– Fusion With An American Accent –
The journey of a couple who built the catamaran of their dreams and then went sailing – the hows, whys, and wherefores of it all.
– All New Leopard 53 Powercat –
This dream catcher takes cutting edge design and performance to dizzy new heights.
- Milestone in the Whitsundays -
We had planned a 10 day stay in the Whitsundays to celebrate a milestone birthday and were thrilled to be invited to join friends on a boat to cruise the islands. What a destination to start such an adventure with my family and friends.
We were met at the marina on Hamilton Island and walked down to the boat with some trepidation. I must admit that my boating experiences were very limited with only a day spent on a 42ft monohull. I recall heeling over at an alarming angle (to me) whilst clinging onto each child. I had put on a brave face thinking sailing isn’t for me. With this memory in mind, I was both relieved and delighted when we approached this glistening new power catamaran. Our friends had chartered her through Whitsunday Rent a Yacht and Lady Lynne a Leopard 46 was to be our new home for a cruise around the Whitsundays
As we walked aboard the excitement and anticipation quickly elevated any previous anxiety. I was amazed that this boat had all the modern features of a luxurious apartment. Panoramic views through the saloon which lead straight out to the bow through an opening door. On top was a huge enclosed flybridge and aft was a back deck large enough to entertain all of us in the utmost comfort.
There are three dining areas, one on the aft deck one on a flybridge and another in the saloon. The main galley was furnished with a stand-up fridge freezer, dishwasher, bar fridge, filtered water and the most impressive set of appliances that made me want to remodel my own kitchen at home.
We were led to our spacious cabins on the portside. My two young daughters shared a forward double cabin and we were aft, each cabin had its own bathroom/shower and air-conditioning. Luxury!
After a comprehensive briefing we departed the marina past the Hamilton Island Yacht Club and then swiftly motored along the south coast of Whitsunday Island. We cruised from the front deck which could be accessed either from either side deck or through the saloon. This gave us an uninterrupted view, fresh air and room to relax. As we passed through Solway passage, we rounded the headland and we were met with the expansive vista of Whitehaven Beach perfectly framed with white cumulus clouds, aqua marine water and pine cover peaks.
Whitehaven is famous for its fine silica sands and stretches as far as the eye can see. Deploying the tender off an electric platform I felt I was o n the set of an Ian Fleming movie. We tendered ashore and in minutes where bathing in what can only be described as paradise on earth. Our girls were super excited to practise their snorkelling skills so no sooner had we set foot on this idyllic beach they reached for their dive skins and masks in eagerness for ‘finding Nemo’ on the fringing reefs over the coming days.
Back aboard for a late lunch we continued north along this impressive beach to find our anchorage at Tongue Bay. As the sun set, constellations and myriad stars appeared in full view from the flybridge and from the aft deck we watched garfish darting across our stern as they played (and feasted) through our blue underwater lights.
The Whitsundays in summer?
The weather was settled for the four days aboard with south easterlies around 15-20kts for the first three days with a change to light northerlies at the end of the charter. Our friends had planned an anti-clockwise trip around Whitsunday Island to take advantage of following seas and planned stops at Border Island, Stonehaven, Butterfly Bay and Black Island to the north. The latter were stand out snorkelling and luncheon spots with conveniently placed mooring balls close to the fringing reefs along with a desert island beach on the tip on Black Island.
An overnight anchorage in Nara Inlet was quite unexpected as views are more akin to Norwegian fiords than the tropical playground. The sounds of pheasant, coucal and sulphur crested cocktatoos echoed up the channel as we motored past a dozen catamarans for another night aboard with birthday celebrations, music, laughter, fine food and great company.
We continued our journey back down the Whitsunday passage cutting between north and South Molle to stop at the northern tip in Lovers Cove for a light lunch before cruising down The Narrows with our favourite tunes piped around the vessel.
It is strange how quickly you adjust to living on a boat. Waking before sunrise to watch the changing colors across the sky and ocean and setting sun across the Whitsunday Passage.
Dropping the anchor at Mays Bay we all boarded the dinghy once more for our last magical adventure around the empty anchorage. Turning the motor off, we drifted slowly, all silently grinning and watching the sun set over the mainland. I knew that all of us, including our daughters, felt that same serenity that night, wishing the boat trip wasn’t coming to an end so soon. As we came out of our reverie, I had already started discussing our next family boating getaway. We could plan an overseas trip but with the Whitsundays just over an hour away from Brisbane there is still too much for us to see and explore on our own doorstep.
– Afloat in Lockdown –
Sunset view from our cockpit ... the neighbouring cat Wildfire and Raymond Island.
With millions of us lying low to limit the spread of COVID-19, how do you manage being cooped up for days on end when your home is a boat? Christine Danger gives us a rundown on how the Anui crew faced the challenge of living afloat in lockdown.
– Fusion 40 - Kangaroo –
Not strictly speaking a charter yacht review but nevertheless a long journey worth following.
– DIY tri Capturing Imaginations Worldwide –
Wayne Barrett has been building boats for 50 years, many of them world renowned. His latest venture is a DIY trimaran kit that embodies his half-century of expertise and celebrates “the joy of building and sailing your own creation”.
– Imagine a Life of Luxury ...
GBS - For Sale
Imagine this ...
Walking along the dock, the overlooking hulls cast an impressive shadow across the walkway.
You step aboard, greeted with champagne by your hostess.
The expansive cockpit welcomes you and walking below deck you find yourself in the luxurious master cabin. Welcome Home.
Every small detail has been exceptionally thought out.
Without even knowing you’ve left the dock and you’re heading into the harbour, with the captain at the helm all you have to worry about is not letting your bubbles go warm.
– The Quad 44 Electric Catamaran –
The cruising catamaran reimagined and redefined for the 21st Century
Quad Marine has announced the imminent production of the Quad 44, which the company notes is ‘the cruising catamaran reimagined and redefined for the 21st Century.’ The design is the result of 15-year development project to eliminate the flaws and usability problems with traditional catamarans.4 into the hands of boaters everywhere.
– Outremer 4X –
Light Wind Assassin
In 2018 the Outremer 4X became the first production catamaran to race in the famous singlehanded Route du Rhum from France to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean and it placed a very respectable fifth, just behind the world famous multihull racer Loick Pyeron who in fact helped develop the 4X.
– Lagoon 40 –
Petite Performer
Families looking for an entry-level catamaran that can sleep up to six, yet not break the bank of Monte Carlo could do well to check out the Lagoon 40, reports KEVIN GREEN.
– Lagoon 46 –
Smooth Operator
The new Lagoon 46 reflects decades of experience in the creation of comfortable and seaworthy cruising catamarans, reports KEVIN GREEN.
– Fantastic Sailing conditions for
Eagle Class 53’s Updated Hybrid Wing –
Taking off from Bristol Marine in Rhode Island with a steady 15kts of breeze, the Eagle Class 53 lapped upd the flat water between Britol and the Newport bridge. Tommy Gonzales and his crew had a great few hours blasting in brilliant sunshine. They made it look easy, getting around this piece of water was quick, especially with the screecher up. All worked very nicely with the Nybrid Wing freshly re-covered with ORATEX®
– My Co-Skipper –
Sometimes Chaos, Sometimes Harmony
Over the years I have written many articles about seamanship, adventures, crossings and the odd disaster. Behind the scene in most of the personal stories has been my co-skipper, Catherine. I think it is time to tell her backstory.
– The Dalmatian Coast Aboard Our Bali 4.1 –
Choosing which yacht to buy is not easy and catamarans are no exception to the rule. That’s why my wife and I decided to go to the La Grande Motte show in April 2017, as a first step, to see and compare the available models between 39’ and 42’ likely to suit us.
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