6 Night Schooner Yacht Sailing Experience

Windjammer is a 72' gaff rigged schooner designed along the lines of the trading and fishing schooners that worked the Grand Banks in the North Atlantic and plied the east coast of America for 200 years. These classic schooners, handled by small crews, formed the hub of the trading industry and the basis for a thousand books written on small sailing ships.

Launched in 1994, Windjammer is considered to be one of the most beautiful yachts ever built in Australia. She epitomises the grandest of schooner qualities, sailing at speeds of 10 knots or more on the beam and broad reaches. With 2000 ft of sail area and raked masts she is indeed a spectacular sight.

Whilst built in the best traditions of her era, offering sailing as it was in yester year, that is where Windjammer's resemblance to her predecessors ends. Below decks she is luxuriously appointed displaying a timeless elegance. New Guinea rosewood adorns the interior with fittings reminiscent of a bygone era. Windjammer is a classic example of elegant lines and fine craftsmanship.

The large uncluttered decks are ideal for soaking up the warm tropical sunshine. The comfortable lounge area on deck is perfect for alfresco dining or just curling up with your favourite book. Good food is an essential ingredient in our guest's enjoyment of this cruise. Fresh, seasonal produce is used to prepare a delicious range of meals each day. Special diets can also be catered for.

Windjammer is fully crewed with a captain, cook/hostess and deckhand. However guests are encouraged to take the wheel and tend the sheets, or for the more adventurous, climb the ratlines and fine tune the canvas 70 feet above the deck. Whether you want an active or relaxing holiday, the professional attentive crew will ensure you enjoy a memorable sailing experience in the Whitsunday Islands

Itinerary Sample

Saturday: Boarding at 1.00 p.m. - Depart Airlie Beach for Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island for snorkelling and our overnight anchorage.

Sunday: Explore the numerous bays and fringing reefs of Northern Hook Island.

Monday: Sail to Nara Inlet for a hike through rainforests to view ancient Aboriginal rock art. After lunch, set sail for our overnight anchorage at South Molle Island.

Tuesday: Hike to Mt Jeffries for a bird's eye view of the 74 Whitsunday Islands. Depart for Shute Harbour. Disembark at 11.00am. Reboard and depart Shute Harbour at 12.30 p.m. for Cataran Bay on Border Island for our overnight anchorage.

Wednesday: Snorkel the fringing reefs of Border Island, before setting sail for famous Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island for swimming and beachcombing or a walk to the lookout at Hill Inlet.

Thursday: Sail through Solway Pass via Hamilton Island to South Molle Island. At South Molle you can go ashore to visit the resort or explore one of the many national park walking trails.

Friday: Sail back to Abel Point Marina to disembark at 10.00 a.m.

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach is renowned as one of the top ten beaches in the world. Its shallows are graced by various species of turtles, and these ancient creatures are often sighted during daily visits. At the right tide time, the view Whitehaven beach is reached only by boat. There is no accommodation so if you don’t have accommodation on a boat you can only day trip -- no campers. Whitehaven Beach is a pristine beach on Whitsunday Island, the largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays.

Whitehaven Beach stretches over six kilometres and boasts brilliant silica sand that is among the purest in the world. Renowned as one of the top ten beaches in the world, Whitehaven Beach is located on Whitsunday Island, the largest island in the region and is fully protected and uninhabited due to its National and Marine Park status. Its shallows are graced by various species of turtles, and these ancient creatures are often sighted during daily visits.