Where to Sail

Hi - Does someone more experienced then me want to suggest a sailing route. I don't believe it should be too onerous as we want to take it easy and relax but having a general route with places to dock for the night would be useful.

I'll see what I can come up with

Menu

Lucia has lots of experience in food provisioning for extended sailing expeditions. If you have any food allergies or specific requests, let the crew know. Click on edit (the little pencil icon, bottom right of this post) to add your suggestions/requests.

*Breakfast:
+ Adrian - Oat Pancakes, bacon and fresh fruit. Granola with yogurt and fruit.
+ Bob - low fat strawberry yogurt, Canadian maple syrup if we are having pancakes/french toast + Lucia - Fresh fruit, mangoes, passionfruits,kiwi,banana and the yummiest greek yogurt they make in Australia. Museli
+ Juice

*Lunch:
+ Adrian - Sandwiches – Tuna Salad, Hummus, PB&J. (Multigrain / rye crispbread (Wasa/Ryvita) / traditional German rye.), veggie & beef burgers with potato/green salad.
+ Lucia - mix wraps, GC Beets, yummy dips & crackers, OK - icky olives for those who love them.

*Dinner:
+ Adrian - Lamb, Mushroom and Pepper skewers with wraps
+ Adrian - BBQ ribs, salmon, foil roasted sweet potatoes/ yams and veggies
+ Bob - salads (pasta/noodle/potato, seafood, chicken). Light dinners if we are not active. Hopefully everyone is game to have a few meals ashore.
+ Lucia - BBQ Chicken, cous cous, steaks, crab salad

* Snacks
+ Sharon's homemade cookies - Lucia & Bob will start lobbying for that. Byron, is your kitchen equipped for a gourmet wizard to make a couple of batches?
+ Lucia - Picnic bars, mango weiss, Lindt
+ mixed vege's for snackin' on, and fruit (apples/oranges/grapes etc)

Onboard Cuisine

Just thinking ahead to food and snacks on board. Byron and I are going to organize the supplies and I need to know dietary needs.

Does anyone have any allergies or food sensitivities?

Do you have any snack or food preferences?

Byron mentioned that those of you that have cruised together before had taken turns being in charge in the kitchen (for those who want to of course). If you had a favourite specialty you like to prepare, let me know and I can ensure we get the ingredients for you.

Liquor of course you'll need to sort out on your own. I suggest if you are coming into Brisbane or Sydney as you arrive there is a Duty Free just before customs and the prices are very competitive. Then you'll be changing terminals for any domestic flights and I suggest you slip it in you checked.

As Byron will have a vehicle and possibly Bob we can sort getting people from Mackay airport to the boat. Along with a liquor barn run for any additional wine or beer you need.

Any other suggestions?

Travel Plans

Hey everyone.... I am just booking my flight plans. I can get into Bisbaine on my points but then need to find a regional carrier to get up to Prosperpine....

I'm planning to spend an extra week at the end of the trip and wondering what everyone's plans are. Should I head back to Brisbaine or try to get my return flight out of Sydney instead? I am wide open at this point but want to get the tickets locked down by the weekend.

Cheers,

Christian

Scuba diving?

Does anyone else scuba dive? Adrian (coworker and sailing buddy) invited me to join you on your Whitsunday sailing charter. I don't know yet if I can make it but if I go, I'd love to dive the reefs. The Whitsunday Escapes web site indicates you can rent diving equipment, but it doesn't appear that the yacht has an air compressor. So how do we refill the tanks?

PS
Byron we met ever so briefly at Pender Harbour this year.

Back from the BVI's....

Cheers everyone.

I'm home at last from the grueling shakedown cruise in the BVI's.... It was an adventure beyond my expectations. Amazing winds, bath temperature water, great snorkeling, flying fish, turtles, rays, sharks, one eyed pirates, lots of food and drink and fantastic dancing and partying on shore!!

We had 5 boats altogether and more adventures that I can count. Given my experience having 2 boats is a great idea.... we had more than a few maintenance problems and having a second crew around to lend a hand is a godsend when you blow out your mainsail, loose an engine, burst a water tank and run out of water, snap your mainsheet, tangle up your lazy jacks, kick a cactus, need stitches on your knee or just want someone new to rub on the sunscreen or run out of rum!!

I'll post some pictures once I get settled. I'm going to start looking into flights tomorrow.

Cheers,

Christian.

Ladies & Lads - hope you are all well especially the one sailing in the BVI lucky for you :-)

Well Dec is nearly over and Jan is fast approaching - remember I have to make full payment by 21st Jan so hopefully you are all working on flights etc.

I believe it is snowing in Vancouver at present, enjoy the cold - it is hot, sunny at 31 Deg in Brisbane

Anyway - hope you all have a great Christmas and don't get to wet and soggy

Here's to March 2009 and all future sailing events around the world

Cheers Byron

Itinerary suggestions?

I know the charter company makes a suggested itinerary or two, and there's probably a few other sites with suggested destinations too.

Although they do feature some great spots, they can be busy because they are on the itinerary suggested. I was wondering if anyone knows of any "spots" that might not be on the regular tourist route. Or have spots they particularly want to head to? Little more flexibility but still having a plan to maximize on the experience.

I do know that the recommend stop of either back to the mainland or Hamilton island will be a high priority for both refueling and supplying.

Getting there...

How many do we have flying from Vancouver? I have been looking at some cost for flights using Traveljet and Kayak. It seems that it might be cheaper to fly into MacKay and bus it to Airlie Beach from there. I'm thinking of flying in on the 20th of Mar and back on the 5th of Apr.
Any thoughts?

commitments

Sailors - I've managed to work out this site and got my mug shot posted as well

So we have solid commitments from the following

Byron
Christian
Adrian
Bob
Lucia
Don
Dave

One more and the 50" is 100% definate and the cost will be AU$1000.00 each. Five more and I'll book the Cat (well someone else will have to book the Cat as they will not let me have two yachts concurrently)

Byron

Does this work - Is anyone there ?

Welcome!

This is a place where we can share ideas, keep track of activities, communicate to the group etc. You have the ability to post items as you see fit. Look to the top right for "New Post" and please comment on posting to answer questions, provide opinions or thoughts.

We are looking to sail for 10 nights between 23/3 to no later than 4/4, 2009.
Whitsunday Escape's charter base is located at Abel Point Marina. WhitSunday Escape at Airlie Beach, lots of info on their site.
Yacht is booked from the 23rd Mar to the 2nd of Apr.
Secured prices for Cat AUD 5600, 50" AUD 5950.