– Revealing the Entire Leopard Range –
The Purr-fect Feline Glitter
The entire Leopard Catamaran range of Sail and Power Catamarans will be available for personal viewing by appointment throughout 2023.
– Revealing the Entire Leopard Range –
The Purr-fect Feline Glitter
The entire Leopard Catamaran range of Sail and Power Catamarans will be available for personal viewing by appointment throughout 2023.
– Corsair 880 –
Drive Out, Fold Out, Thrill Out, Chill Out ...
The long-awaited new Corsair 880 brings new charisma to the 28ft folding trimaran concept and is coming to Australia this year.
– Fusion 40 - Kangaroo –
Not strictly speaking a charter yacht review but nevertheless a long journey worth following.
– 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.
- 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.
– A Candid Look at the Sea Wander's Life –
Dawn starts – worth getting up early for!
Are you toying with the idea of living the sailing life, but not sure what to expect? Or not sure how easy the transition to a nomadic sea existence would be? Being in her fourth year on a sailing catamaran, Chris Danger sheds some light on the matter for us.
– 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.
– Outremer 55 - White Stallion of the Sea –
When the Outremer design team sat down to brainstorm their next performance cruising catamaran concept, they didn’t have to turn far for inspiration. With a 35 year history building high performance cruising catamarans and winner three times for European Boat of the Year for their Outremer 49, Outremer 5X and Outremer 4X, performance and cruising is part of their DNA. But look outside their window at the Gunboat shipyard, owned by the same parent company Grand Large Yachting, one of the most iconic high performance catamarans of our generation rolls off the production line, the Gunboat 68.
– Lightning and Lockdown –
If you sail offshore for long enough, go enough places and explore your boundaries and limits with wind and sea conditions, you are likely to have a few disasters strike. I had thought most had happened to me. Until Boxing Day in Cairns. At the time Whim was nestled safely on her jetty.
– When the Honeymoon is Over –
I’ve purchased a few multihulls over the years. There is a wonderful anticipatory excitement when you have finally handed over the money and the yacht is finally yours. The first few weeks and months are very much a honeymoon period – filled with exploration, discoveries, new sensations, and acceptance of the little things because the big picture stuff is so damn good.
Discover the new Excess 14
The Excess 14 is the pure incarnation of the Excess DNA. It is the result of a dedicated design work and an industrial execution, unique to the brand. It is a cruising yacht that is both fun and playful, with sleek lines.
New Skills and New Friends Made at the Seawind & Corsair Pittwater Regatta
On the 6th & 7th of October, the annual Seawind & Corsair Pittwater Regatta brought together a mixed fleet of 15 multihulls travelling from Brisbane, Port Stephens, Sydney and Jervis Bay to participate in a weekend of fun and social sailing in an event that has more than 20 years heritage.
– Lagoon 55 - Curvaceous Cat –
The Lagoon 55 promises to be a comfortable long-range cruising yacht. Image Lagoon
Curvaceous and vastly spacious, the newly launched Lagoon 55 is a quiet evolution o this cruising marque, reports Kevin Green.
LAGOON 60
Redefining The 60-foot Sailing Catamaran Experience
Discover unparalleled luxury with the Lagoon 60, the latest release from Lagoon Catamarans. Boasting an expansive flybridge, saloon bathed in natural light, fluid layouts, and innovative opening side terraces, this 60 footer is unlike anything on the market.
Quentin Beraut, Lagoons Project Manager explains, "The Lagoon 60 will be the link between our 55 and the SIXTY 5, drawing inspiration from both models.” The team integrated the innovative design of the 55's rear half, especially the cockpit area that resonates deeply with the ocean, and blended it with notable features from the Lagoon SIXTY 5, like the forward door, achieving a seamless fusion of the finest elements from both models.
Where Great Begins
Self-confessed reef addicts, Chris and Wade on Anui, have spent an extended time in the southernmost part of the Great Barrier Reef and declare “this is where Great begins” in more ways than one.
During a time with more heartache, health concerns and boat maintenance than is fair for one cruising couple to handle, being able to spend several weeks at the reefs of the Capricorn and Bunker Group is a godsend. These coral cays and reefs are the southernmost of the Great Barrier Reef. This really is where Great in the Great Barrier Reef begins and where we have felt contented at last. Situated some 30-55nm offshore and adjacent to the coastal towns of Bundaberg, Gladstone, 1770 and Yeppoon, these jewels are on a line running southeast to northwest, from Lady Elliott Island at the southern end, to North Island at the very northern end of the group.
There is an extraordinary amount to explore. The Capricorn and Bunker Group comprises 22 reefs with 16 permanent coral islands known as cays which are breeding sites for many seabirds and marine turtles. Although not all reefs and cays can be visited since some are reserved for scientific research, many are readily accessible and offer wondrous experiences. Between snorkeling, diving, birdwatching, kayaking and fishing (outside the green conservation zone of course), there is plenty to enjoy when the weather conditions are light.
Be Unique – Own a share in the
new Bali 4.4 ‘Halyna’ this summer
Sail Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Newcastle (visit the Hunter Valley), Pittwater and Sydney during this summer. Relocate to Queensland and the Whitsundays next April for the winter. As an owner of ‘Halyna’ these places will all be within your reach with the yacht managed by Yacht Share Mariner.
– Cat Not Dog part II –
In the second of a two-part enquiry, Alex Stone continues with the main considerations to be taken into account when buying a modern cruising multihull.
– Spirited 230 Re-Imagined! –
Side view of the updated Spirited 230 MK2 design.
The Spirited 230 has been a popular model with a large family of happy owners. As with most things there is always a time when they need a modern twist and include any improvements where required.
– Proa-Active ptII –
Continuing the saga of proas, and Rob Denney’s development of the modern HarryProa. We are up to where the tried and tested practical ideas hit the water.
– Andaman 50 - by Catathai –
A matter of timing has brought about this new design – the Catathai Andaman 50. Fast, light, no comforts missing aboard, a dagger-board, performance ocean cruising catamaran.