Many people who charter a bareboat are beginner sailors — in other words, they have little to no boating or sailing experience. The good news? All of our vessels are motorised, so you don’t have to use the sails at all if you prefer.
We have protocols to support our guests so they can take their boats out with confidence and freedom. That said, there are a few ways to prepare a beginner crew for a charter — just for peace of mind, particularly if they want to try sailing.
Here’s our complete guide for getting your crew ready to enjoy a Whitsundays adventure.
Preparing a crew of beginner sailors to Charter the Whitsundays
Allocate a captain
Even for a beginner crew, it helps to designate a Captain and, if possible, a First Mate. These crew members can:
- Take a preparatory sailing course before your charter
- Familiarise themselves with essential operations
- Keep the team coordinated and confident on the water
For those keen to get extra preparation, purchasing a copy of 100 Magic Miles — often called the “Whitsundays Bible” — is a great idea. A copy will also be available on your boat.
Does everyone know how to swim in the ocean?
Note that swimming in the open water is different from swimming in a pool.
Is anyone prone to seasickness?
We suggest packing seasickness medication regardless of personal history. The Whitsunday are often calm, but we can’t guarantee glassy conditions!
Tips to manage seasickness include
- Steering the boat.
- Spending your daytime itinerary doing land based activities eg. beaches & hikes.
- Choosing anchorage locations that are close together.
- Acupressure bracelets
Discuss Holiday Preferences
The Whitsundays offer a range of activities: snorkeling, diving, fishing, island hopping, or simply relaxing on deck. It’s worth having a brief discussion with your crew about:
- The types of activities everyone wants to do
- Destinations or anchorages of interest
Keep in mind that itineraries are weather-dependent, so a flexible mindset is key.
Budgeting for a bareboat charter
There are expenses beyond the initial booking fee, including:
- Insurance
- Fuel
- Resort berthing fees
- Food and drink
For example, stopping at Hamilton Island and staying at the marina is a popular option, but it may include extra costs for dining and bars. Planning and communicating your budget as a group avoids surprises.
Plan your Provisioning
Decide what sort of provisioning you want to organise. Will it be through a local provisioning company, or is a stop off to Coles in Airlie Beach in order? Some crews do a meal sharing plan, which is excellent. Just make sure it’s communicated before you shop.
Are sunset cocktails on the itinerary? Maybe allocate someone to bar duty so this important holiday addition isn’t overlooked!
Packing Tips
Make sure the crew packs light with soft luggage. The weather is mostly warm in the Whitsundays, but some nights require a jumper, and in winter, you may need something a little warmer. Check out this bareboat charter packing list and review what’s included on a bareboat.
What training is given for a bareboat charter?
All bareboat charter guests in the Whitsundays undergo a 3-4 hour safety and boat briefing before they can take their charter vessel out themselves.
If the crew is competent, they are free to begin their holiday.
Beginner crews may require some more training time, which can be arranged at booking or at the discretion of the briefer.
Learning to put the sails up is a part of the briefing session. Once the boat operations have been discussed and instructions are given for dropping the anchor, moorings, tides and navigations – the crew are taken out for a test sail. This is when the trainer will show you how to get your boat underway. Once you’re feeling confident, the trainer returns to our base in a second tender, and you are free to continue sailing to your first night’s destination.
The great thing about chartering from Shute Harbour is the nearest overnight anchorage is under an hour away. This means if you have a longer training session, you won’t need to worry about getting to your anchorage in time before dusk.
Sailing tips for beginners
It’s impossible to learn how to operate a boat and sail from an article! The best way to learn is to have someone show you and then do it yourself. But if you want to prepare to learn sailing in the Whitsundays, keep these simple tips in mind.
Remember – you do not have to use the sails, all of our vessels are motorised.
Learn basic sailing terms and lingo
It will help your briefer if you know terms like “bow”, “stern”, “tack” and “jibe”. Sailing is one of those activities that can seem like it has its own inner language. It’s great to brush up on the terms.
Navigation
Navigation in the Whitsundays is mostly line of sight, which is the simplest form of navigation. Your boat will come equipped with all the navigation equipment you need. Some people use apps like Savvy Navvy to, which brings loads of handy weather and navigation info into one place.
Remember the boom!
Watch out for the boom. If it knocks you in the head, you could be seriously hurt. Be mindful of it when walking around on deck, especially when tacking and jibing.
Always have someone on the lookout
Allocate a person in charge of steering and looking out when you move between anchorages. In the Whitsundays, you need to watch for other boats, reefs & whales! It’s best to keep your vessel at a safe speed so you have time to correct it should you be heading to an obstacle.
Safety First
Your safety is our priority. You will be given safety instructions in y our briefing. We require that everyone does a radio sched (radio call) to our base every morning and evening at 4 pm. This is, so we know where you are for the night and know your intentions for the day.
When sailing, everyone on deck should wear a life jacket.
Join a sailing school before your trip
For those wanting extra confidence before their charter, taking a course is highly recommended. Some options include:
Queensland:
- Bareboat Charter Preparation Course – Southern Cross Yachting, Manly, Brisbane
Victoria:
- Prepare to Charter – Yachtmaster Sailing School, Melbourne
- Introduction to Bareboat Cruising – Sandringham Yacht Club
New South Wales:
- Prepare to Charter a Monohull Yacht – Liquid Edge, Sydney
Learn more about sailing courses here
