Charter Chatter

- The Caribbean islands are blessed with Atlantic breezes almost all year round, so it’s no surprise that sailors flock to enjoy the perfect blend of turquoise seas, swaying palms, white sand beaches, lilting rhythms, blue skies, exotic fish and glorious sunsets – not to mention the rum cocktails. Andrea and Ian Treleaven’s book Letters from the Caribbean is now available. They spent two seasons cruising the Greater and Lesser Antilles, sampling the cuisine, night life and scenic attractions and this journal of their voyages will entice you to cruise or charter in their wake.

- Shortly after a major weather event in the Swain Reef area on 11 August, a charter fishing vessel, Bell Cay, activated two distress beacons and sent out a mayday call over VHF radio. The vessel ran aground on a reef and capsized. Three nearby fishing vessels responded to the mayday call and reported all 21 passengers were in life rafts. Later, all 21 passengers were safely transferred to the fishing vessel Impulse, then to a Yeppoon Water Police vessel. www.amsa.gov.au

- A new day cruise to the Low Isles, aboard the 62 foot luxury sailing catamaran Aquarius, departs daily from Port Douglas with a maximum of 23 guests. Tropical Journey’s Lagoon 620 is the first boat of its type in Australia. The Low Isles are famous for their spectacular marine life and the day tour also includes a guided walk of the area to learn more about the history and environment of the isles.

- The Quicksilver Group has launched the only night dive excursion from Cairns, designed for small groups of adventure-seeking certified divers. Divers travel to the Outer Reef aboard the purpose-built dive vessel Silverswift, where they enjoy two fully-guided night dives from the Great Adventures’ Norman Reef platform located approximately 60 nautical miles from Cairns.

- In April 2011, the replica of James Cook's HM Bark Endeavour will undertake an historic circumnavigation of Australia. The voyage will commence in Sydney and trace James Cook's original voyage 240 years ago when he became the first to chart the east coast of Australia in 1770. From Queensland Endeavour will sail across the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Top End to Darwin, before sailing into the Indian Ocean and along the Western Australian coast to Fremantle. Endeavour will then cross the Great Australian Bight taking in South Australia and continuing around Tasmania, before crossing Bass Strait to Victoria and returning home to Sydney by May 2012. Paying crew sleep in either a hammock berth or a supernumerary cabin, and will be trained in all aspects of 18th century sailing. www.anmm.gov.au

- Coral Princess Cruises is offering a 20 per cent discount on selected ten night journeys exploring the Kimberley coastline, departing during October 2010, and singles can cruise at twin share prices. Between Darwin and Broome rivers carve their way through ancient eroded mountains that were once the height of the Himalayas. Excursions ashore visit rock art galleries where Bradshaw (Gwion) paintings - the world’s oldest known art - record a human history stretching back 50,000 years.

- Queensland’s Season of Sailing is offering a range of stay and sail packages, day cruise options, and charter boat holidays which are available leading up to, and during, Magnetic Island Race Week on 3-7 September, and through to the summer months. Choose from a spectator boat to watch the racing, sailing around Magnetic Island on a 62 foot tall ship, staying overnight on a luxury yacht or skippering your own yacht and discover the Palms Group of islands.

- Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays has been named the Number One Eco Friendly Beach in the world by CNN.com. Tourism Whitsundays submitted Whitehaven Beach for consideration for this honour and traffic to TourismWhitSundays.com.au has sky rocketed.