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Australia's Whitsundays - 2027

Destination:  Whitsunday Islands in the Great Barrier Reef

Dates:  ~13 Jun to 23 Jun 2027   (10 days with pre-board evening)

Cost Estimate: $2000 per person double occupancy

Sailing Area

Joe's Summary

This is a long-anticipated sail excursion.  Indeed, I tried setting it up 20 years ago (2007 crew call), but failed to get enough interest.

This location is unrivaled worldwide for easy, protected sailing, amazing over and underwater experiences, and on a very unique continent.  Dorian and I were on a sea cruise in early 2024.  We  took a day trip to an outer reef spot which was the best underwater snorkeling in my life.    

A ChatGPT or Gemini request, you might get the allure of this proposal.  Try this AI query:
"Why would I want to join a bareboat sailing crew in the Whitsunday islands?  What could I do. What is so unique about this place to pay and join other sailors for a ten day sail on a catamaran". 

Links for more Info

The Great Barrier Reef runs for hundreds of miles around the Whitsunday Islands. 

There are eight national parks in these islands.  Overview Guide to Island Parks

Click for GBR Perspective  in the"Down Under" continent.

In my preps for trip options, I got this extensive planning document from one of charter firms from whom are offering quotes.  This one is associated with the charter franchise that we used for an excellent La Paz sail just last December.  The link has a lot of information about the logistics of their bareboat experience in Queensland, and simplifies planning if we go with them. 

Boats Information

Reserved two catamarans as of 6 March 2026.   We have decided in September that we could add one more to our flotilla if there is enough interest, sailing talent, and a boat is still available.

Boat #1 (reserved)

Lagoon 40  Lumiere  Detailed Info

Boat #2 (reserved)

Bali 43.1  Nautilus   Detailed Info

Click this video for a charter trip experience on an Aussie catamaran.

Boat #3  (not yet reserved)

Maybe three catamarans might be part of this trip (depends on waitlist and sailing talent who might sign up)

Examples of a typical catamaran of around 42 feet still available.    Here is a link to a typical cat we are considering.

 

 

Costss

Estimate:  $2000 per person double occupancy 

(updated to $2K from $1.8K earlier due to a quoting mistake I made with the charter firm.

The cost reflects a longer trip at 10 nights onboard, not just 7.

It would be higher as well due to inflation, but we are still in the "shoulder season" and get a discount on boat cost.

Included

boat rental, linens, fuel, beverages, food, some restaurant meals
snorkeling gear, boat insurance, national park and marina fee
Pre-board starting 4pm the night before for loading -  enables a start the next morning.

If there are two boats, I might advocate pp$ about $100 higher to get a more capacious boat that would more easily host flotilla HH and dinners.  This is not yet available.

Not Included

      airfare, taxis, your trip insurance, scuba gear and dive boat trips,
      souvenirs, extra nights lodging or other touring tacked on in Australia

Signup Now

How to secure a cabin:

First come first served based on deposit date, with reserves for a second skipper and first mates. 

The deposit is $2000 per cabin (double occupancy) which covers the boat commitment.   The balance will be due on April 2027 before the trip. 

Deposit is refunded if waitlisted sailors step up.

If using Electronic payments (If the first time to Joe:  try with $1 and check with me for success before the full amount.)

  1. Paypal using g paypal.me/joemartinka
  2. Venmo using ID:  @Joseph-Martinka
  3. Zelle transfer:  408 DASH 234 DASH 4268   my cell #
  4. Check sent to  1760 Laurentian Way,  Sunnyvale, CA   94087 (date received is your place on list)

The deposit is refundable only if we find someone else to go in your place. 

Whitsundays GBR Crews

Crew NAME STATUS BOAT PLANS

1

 Joe Martinka skipper 2 will tour before,
maybe Vietnam
2 Dorian Martinka
3 Larry Meyer skipper 1 Venmo 4 Mar
4    (tbd)
5 Jack Doolittle 1st mate 1 Venmo 26 Feb
6 Marie Doolittle
7 Jeff Dunham 1st mate, skipper 3 Zelle 27 Feb
8 Meesh Krick
9 Tom Martin   1 Venmo 28 Feb
10 Elida Oettel
11 Tami Lines   3 Venmo 28 Feb
12 Dennis Lines
13 Peter Martinka trust no one under 30 2 Venmo 28 Feb
14

(peter's friend)
15 Arielle Martinka rust no one under 30 2 Zelle 28 Feb
16 Luke Hartlage
17 Polly Barret (traveling single) 3 Zelle 15 Sep
18 Sam Martin skipper  (traveling single) 3 not yet
19 Jeff Martinka   2 Venmo 15 Sep
20 Natalie McCoy
21   Prefer a first mate!    
22        
wait list        
wait list        
wait list        
wait list        
wait list        
wait list        

(wait list has a $200 refundable deposit per person)

 

AN ASIDE.....

Remember when you were on the other side of 30?

A close analogue exists in George Bernard Shaw's 'Maxims for Revolutionists' (an appendix to his play Man and Superman written in-character), which include the aphorissm "Every man over forty is a scoundrel.    I could go with that.

APPENDIX
Reef Snorkeling Summary

Courtesy of Gemini, here is a description of on and off boat snorkeling chances::

Here is the breakdown of the snorkeling opportunities and the logistical reality of reaching the outer reef.ef.

Snorkeling from Your Bareboat (Fringing Reefs))

Your bareboat allows you to access fringing reefs—coral systems that grow directly off the shorelines of the islands. These are not "second-rate" reefs; in many ways, they are superior for snorkeling because they are shallower and more sheltered.

  • What you’ll see: Vibrant soft corals, sea turtles, giant clams, and a massive variety of tropical fish (including the famous Maori Wrasse named "Elvis" at Blue Pearl Bay).

  • Ease of Access:

  • Top Spots for Bareboats: * Mantaray Bay (Hook Island): Known as "The Aquarium" for its sheer density of fish.

    • Blue Pearl Bay (Hayman Island): Famous for clear water and resident friendly fish.

    • Langford Island: A sandy spit where you are almost guaranteed to snorkel with sea turtles in the seagrass.

    • Butterfly Bay:: Deep, fjord-like bay with excellent coral walls along the edges.

The "Big Reefs" (Outer Barrier Reef)

The Outer Reef (like Hardy or Bait Reef) is where you find the massive, platform-style coral structures that grow up from the ocean floor. This is where you get the "endless coral" vistas and deeper drop-offs.

  • Can you take the bareboat there? Generally, no. Most bareboat charter companies have a strict "operational limit" that keeps you within the island chain. Taking a 40-foot rental catamaran 30+ nautical miles into the open Coral Sea is typically prohibited due to insurance and safety risks.

  • Is it "imperative" to go? For many, the island fringing reefs are actually better for snorkeling because the water is calmer and the coral is closer to the surface. However, the Outer Reef offers significantly better visibility (often 100ft+) and the chance to see larger marine life like reef sharks and manta rays.

How to see the Outer Reef while on a Bareboat

If you want that "big reef" experience without sacrificing your 10-day sail, you don't have to go back to the mainland.

  1. Hamilton Island Pit-Stop:

  2. The Seaplane Experience:ce: You can arrange for a seaplane to pick you up directly from your boat at an anchorage like Hardy Lagoon or Whitehaven Beach for a scenic flight over Heart Reeff

Recommendation: Spend the first 7 days enjoying the fringing reefs from your boat. If by day 8 you feel you haven't seen enough "big" coral, book a day excursion from Hamilton Island. Most sailors find that the intimacy and convenience of snorkeling from their own boat's deck actually provides a more memorable connection to the reef.

Page updates

  • 24 Feb 2027   First creation of the page.  Fewer tables for easier mobile scrolling

  • 26 Feb  Filling out costing and readiness for crew calls. Details of destination

  • 28 Feb  Added more crewmates that made deposits

  • 5 Mar   Added final deposits for crewmates, updated waitlist and reserved boat information

  • 14 Sep  Decided to try to crew a 3rd catamaran.  Updated this page

  • 20 Sep  Updated with some deposits.  Still need a 1st mate and fresh wait list
     

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