For the ultimate Whitsundays yacht charter and crewed sailing adventures

OVERVIEW

Cruise the Whitsundays in style and grace on an old tall ship the Whitsunday Magic. We are positive the features aboard Whitsunday Magic will help to create the perfect Whitsunday Island Escape as you tour on our island cruise.    

Whitsunday Magic has all gear and Dive Team on the vessel.

Information about Scuba Diving in the Whitsunday Islands Great Barrier Reef.
For both 1st time and certified divers with a history of asthma, ear or heart conditions, you will may not be able to dive unless a current Australian Diving Medical Certificate can be provided to the Dive Instructor. All Introductory Divers over the age of 55 must provide a current Diving Medical Certificate. The minimum age for Introductory Diving is 12 years. A parent of guardian must sign a document on behalf of all divers under the age of 18 prior to any diving activities being undertaken. A Doctor who can issue Australian Diving Medical Certificates is located close to our Check-in Office in Airlie Beach.

Please check out our other tour the Reef Cruise.

 

• Services of Captain, Purser, Chef and Crew
• All Meals with Morning and Afternoon Tea
• Snorkelling Gear and Instruction, Guided Walks on Islands
• Glass Bottom Boat Tours of the Coral Reefs
• Local Courtesy Transfers to/from Airlie Beach to Marina or Shute Harbour

Hamilton Island Airport Transfers on a Monday maybe via a Ferry which will meet with the boat and transfer guests direct to the airport.  ** Guests from Hamilton Island, to join the Island Cruise on a Monday may be transferred to Airlie Beach via a Ferry to join the cruise.

Monday - 4:00pm depart from Abel Point Marina and sail to Hook Island for overnight stop.

Tuesday - Early morning walk to look out at Nara Inlet.  Mid morning Sail around to Whitehaven Beach.  Afternoon at beach before sailing north to Border Island or the Northern end of Hook Island for overnight stop.

Wednesday - Spend today snorkelling or diving on the Fringing Coral Reefs which extend right from the edge of the islands.  This afternoon sail around to the western of Hook Island.  Overnight at Blue Pearl Bay, Langford Reef or Caves Cove.

Thursday - Early morning swim or Snorkel, before setting sail for Airlie Beach.  Return to Abel Point Marina at Airlie Beach at 1:00pm.  Courtesy transfer to Airlie Beach.

Small Ship Cruising the Whitsundays..... Under the Romance of Sail 3 or 6 Night Cruises

Check in Procedure

FRIDAY DEPARTURE Guest travelling on the 3 day 3 night Whitsunday
Magic REEF Tour, or 6 day 6 night ISLAND AND REEF Cruise departing
Friday afternoon should check in for a trip briefing by 2pm.
This departure is at Abel Point Marina Airlie Beach.

MONDAY DEPARTURE Guests travelling on the 3 day 3 night ISLAND
Cruise, departing Monday afternoon have two options:

1. If guests fly into Hamilton Island, they transfer to the mainland on a Ferry. Please advise so the Operator can assist arrange a Boarding Time and Location at Hamilton Island. Please re-confirm pickup location on Hamilton Island with the Reservations Team at least 48 hours before pickup.

2. Guests boarding from the mainland, should check-in at our
office by 2.00pm. We will provide courtesy transfers to join the cruise.

Vessel Features:
3 Masted Mediterranean style Schooner, purpose built in Turkey in 1994, purchased by the Operator in 2004 and refurbished in August 2007.

18 Air conditioned cabins each with toilet, basin, hot shower and 240 volt AC power. Formal air conditioned Dining Room and Bar, TV and DVDs, large aft shaded lunch / viewing deck, bow net, cabin-top observation / sun deck with mattresses, glass bottom tender for coral and reef viewing. Professional Crew, including onboard chef to prepare gourmet cuisine not to be missed. Full bar facility and onboard cellar – if you have a
favourite wine request from the cellar, please ask the Operator at the time of booking.

Location Direction:
Travel to Whitsundays
Airlie Beach is located 1150kms north of Brisbane & 630kms south of Cairns.

By ROAD – follow the Bruce Highway. The turn off to Airlie Beach is at Proserpine. Express Coach services are available with Greyhound or Premier. All major Car Hire companies have agencies in Airlie Beach.

By PLANE – flights are available from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Whitsunday Coast Airport (near Proserpine), or Hamilton Island Airport.

TRANSFERS – Whitsunday Coast Airport. Coach, Shuttle, or Taxi services meet each flight, and it takes approximately 35 minutes to get to Airlie Beach. From Hamilton Island Airport transfers to Shute Harbour are available with Blue Ferries, or via a light plane to the mainland with Island Air Taxis. Then transfer to Airlie Beach via Coach or Taxi.

Operator profile
The Operator is an owner-operated company with 20 years of chartering experience. The professional crew will safely navigate the vessel to beautiful islands, anchorages and coral reefs. You will visit unforgettably pristine locations. The magical Whitsunday Islands have many smooth-water bays and coves, so overnight anchorages are calm and pleasant for sleeping.

Each day will offer new and exciting experiences ... there is time to SNORKEL coral reefs, visit stunning BEACHES including the world famous Whitehaven Beach, and go for island bush WALKS. For those guests wishing to SCUBA DIVE, the Operator will meet with a Dive Boat and introductory or certified dives are available.

While underway, sit back and take in the extraordinary scenery and, if you feel inclined, help the crew… pull the lines … trim the sails … and learn about sailing.

The philosophy is to keep it casual so your tour is relaxing and memorable. The Operator takes pride in making the guest's sailing holiday in the Whitsundays just perfect.The Operator has a world class fleet of yachts, that are well maintained, crews who are great with people, plus extremely competent sailors.

Commenced operations in 1985 - Longest established Fully Crewed Live-aboard Sailing Operator in The Whitsundays, carrying approximately 16,000 guests per year.

The company is owner operated & has two operating divisions.

The Operator takes pride in making the guest's sailing holiday in the Whitsundays just perfect. The Operator has a world class fleet of yachts, that are well maintained, crews who are great with people, plus extremely competent sailors.

Commenced operations in 1985 - Longest established Fully Crewed Live-aboard Sailing Operator in The Whitsundays, carrying approximately 16,000 guests per year.

The company is owner operated & has two operating divisions.

STORIES BY JOURNALIST'S AFTER SAILING ON SOLWAY LASS IN THE WHITSUNDAYS

Story by Sue Fuller
"If you haven't sailed the Whitsundays, you haven't lived," When I clambered aboard the beautiful old tallship, Solway Lass at Airlie Beach, life so noticeably slowed that I could have tossed my watch overboard. For the next three days and nights, meal times were heralded by delicious aromas and "cocktail hour" began when the sun dipped a reasonable distance towards the horizon.

In 2002, Solway Lass celebrated her 100th birthday, having started her life as a sail powered cargo vessel, built in 1902 in the Netherlands.

She's had a long and tumultuous history, and the Solway's crew love to share her colourful past with a maximum of 32 guests on board at any one time. Seized as a prize of war by the British in 1915 and used as a Q-ship during World War One, she was again seized by the Germans in World War Two, before being badly damaged by a mine. After the war, the Solway Lass set sail for warmer waters and plied the South Pacific as a cargo vessel, eventually falling into disrepair.

Totally rebuilt, Solway Lass took pride of place in the 1st Fleet re-enactment during the Bicentennial Year before travelling north to the Whitsundays, where she is understandably the pride and joy of Airlie Beach-based Southern Cross Sailing Adventures.

With 10 sails and 5,500 square feet of sail area, this is sailing for grown-ups in fully-catered comfort! You can do as little or as much as you like, and during the voyage, nearly everyone joined in the fun of learning to hoist and trim sails or have a go at taking the helm.

While the creak and groan of timber deck is an age-old sound, rest assured life below deck is comfortably modern. Solway Lass is air-conditioned and has 11 cabins for 32 guests, with a choice of double or twin cabins or four-share. There's a bar, and bathrooms complete with hot showers; just the thing for rinsing off the day's salt water. Appetites were unfailingly hearty and food on the Solway Lass was fresh, delicious and plentiful.

We covered around 90 nautical miles (160km), exploring beautiful spots including Whitehaven Beach, Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island, Mantaray and Nara Inlet and stopping to snorkel, scuba dive and swim on the island coral fringing reef. By around 4:30pm each day in a calm anchorage we often tied up with one of Southern Cross's four ex-racing yachts, including famous Whitbread maxis, The Card and British Defender.

The Solway Lass departs on its three day/three night trips from Airlie Beach every Tuesday and Saturday at 7:30pm. All meals are included.

Being one of the world's most spectacular aquatic playgrounds, the Whitsundays has a huge fleet of boats which ply the islands and nearby Great Barrier Reef. Day tours on fast-catamarans, fully-crewed tours on famous sailing sloops and motor cruisers are available from the islands and the mainland, or you can take the "drive yourself" option of bareboating.

The Whitsundays is also home to the biggest fleet of bareboat charter boats in the southern hemisphere

Prior to departure you will be required to sign a rental agreement with the operators of this vessel. Here is a summary of the terms and conditions:

Definitions

The following definitions apply for the Terms and Conditions for this vessel.
- The Supplier or Operator means the operator who supplies this vessel to you on arrival.
- The Client is also referred to as the renter (s) or hirer (s)

BOOKING CONDITIONS

At time of booking, full trip fees will be charged. Payment can be made via, Bankcard, Mastercard or Visacard. 

CANCELLATION & CARRIAGE POLICY
The initial deposit paid is non-refundable. In addition to forfeiting your deposit, the following charges also apply:

• Booking date and 17 days of departure will result in loss of deposit (20%).
• 17 Days to 5 days before departure, loss of 50% of Ticket Price.
• 5 days up to departure will result in forfeit of full trip fees.
• Where full payment has been made, and the Operator can re sell the space on the departure, the Operator will refund payments made less 20%. 

POSTPONEMENT/TRANSFER of a trip will be allowed 72 hours prior to departure. Postponements between 24 & 72 hours will be considered based on the merit of the circumstances causing the postponement.

GUEST BEHAVIOUR - Please note, that the Operator refuses the right of boarding to any guest who arrives intoxicated by alcohol or under the influence of illegal substances. If this occurs, the Operator will not refund any monies paid.
Guests must abide by all Australian Laws while on-board the tours and respect the needs of other guests. If necessary, action may be taken by the Captain and Crew to remove obnoxious or troublesome guests and if required notify the Police and Authorities. 

LIABILITY Guests should note that Sailing can be a dangerous activity and while the crew will make every effort to ensure guest safety, the Operator cannot be accountable for actions of guests that are beyond control. Guests will be required to complete a pre departure questionnaire, and sign a travel agreement during the check-in process. Southern Cross Sailing Adventures & Australian Tall Ships Cruises has the applicable Shipowners insurance to cover public liability for the guests and staff.

TRAVEL INSURANCE the Operator strongly recommends that guests take out their own travel insurance to cover valuable items, eg. Cameras, and to protect themselves against unforseen last minute cancellations, caused by weather, flight delays or any reason out of the control of the Operator. Further any medical conditions that may occur during carriage, and the associated extra costs of accessing medical care around the islands.

INCLUSIONS: Prices include, Services of Captain and Crew, All Meals (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, pre-dinner snacks, dinner, tea/coffee), Local shuttle transfers to/from Airlie Beach to Marina, Linen with Bath Towel, Accommodation on board vessel, Snorkelling Gear and Instruction (with floatation aids if required), guided walks on islands.

ITINERARIES
The Operator reserves the right to alter the tour or the intinerary of any of it's tours and organise alternative carriers to those advertised if necessary. The Operator will always consider the comfort and safety of guests and staff and as a result, some of the Whitsunday Icons may not be visited if the wind or tidal conditions are not suitable.

Diving Information
Diving is a completely safe, and one of the most enjoyable experiences you will ever have. However, concealment of any condition incompatible with safe diving may put your health or life at risk. For this reason, we request that you fill in the medical questionnaire below.

A. Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from, any of the following:
Please circle
    - Asthma or wheezing
    - Fainting, seizures or blackouts
    - Chronic bronchitis or persistent chest complaint
    - Chronic sinus conditions
    - Chest surgery
    - Recurrent ear problems when flying
    - Epilepsy
    - Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
    - Tuberculosis or other long-term lung disease
    - Brain, spinal cord or nervous disorder
    - Heart disease of any kind
    - Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
    - Ear surgery
    - Over 55 years old
   
B. Are you currently suffering from:
Please circle
    - Breathlessness
    - Chronic ear discharge or infection
    - High/Low blood pressure
    - Perforated eardrum
    - Other illness or operation within the last month
    - Are you taking any medicine or drug (excluding oral contraceptives)
    - Have you ingested any alcohol within the last 8 hours prior to diving?
    - Are you pregnant?
    - Do you understand that any concealment of any condition incompatible with safe diving might put your health or life at risk?
    - Do you understand that you should not go to altitude (fly) within 12 hours of completing a single dive or 18 hours when doing multiple dives(where possible wait 24 hrs)?

If you have suffered from or you now suffer from any of the conditions listed above, you will require a RECENT QUEENSLAND MEDICAL CERTIFICATE stating that you are fit to scuba dive.
Medical certificate can be obtained from The Doctors, Airlie Beach,(Opposite Mcdonalds - open 8am to 6pm).

Note:
Maximum depth for Certified Divers is 18 metres.
Maximum depth for Introductory Divers is 12 metres.

Terms of booking on this website

Information disclaimer
The rates on this website are often heavily discounted. This is due to our negotiated rates and bulk buying power. On very rare occasions, a rate may be displayed incorrectly due to our, or a supplier's error. In such a case, if you book with us at a quoted rate that is incorrect, we will notify you of any price change and give you the option to proceed or cancel. We make every effort to keep information on our site up to date, but we cannot guarantee this website is free of errors or omissions and retain the right to update or change the information published at any time.

Liability
To the extent permitted by law we/the owners of this website will not be liable to you or to any third party (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including but not limited to any accident, injury, delay or loss of enjoyment) arising out of your reliance upon information contained on this website, including but not limited to your use (or inability to use) any products or services described or procured through this website.

On departure day, before you commence your trip, you may be required to sign a rental agreement (in the case of boat charters) with the supplier of the vessel. Your rental and use of the vessel will be governed by the terms of the rental agreement and any other documentation or information provided to you by the supplier at the time you pick up your vessel. The rental agreement is between you and the supplier and we will not be liable to you or to any third party in relation to the terms of the supplier rental agreement or any other documentation provided to you by the supplier at the time of pick up.

While we will make reasonable efforts to ensure we are representing only reputable suppliers, we make no warranty about the fitness or suitability of any third party (supplier) product or service and will not accept responsibility for the quality or fitness of any vessel. We welcome feedback from our customers on their experience with our suppliers. We may, at our discretion, provide you with reasonable assistance in resolving any dispute you may have with a supplier.

Our total liability to you in relation to your use of this website and the information contained on this website will not exceed the dollar amount of the deposit we have received from you in relation to your booking/rental. Refunds will not be made for bookings cancelled due to inclement weather. Again, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance. Your use of this website is governed by the laws of New Zealand and the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.

Booking information
To make a booking, you must complete our no-obligations reservations enquiry form which is easy to follow and secured with the latest encryption technology. Once we receive your enquiry, we will contact you via phone or email, to advise of availability and confirm the final price is correct - and discuss payment options. A booking is confirmed when you have been emailed a confirmation notice and at this stage the deposit is processed on your credit card and becomes non-refundable and any cancellation fees stated in the terms apply. Upon receipt of your confirmation, please check your details carefully and notify us immediately if there are any incorrect details, as it may not be possible to make changes at a later date.

Please note we accept Visa and Mastercard and the credit card fees are: 
1) 1.75% for the deposit amount.
2) 1.75% for the balance of payment.

If you are booking via phone, please first make sure you have read the terms and conditions of your selected sailing adventure. Our reservations consultant will ask you if you have read the terms and agree to them before proceeding. The onus is always on the renter to ensure they make themselves fully aware of the terms displayed on our website.

Information disclosure
In booking on this website you acknowledge that we disclose your information to your selected Supplier in order to provide the requested rental, trip or charter services.

Amendments
Please check the terms of each vessel to see whether amendment fees apply. Please also note that for some vessels an amendment is treated as a new booking and the rate current at the time the amendment is made to recalculate the entire booking amount (not just the days changed). In the case of boat rental/yacht charter, if the hire or number of days is increased, an additional deposit may be required, while reduction in rental periods or price may reduce the total, but the deposit amount will remain unchanged.

Vessel Capacity and fitness to charter (for Bareboats only)
Under no circumstances are you permitted to carry more passengers than the vessel you charter is legally registered to carry, and if you do your insurance may be invalidated. The number of passengers allowed is indicated next to each vessel on this website. It is your responsibility to choose a journey that is within your capabilities. A boat or trip supplier can refuse to hire a vessel to any person who is in their opinion unfit to skipper or does not meet eligibility requirements. In such circumstances we will have no further liability to you.