Charter Chatter

Sunsail Sailing Holidays is offering 25 per cent off the yacht price of new charter bookings of ten nights in the Whitsundays if you depart on or before 18 December 2009 (seven nights - 20 per cent off, five nights - 15 per cent off). Sunsail guests also have a free marina berth on Hamilton Island for the duration of their charter. Discount applies to direct bookings only and no other discounts apply. 

Bidding has begun in the CYCA SOLAS Big Boat Challenge eBay Auction for the chance to sail on an ocean racing yacht for charity. Guest places on Wild Oats XI, LOYAL, Lahana, Wild Thing, and Ichi Ban are available for the race around Sydney Harbour on Tuesday 15 December. Auction closes 10 December. See CYCA.com.au for more.

Sydney’s Lord Mayor announces the city’s New Year’s Eve theme as ‘Awaken the Spirit’ – igniting Sydney’s spirit and all our spirits for the year ahead. Everyone is asked to celebrate Sydney’s spirit by wearing a touch of blue on the night, representing the stunning blue harbour and blue summer sky. More details at City of Sydney website.

Fifteen Eastsail yachts have been selected to be part of the 2010 Australia Day evening celebrations on 26 January. The yachts will perform Dancing with Sails within the exclusion zone at Cockle Bay just before the fireworks. The sails will be lit up with a rainbow of changing colours with crews and skippers keeping the boats in formation. Four crew places are available on each yacht.

A second specialist expedition cruise ship is scheduled to commence voyages in May 2011 for Orion Expedition Cruises. Clelia II, a 50 suite, 100 passenger expedition cruise ship, is to be renamed Orion II and will be based in South East Asia.

December is an ideal time to entertain business associates or get together with friends on a charter boat on Sydney Harbour. The following events are on the harbour in December.

-- Dec 16 - SOLAS Big Boat Challenge – about 20 of the largest boats in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race race around the harbour. Individual places are for auction on ebay.com.au, and spectator boat tickets are on sale with all proceeds going to SOLAS Trusts. Or you can charter your own boat and watch the racing. CYCA.com.au.

-- Dec 26 - Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start – People line the shores of Sydney Harbour, others watch it on TV, but you can be on the harbour watching the start of this iconic event. Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race website.

-- Dec 31 - New Year’s Eve - Spectacular fireworks are fired off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, barges, and city skyscrapers at 9pm and midnight. Over 50 charter vessels will participate in a themed parade following the 9pm fireworks. A special area is set aside for charter vessels in the Harbour. More details at City of Sydney website.

Coral Princess has announced a special 2010 Christmas cruise through Melanesia, including a traditional Christmas lunch in the remote Solomon Islands and New Year’s Eve on Champagne Beach in Vanuatu.

The ice-breaker Le Boreal will be launched in May and in contrast to many boats that sail to the Antarctic it is luxury all the way, with an outdoor heated pool, theatre, lounge with dance floor, Turkish steam room, spa and fitness centre. Le Boreal comes with the latest technology relating to water and waste. It also has a positioning system that eliminates the need for dropping anchor in fragile areas. 

Photograph: Courtesy of Sunsail