Whitsunday Sailing Rules, Queensland
All The Information You Need In Order To Stick To Queensland, Australia Sailing Rules That Apply To The Whitsundays.
Although you don’t need a license to charter and skipper a boat in the Whitsundays, there are Whitsunday sailing rules, Queensland that you will need to adhere to get about safely and so as to not damage the vessel or the coral. All sailing and charter companies will offer you a free refresher talk or beginner briefing before you head out so as to get a grasp of the basic aspects of sailing the region. They are good for getting to know the ropes and to get by, although there is no substitute to having sailing lessons and there are not many better places in the world than learning in the Whitsundays.
Whitsunday Sailing School offers an introduction to bare-boating – a charter that you skipper yourself – and one day courses will give an overview of sailing and navigation. You will learn fundamental sailing techniques, including navigation and anchoring, as well as terminology, safety procedures and a bit of theory. Although this particular course is not certified, it gives a good introduction to sailing and is ideal for those who don’t feel comfortable with just a brief introduction. There are also certificated courses, including a two-day sailing course and multi-day competent crew and skipper courses. All courses will enable you to get a better understanding of Whitsunday sailing rules, Queensland.
It is also important to realize that mooring up to designated buoys within the national marine park is a requirement. Many of the bays are especially sensitive, where fringe reef corals have been damaged through indiscriminate anchoring. These public mooring buoys are easily spotted as they are blue with a color-coded band and have instructions. You are generally allowed two hours at any buoy and can moor up for the evening if you make it after 15:00. One thing to remember is that wherever there are buoys, no anchoring is allowed in between it and the shore. You are permitted to anchor further offshore, however. The most popular islands all have buoys in each bay, including those of Hook Island and Hayman Island, while Hamilton Island, the most popular island, has its own marina.
Once you have Whitsunday sailing rules, Queensland sussed out, you can head out to and sail around any of the 74 Whitsunday Islands. Some of them are privately owned, such as Hamilton Island, but you can also visit these. The exception is Hayman Island, which is also private and requires that you have a reservation at the exclusive resort there before you can visit. Most people make a beeline for Hamilton Island on a sailing trip around the Whitsundays. It easily has the best facilities, with its own marina and hotels, restaurants and shops, and even comes with an airport. Nearby Whitsunday Island (the largest in the chain) is also hugely popular and is best known for its three-mile long Whitehaven Beach. Wherever you go, be sure to moor up and go for a swim or snorkel and check out some secluded shores.
