‘Bareboating’ put simply, is we supply the boat fully equipped and ready to cruise and you supply the skipper and crew.

We Provide for your charter the following items:

• Sheets, pillows, pillow-slips, mattress protectors & blankets
• Bathroom towels & bath mats (no beach towels or face washers on board)
• Tea towels, cutlery, crockery, gas cooktop, microwave convection oven, rear mounted stainless steel BBQ, toaster, kettle, all cookware, three fridges
• Wet weather gear, life jackets, life raft, life rings, torches, binoculars, tender with outboard and a fully stocked first aid kit
• EPIRB, satellite phone, UHF radio, ‘V’ sheet, parachute flares, smoke flares and standard flares
• Digital TV, Panasonic digital player for our indoor/outdoor sound system, radio, CD and MP3 connectivity
• Satellite navigation, speed, depth instruments, electric anchor winch, maritime charts, navigation tools, ships tool kit, ships manual, ‘100 Magic Miles’ guide book and emergency procedure manuals
• Two built-in outdoor teak timber dining tables, four queen cabins with ensuites
• Electric generator for 240 volt supply for added luxuries unavailable on most other bareboats; such as air conditioning, charging outlets and other home appliances

Your bareboat charter does not include the following:

• Airport / Abell Point transfers (approx. 30 minutes)
• Fuel, gas, fees (marina, moorings, berthing and EMC)
• Food, provisions
• Sail guide / cook
• Flights etc.
• Children’s life jackets (can be hired from ‘Aquadive’ at Coral Sea Marina)

The most overlooked items that we remind you to bring are:

• Soft Duffel bags or Sports bags
• Bare-feet are recommended on board at all times, however, white soled boat shoes are acceptable. Resorts do not require dress shoes. Thongs fit the bill perfectly
• Beach towels, hats, sunscreen, camera (water proof is a great idea), insect repellent (Bushman is best for tropics)
• And of course, your provisions. TIP: Try to plan a menu and stick to it, as so many charters’ throw away so much food at the end of the charter
• DEFINITELY NO SUITCASES OR SPRAYON TAN

We believe that the best idea for provisioning your holiday is using the services of Whitsunday Provisioning. You can create a menu and shop accordingly. You can select from different standards of provisioning. You can even purchase products individually as if shopping at the supermarket. They will pre-pack premium quality produce on the day you arrive and deliver it to the boat 1/2 an hour before you board. This is indeed “No fuss provisioning” and the extra expense is well and truly justified as the standard of food and service is rated very highly. If you do choose to use the services of Whitsunday Provisioning, please use the icon “click here if you are chartering a BARE BOAT’ then select Queen Marie to ensure that your provisions are delivered to the correct charter boat. Whitsunday Provisioning will then contact us to arrange to meet the boat just before your arrival at our nominated marina berth for the day.

IGA, Coles and Woolworths: If you are chasing a cheaper service, both Coles & Woolworths offer an ‘online’ option. We believe from ongoing experience that their delivery service is poor and that the quality of produce is rarely as good as if you were shopping in store for yourself. Online ordering with store pick up is also available. The cheapest option however is to shop within 2 hours of your boarding time at either Coles or Woolworths in Cannonvale, Woolies in Airlie or IGA at Jubilee Pocket – Again, from local feedback and past charterer experience, IGA is the better of all supermarkets and opens EVERY day of the year, with the longest trading hours. Coles Caningvale is the closest to the marina.

FLIGHTS – Virgin Australia and Jetstar fly into both the Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) and Hamilton Island.  Tiger Airways fly into the Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) from selected locations on a limited time table and Qantas is set to start flying to Hamilton Island from Melbourne and Sydney.

From our experience flying into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport) is the most practical (and cheapest) overall option, as availability and the price of transfers is cheaper than the ferry service from Hamilton Island. Further, if purchasing your own provisions, the quality, variety and cheaper pricing of the mainland stores is significantly different to Hamilton Island.

It is often cheaper to pre-book a limousine service to Coral Sea Marina from the Whitsunday Coast airport. If planned in advance they will also take you via Cannonvale to pick up any ordered provisions. You can also catch a taxi or a transfer bus (Whitsunday Transit). Both of these can be booked at the customer service stands within the airport or in advance on line. Note: It is a 30 minute drive from the airport to the marina. If flying into Hamilton Island, you will need to get a ferry back to the mainland, specifically to the Coral Sea Marina. Shopping for supplies on Hamilton Island is not recommended due to the lack of range, expense and quality. For ferry costs and timetables go to the website of “Cruise Whitsundays”. Ferries meet all incoming flights to Hamilton Island unless the flight is delayed.

DRIVE – The drive to Coral Sea Marina at Airlie Beach from Brisbane is 11 – 12 hours heading north along the Bruce Highway. The marina is 3 &1/2 hours to the south of Townsville along the Bruce Highway.

CAR PARKING – If you are arriving by car there is a valet parking service available for short term parking. To check costs and find out more you can contact Steve at Airlie Valet Parking on 0481 267 002 – There is also a public car park that is nearby for a daily rate.

TRANSFERS – Why not contact Charlie and Jen at Airlie Transfers (link on our web site) for personal cost effective transfers between the airport and marina. Please Book Early, as they are very popular with the locals.

• You can board our beloved  Queen Marie  at 8.00 am on the first day of your charter.
• Your briefing will commence when all crew are safely aboard and when all luggage and provisions are stowed (9.00am). Your briefing will adhere to all necessary maritime requirements. NOTE: If you choose to take up the BOARD EARLY OPTION your briefing will be moved
• Your holiday with us in paradise will conclude with all crew disembarking at 2.00 pm on the final day of your charter coming in for refuelling via the fuel wharf at 12.00 pm.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

BOARD EARLY

With single daily flights from most capital cities to the Whitsundays’ (Proserpine or Hamilton Island), why not take up our BOARD EARLY option. With this option, you will board the night before your charter at 5.00pm. This is our most popular option as it gives you the cheapest local accommodation. You will be accommodated on board at the marina. We will give you our swipe tag for accessing all areas of the marina. This also gives you access to the marina bathrooms and laundry etc. This handy option takes the stress out of boarding and is yours for only $300.00 OR discounted further to $550.00 as a combo, if combined with our LATE FINISH option below. NOTE: You do not need to pay for this OR ANY of our options now, simply book them if required and pay your briefer on the day you arrive. 

LATE FINISH

And why rush around on your last day, to again miss transfers and flights home? Take up our LATE FINISH option and you can also stay aboard on the boat for the last evening at the Marina. You can now disembark at 9.00AM the day after returning the boat to the marina. No-one wants to come back so why not take up our Late Finish package at only $300.00, or cut it back to $250 if combined with our BOARD EARLY option.  NOTE: You do not need to pay for this OR ANY of our options now, simply book them if required and pay your briefer on the day you arrive.

• A full briefing is mandatory under maritime and national codes and this will be performed at the start of your time on board.  As your safety and the safety of your crew is our highest priority, please know that it will be your Briefer’s responsibility to guide you in all matters associated with the boat, boat handling, the tides, the passage, anchoring, motoring, navigation, mooring, house battery maintenance, electrical generation and all systems associated with a safe and enjoyable cruise. The briefing will take approximately 4+ hours for an experienced crew and 5+ hours for an inexperienced crew. Although no license is required, a basic knowledge of navigation and boat handling is necessary. PLEASE NOTE: If at the completion of your briefing, your briefer deems that you are not competent in boat handling, you will be required to have the briefer stay on board, at your cost, as your Sail Guide until your skills are satisfactory.

DAMAGE WAIVER INSURANCE

We will require payment of a damage waiver being $550.00 (non-refundable) per charter. This covers minor loss and damaged items on the vessel. Also, an Insurance Excess Bond of $3000.00 will be held over the Queen Marie  for the duration of your charter. This amount reflects the insurance excess for any single claim. You have the option of either providing your Credit Card details as security, which will be held on file until after your boat has been inspected (including dive on the hull). If no incident or damage has occurred during your charter, no funds are taken from your card.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly recommend that you invest in travel insurance in case you are unable to take your holiday.  As per your hire agreement, it is the responsibility of the charterer to obtain suitable travel insurance to cover the charter in the event of;

• A cancellation initiated by yourself within 90 days of your charter holiday.
• A shortening of your charter by either party for any reason, not limited to inclement weather, cyclone warnings, cyclones and any unforeseen serviceability issues.
• A recall to the marina, for any reason relating to safety of crew, safety of vessel, maintenance to vessel and or breach of hire agreement.
• A chase call or calls for any reason relating to safety of crew, safety of vessel, maintenance to vessel and or breach of hire agreement.

Popular activities include;

• Swimming
• Snorkelling
• Fishing
• Bushwalking
• Resort swimming, dining, shopping, golf
• Sunbaking
• Relaxing
• Cruising pristine waters ………. and the list goes on.