Charter Chatter

North Star Cruises is offering a 20 per cent discount on its 2010 cruise season opener, the West Coast Explorer, departing Fremantle on 27 February on a ten day voyage to the Abrolhos Islands, Shark Bay World Heritage Area, Ningaloo Reef, Montebello Islands and finishing in Dampier.

The Portarlington Mussel Festival, near Geelong Victoria, will showcase local produce with mussels to sample and purchase prepared in a variety of ways on 9 January. A charter boat will run trips to the mussel farms. Weather permitting, the sailing ship Enterprize will provide short sailing tours.

Eastsail in Sydney is adding another three new Beneteau 40s to their fleet in 2010.

Sunsail Sailing Holidays now offers one-way sailing charters from its base in Langkawi, Malaysia, to its base in Phuket, Thailand, or vice versa. Guests are advised to allow ten days to enjoy the experience. The weather and sailing conditions are at their best anytime from now until the end of February.

Whitsunday Sailing Adventures offers a free upgrade to private double accommodation on the Derwent Hunter or Alexander Stewart Eco Tallship Adventure on three day, two night cruises until January 31, 2010.

Whitsunday Rent a Yacht offers Cruise and Stay packages for two, four and six people, sailing the Whitsunday Islands for five nights and then relaxing on land for three nights at Daydream Island Resort and Spa. A Cruise and Stay Family Fun package is also available for two adults and two children spending five nights sailing on a Beneteau 30 sailing yacht and three nights with accommodation (kids share with parents) at Daydream Island Resort and Spa. These offers are valid from January 6 - March 31, 2010. Check out Rentayacht.com.au for more details.

Orion and True North were voted first and second respectively in the Cruise Passenger magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Small Ship (under 500 passengers), Best Ship Cuisine (main dining room) and Best Adventure Cruise Ship. The Kimberley was voted the Best Cruise Region and Sydney the Best Cruise Port.

Passions of Paradise, a 25 meter custom designed sailing catamaran, won two awards for Major Tour &/or Transport Operators and Adventure Tourism in the 2009 Queensland Tourism Awards. The vessel departs Cairns daily to Michaelmas Cay and Paradise Reef, giving passengers the choice of two destinations where they can soak up the sun, snorkel with the fish, scuba dive, glass bottom boat ride or simply enjoy the sailing.

Sea World Islands in the Sun cruise is a two hour calm water cruise amongst the Gold Coast's newest and most expensive waterfront homes with grandstand views from the three viewing decks of a luxury $3.5M cruiser. Discover the wildlife rich islands of the marine park. As evening falls over the Gold Coast, the Sea World Sunset City Lights cruise departs for a slow cruise of the Broadwater.

Events on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day 26 January include a Ferrython, Awesome Forces displays, best dressed vessels competition, tall ships race, 174th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Ports Jazz on the Water Concert. For details see Australia Day.com.au.

Photograph courtesy of Sunsail Sailing Holidays