quality bareboat sailing yachts and other charter boats ranging from Yachts (sailboats), Catamarans, and Motor Cruisers designed with cruising, comfort and pleasure in mind to ensure your holiday in the whitsundays with the Operator is simply the best bareboat yacht charter you can have.

And remember when you rent a yacht for a boating holiday, you are hiring from a family owned and operated business dedicated to quality, service and of course YOU.

Location Direction

How do I get there?
The office and fleet are located at Abel Point marina in Airlie Beach, North Queensland, three hours south of Townsville, or 12 hours north of Brisbane (by car).

If you are driving, the Operator is only 20 minutes from the Bruce Highway. Just take the well-marked turn off at Proserpine, and follow the signs.

Mainland - Proserpine Airport (Whitsunday Coast): Virgin Blue, Jet Star
Island - Hamilton Island Airport - Virgin Blue, Jet Star, Qantas

For those arriving at Hamilton Island, there are frequent ferry departures to the mainland (Shute Harbour) or the Operator can arrange for your vessel to be delivered to you on the island. Relocation fee may apply.

Cruise Whitsunday depart from Hamilton Island airport to Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach, please contact the Operator for booking details.

FantaSea Cruises depart from Hamilton Island marina to Shute Harbour (mainland) please visit website www.fantasea.com.au.

There are bus, limo and taxi services between Proserpine Airport & Airlie Beach, which is approx. 35 - 40 mins away, (bookings are required).

Transport Information:
Queensland Rail operates regular services into Proserpine (26kms inland from Airlie Beach) The new Tilt Train will also be stopping at Proserpine as of June 15th 2003 in a north and south bound direction - phone on 132232 within Australia

Bus/Coach Information:
Coach companies (Greyhound, McCaffertys) regularly set down at Airlie Beach and Proserpine from most major cities and towns.

Road Distances:
By Car:  Road distances should you choose to drive:
               From                    to                  Airlie Beach
               Mackay                                          150km
               Townsville                                       291km
               Rockhampton                                 489km
               Cairns                                           640km
               Brisbane                                       1146km
               Sydney                                         2136km

Transfer Information:

Transfers to Airlie Beach from Proserpine Airport & Railway Station (travel time approx 35 mins)
  * Whitsunday Transit (coach) 07 49461 800
  * Whitsunday Taxi's 131 008
  * Airlie Beach Limousines 1800 700 246
  * Whitsunday Shuttle Service

Transfer to Shute Harbour (mainland) from all resort islands including Hamilton Airport (travel time 20 mins or more)
  *  Fantasea Cruises 07 4946 5111
  *  Cruise Whitsunday 07 4946 4662

Transfer to Airlie Beach from Shute Harbour (mainland) - (Travel time approx 15 mins.)
  * Whitsunday Transit (coach) 07 49461 800
  * Whitsunday Taxi's 131 008
  * Airlie Beach Limousines 1800 700 246

Whitsundays Introduction
The Whitsunday Islands are one of the best yacht charter sailing and cruising grounds in the world. Sheltered from the ocean swells by the Great Barrier Reef, the area is classed as having 'partially smooth water', which means a safe and enjoyable sailing/cruising area for any one.

Almost all of the islands are national parks, covered with trees and bush, creating the impression that they have yet to be discovered, and offer visitors a hint of adventure.

On the day of your departure, one of the qualified sail guides will spend 3 hours with you, briefing you on the area, and answering any questions you may have on the best places to visit and anchor, as well as take you through the vessel, advising where everything is and how it works. After loading your gear onboard, the sail/motor demonstration is completed and you are underway! Charters officially run from midday to 10.00am, however the Operator prefers to start your briefing at 9:30am (this must be confirmed by the office prior).

Navigation around the islands is quite easy with so many readily identifiable landmarks throughout the Whitsundays. On the day of charter, you receive a very comprehensive vessel and area briefing (between 2 - 4 hours depending on your experience level.) This includes making sure you are familiar with every aspect of the vessel itself, and a detailed outline of your charter area. An indication to the briefer of your itinerary will ensure you will see most of what you came to appreciate!

When sailing here, the tide is a major factor in planning your day. A copy of the tide tables for this area is provided onboard as part of the navigation equipment and the days high and low readings are part of the 'radio scheds' each morning at 9.10am. The tidal flow floods the area to the South, and ebbs to the North flowing around 3 knots. Where the islands are situated close together (Solway, Fitzallen and Hook Island passages) the tide flows at around 5 knots. So using the tide to your advantage when planning your day is important!

You don't need any formal qualifications or licence here and with some basic sailing knowledge almost anyone can enjoy a safe and exhilarating yacht charter sailing holiday with us. If you have no boating experience at all, you will benefit from having the briefer stay with you for the remainder of your first day for a reasonable cost. This way you will gain valuable knowledge, experience and confidence from a qualified (local) sailor.

Alternatively, you can gain experience before you arrive at your local sailing club or from a friend. Windskills Pty Ltd operate here in the Whitsundays at Abel Point Marina and groups of up to three can learn the finer points of sailing which covers such areas as, safety, rules of the road, anchoring & tides, ropework, navigation, distress, parts of a sailing boat, and sail theory. 

Unless you have chartered a vessel before, you probably have never anchored a boat, and again the briefer will explain and demonstrate the procedure in detail, to ensure a comfortable night in your chosen piece of paradise. Each island has it's own fringing reef system, and choosing your perfect anchorage is best done with the aid of a pair of Polaroid sunglasses! With the angle of sun to the water, anchoring before 4.00pm each day is required as this provides the bow person on 'lookout' the best chance of locating these reefs.

Reef protection markers with public moorings have been installed in sensitive areas in several locations around the islands including Butterfly Bay, Luncheon Bay, False Nara Inlet (Hook Island), Blue Pearl Bay (Hayman Island), Sunlovers Bay (Daydream Island) and Black Island Reef. These buoys are fixed to the bottom along the edge of the fringing reefs. You are required to either pick up one of the many buoys or anchor outside of the reef markers, thus protecting the coral from any damage. These markers and mooring buoys are clearly marked in the book '100 Magic Miles of The Great Barrier Reef' onboard every  vessel, and if you have any questions regarding the procedure, you can always radio the Operator for advise.

Whitsunday Weather
Nestled between the Great Barrier Reef and the North East coast of Queensland Australia, lies a breathtaking group of 74 islands called the Whitsundays. Situated at about latitude 20, the same as the Fijian Islands, the Whitsundays enjoy spectacular tropical weather nearly all year round. Temperatures are very rarely lower than 20 degrees Celsius during the day with average water temperatures at 26 degrees Celsius.

Bareboat yacht charters in The Whitsunday Islands, Australia allows you to visit a World Heritage Listed Marine National Park and apart from a sprinkling of 8 island resorts the area is basically untouched wilderness.

Each of the islands in the group has is own fringing reef system and special identity, some boast pristine white sandy beaches, others have spectacular bush walking tracks, waterfalls and even rainforests. Secluded coves and inlets are in abundance and are often no more than an hour or two’s sail apart.

Summers (December to February) are hot and balmy with occasional showers, but even these tend to be warm and refreshing. The trade winds are strongest between May and August, but a good sailing breeze can be enjoyed at anytime of the year. 

The Operator offers luxury bareboat charters, sailing around the magical Whitsunday Islands near The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Bareboat, skipper yourself sailing charters or sailboat charters offer you the freedom and flexibility to create your own holiday itinerary depending on how YOU feel.

The Whitsundays - the perfect holiday destination choice for a group of fun seeking friends, a couple looking for a romantic break on a bareboat yacht or just a good old fashioned family sailing holiday. Whether it's your first or tenth bareboat charter, the Whitsundays and the team from the Operator is sure to please.

Fill your days snorkelling amongst immense coral gardens, exploring deserted sun drenched beaches or just lie back and relax as you meander through World Heritage Listed Marine National Park. Drop anchor and overnight in one of the numerous picturesque bays, inlets or coves and relish in the tranquillity of dining on the deck of your own boat under a star studded sky. Or, pull up at one of the handful of Island resorts and enjoy all the resort has to offer, you can even take a day trip and dive the Great Barrier Reef. Airlie Beach and The Whitsundays has something for everyone! Bareboat or fully crewed charters - the choice is yours.

A suggested bareboat charter itinerary for the Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands offer the ultimate sailing/cruising experience, so set your course for the island of your dreams! The itinerary is up to YOU.

There are 8 resorts on 7 of the islands, and each one offers the guest something different. Let the Operator now whet your appetite with a sample itinerary for a 7 night charter.....

Day One:
Once you have completed you briefings set sail across the Whitsunday Passage to Nara Inlet on Hook Island. This is a fjord like inlet and if you wish to go ashore there are caves with Aboriginal rock paintings and waterfalls to explore.

Day Two:
Head south down the Passage to Cid Harbour on Whitsunday Island. Taking in the clean unpolluted water and the purest of air. This is a truly picturesque anchorage. You can take a bush walk or sit back and enjoy the quiet, peaceful setting, on the azure blue waters.

Day Three:
Cruise to Hamilton Island and enjoy everything this cosmopolitan resort has to offer. This is not just a resort, but an island village with a lifestyle all of its own. There are numerous activities to choose from or you can just relax at the pool bar. The restaurants would satisfy any food lover’s passion and budget.

Day Four:
Set sail for spectacular Whitehaven Beach. This magnificent 5km white sandy beach is 98% pure white silica. Squeaky clean and dazzling to see, set off by the contrasting aquamarine blue of the water. Anchor here for the night or just opposite at Chalkies Beach on Hazelwood Island. At the Northern end of Whitehaven Beach, you can climb to the lookout and experience the spectacular panoramic views of Hill Inlet.

Day Five:
Once you have enjoyed your breakfast and fed the fish in the crystal clear waters. Head off north to beautiful Cateran Bay on Border Island. Here you can experience fabulous snorkelling and see the reefs teeming with colourful fish.

Day Six:
Sail north to the tip of Hook Island and enter a snorkelling paradise. Discover numerous bays where the turquoise waters lap up to the coral sand beaches. They offer wilderness anchorage's and a metropolis of marine life amongst the coral forest. Stay the night at Stonehaven or Butterfly Bay, in readiness for your morning sail back down the passage.

Day Seven:
A leisurely sail down to South Molle Island. If you are feeling energetic you can climb Island’s Peak to enjoy stunning views of the surrounding islands. Or take advantage of the islands diversions such as golf, tennis, water-skiing. Celebrate the last night of your charter sitting on deck watching the sunset and the darkened sky become a glitter of stars.

Day Eight:
After breakfast set sail for Abel Point Marina and enjoy the views of the surrounding islands where the tropical rainforest is met by the coral sea. The Operator shall meet you upon you return and bring the yacht back into the marina for you.

More Itinerary Ideas:

Itinerary for 7 nights - Winds moderate SE
Set off from Abel Point Marina after your briefing and set sail for Stonehaven Anchorage. Pick up a mooring and snorkel the vast reef system. (Public moorings in place here and time limit of 2 hours applies) or you can anchor outside the protected area.

Head off to Luncheon Bay for more snorkelling and lunch. Overnight at Butterfly Bay (Public moorings in place here and time limit of 2 hours applies, or you can anchor outside the protected area.)

Head south to Cateran Bay on Boarder Island (map reference C29 page 206) for lunch. Public moorings in place here and time limit of 2 hours apples, or you can anchor outside the protected area.. Overnight at Tongue Bay (three public moorings here)

Set sail for Whitehaven Beach and enjoy the pure silica sand. After lunch head over to Chalkie's Beach (or Stockyard Beach) on Haselwood Island (just East of there) and anchor for the night.

Head off to Hamilton Island for the night. You will need a booking, so radio the Operator for one, preferably the day before. You can fill up your water, take on fuel if needed and dispose of any rubbish as well. Charges apply.

Set off for Sawmill Bay on Cid Harbour after breakfast. This very large harbour is an all weather anchorage, popular with bareboat visitors.

Or, you can visit Peppers Palm Bay Resort for a night of pampering. This exclusive resort caters to the quiet pursuit of relaxation. Charges apply and a booking is required, preferably 24 hours or more in advance.

Itinerary ideas are formatted during your charter briefing. Itinerary suggestions can be found prior to this in the navigation book '100 Magic Miles of The Great Barrier Reef' by David Colfelt.