Charter Chatter

- Bidding is now open in the CYCA SOLAS Big Boat Challenge eBay Auction. Places are available onboard some of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race favourites for when they compete in the CYCA’s SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, the maxi-yacht dash around Sydney Harbour on Tuesday 14 December. Bidding for all eleven places will close on 10 December 2010. www.cyca.com.au

- North Star Cruises' Southern Safari cruise departs on January 10 for eight nights on the inshore waters between Adelaide and the Eyre Peninsular. The cruise visits McLaren's finest wineries and famed Kangaroo Island. Guests can cage dive with great white sharks, explore beautiful Coffin Bay and get amongst the action at a 'tuna rodeo'.

- Christmas lunch cruises are available on Sydney Harbour onboard the MV Sydney 2000 with two menus to choose from, the deluxe Sky Deck menu and the Club Deck menu. The vessel departs 12 noon on Christmas Day, Saturday 25 December, from No.6 Jetty Circular Quay and returns at 2.45pm.

- Australia's largest luxury private yacht, Southern Cloud returns to Sydney for the summer charter season, after a successful six months on the Great Barrier Reef. The fully refurbished 130ft sailing charter yacht comfortably sleeps 12 in luxurious surroundings with electric en-suite facilities for all seven bedrooms, full internet access, climate control, modern entertainment, laundry and six crew.

- Quality tourism experiences with ECO, Respecting Our Culture (ROC) and Climate Action certification have dominated the winners at State and Territory Tourism Awards held around Australia over the past month. These winners are now finalists in the Australian Tourism Awards in February 2011 and include Fantasea Cruises in Queensland, Adventure Bay Charters in South Australia, Bruny Island Cruises in Tasmania and Pearl Sea Coastal Cruises and Ningaloo Reef Dreaming in Western Australia.

- Sarina Bratton, Founder and Managing Director of Orion Expedition Cruises, recently returned from a scouting expedition to Borneo in preparation for the inaugural visit in 2011 by Orion II. One such expedition was venturing in local boats up the Kinabatangan River, one of the oldest jungle eco-systems remaining on earth and one of two places on the planet where you can see ten species of primate.

- Whitsunday Rent A Yacht has opened an on line holiday auction site where you can bid for a skipper-yourself cruise. On offer are four, five and seven-night holidays aboard the Perry 43 and Lagoon 400 catamarans and the Jeanneau 35 and Beneteau 43.4 yachts.

Dec 26 -- Rolex Sydney Hobart starts on Sydney Harbour at 1.00pm on Boxing Day. Charter boats of all shapes and sizes and a variety of costs are available to watch the start of this iconic event. http://rolexsydneyhobart.com

Dec 31 -- New Year’s Eve - Spectacular pyrotechnics are fired off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, barges, and city skyscrapers at 9pm and midnight. Charter vessels participate in a themed parade following the 9pm fireworks. A special area is set aside for charter vessels in the Harbour. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

Photograph: Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats XI neck and neck during the 2009 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge courtesy of Rolex/Daniel Forster