Charter Chatter

- Funtastic Cruises depart from Yeppoon’s Rosslyn Bay Harbour and offer day trips and extended charters around the 18 islands that make up the Keppel Group. Set on the Tropic of Capricorn in Central Queensland, the Capricorn Coast is accessed via Rockhampton and has an average daily temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. The 60 foot sailing catamaran Funtastic is owned and operated by Hans and Di who have sailed around the world twice.

- Captain Cook Cruises is offering 25 per cent off all Murray River cruises from June to August 2010 so passengers can discover the winter enchantment and beauty of the Murray River, secrets of Australian history and the taste sensations of the Murray’s food and wine trail. The ship is a modern replica of the paddle wheelers that cruised the Murray in the 1800’s.

- Two custom-built sport fishing boats, the Askari (55ft) and Megumi (44ft), will be on display at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on 20-23 May. The owners are displaying them to promote their charter services and to support Assegai Marine. On Askari, skipper Corey Hard will give details of his fishing charters to the Ribbon Reefs off Cooktown and the rest of the Queensland coast. Megumi is used for sport fishing adventure charters out of Manly Harbour in Brisbane and is run by Ken Brown, better known as “Brownie” who retired from presenting the television program Coastwatch in 2005.

- Hervey Bay on Queensland’s Fraser Coast offers a host of adventure activities on the water with a little or a lot of adrenalin! Lessons are available in kite surfing, or hire a jetski after a thorough safety briefing. Also for hire are off the beach catamarans and seakarts, which are like a windsurfer but the driver reclines below the sail in a hammock with the controls at their fingertips.

Whale watching cruises are available from Hervey Bay from late July until early November, and in other months visitors enjoy dolphin watching tours, cruises to other natural attractions or try pearl harvesting. A 12.5 metre rigid inflatable conducts a speedy three hour cruise of the Great Sandy Straits or sail through on a purpose built day sailing catamaran on a half day sail to Big Woody Island. Queensland Holidays.com.au.

- Spirit of Tasmania is offering fifty per cent off selected fares when you book to travel between Melbourne and Devonport between 1 May and 31 August. Choose from a range of overnight accommodation options – twin, four berth, deluxe cabin or comfortable ocean recliner.

- Three councils have united to position Moreton Bay and Islands as one of Queensland’s premier coastal destinations. Moreton Bay and Islands is home to pristine sand islands, sparkling blue waters, a marine sanctuary, stunning hinterlands and coastal villages offering a myriad of adventure activities, all within 30 minutes travel time from Brisbane’s city centre.

- Captain Cook Cruises’ Fijian cruise vessel, MV Reef Endeavour, now offers a pick-up service for guests staying at Mamanuca Island resorts. The new service will see Endeavour moor off Honeymoon Island at 6pm every Saturday night, allowing guests who are staying on the island to take a small ship to transfer direct to the vessel for the commencement of their three or seven night Yasawa Islands cruise. As a result of the cruise line’s decision other islands are all now offering free boat transfers to the Endeavour.

- The International Maritime Organisation has banned the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil on ships which operate in Antarctic waters. The move effectively bans larger ships from visiting Antarctica. Smaller ships must use light marine gas oil which disperses quickly in water and minimises the environmental impact of any leaks. Check out Cruise Weekly.com.au for more details. 

Photograph: On the bow of Funtastic