Charter Chatter

- The first race of the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship starts Saturday 5 March on Sydney Harbour with an invitation race on Friday 4 March. This is the final series for the summer and it is the most sought-after title for the 18ft skiff crews. The Australian 18 Footers League charters a licensed spectator ferry to follow each race. This ferry leaves Double Bay Wharf at 2.15pm. Tickets can be purchased at the office on race day for $20 per adult. Children under 14 are free. For race schedules and more information see www.18footers.com.au

- All charter boats in Australia must have a current survey certificate issued by a state authority and they must be operated by qualified crew. Survey requirements demonstrate the vessel has passed safety and seaworthy checks and is suitable for cruises around harbours and waterways. Two vessels chartered in Sydney for New Year’s Eve were found to be not in survey. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

- The Brisbane River is now open for limited use to commercial vessels. Mirimar Cruises, Kookaburra River Queens, River City Cruises and Brisbane Star Cruises have all reopened after being closed for a month following the floods. The cruise companies are using temporary pick up and drop off locations at North Quay, Brett's Wharf or Manly.

- HMB Endeavour is having an extensive refit in preparation for her around Australia Voyage visiting 16 ports. The voyage starts from Sydney 15 April 2011 and returns in May 2012. You can join the Endeavour as voyage crew, sleeping in hammocks and participating in the operation of the vessel or as a supernumerary, sleeping in an individual cabin and choosing your level of involvement with the sailing of the vessel. www.endeavourvoyages.com.au

- Geographically closer to Los Angeles than Moscow, Russia's Far East, epitomised by the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands, remains a rarely-visited region. Orion Expedition Cruises voyages to a part of the world that, until recently, remained off-limits to the West. From Petropavlovsk, home to Russia's atomic submarine fleet, gilt statues and memorials to the Red Army, to villages with picturesque Russian Orthodox onion-dome churches, succulent barbecued salmon and traditional vodka tastings, these Orion II voyages provide varying perspectives and insight into lands of modern nuclear and primal volcanic power. Here brown bears, not humans, sit at the top of the food chain.

- The new Sun Odyssey 409/Sunsail 41 recently won the European Yacht of the Year, selected by a jury composed of representatives from leading European marine magazines. The new addition to the Sunsail fleet has a three-cabin, two-head layout, offering a contemporary interior which is light, open and spacious. Features include all the latest navigation equipment from Raymarine and an increased swim platform, unique to Sunsail. The monohull will be available in 2011 for charter from Sunsail bases in the British Virgin Islands, St Martin, Australia, Turkey, Croatia and Greece.

- Captain Cook Cruises is offering 20 per cent off their seven nights Northern Fiji Discovery Heritage cruise, where passengers can enjoy the unique experience of standing on the International Dateline. Passengers are taken beyond the Yasawa Islands to very remote and exotic tropical Fijian islands where they learn about the unique history, art and culture of Northern Fiji. The sale is available until 31 March 2011 and valid for travel until 31 March 2012.

- After suffering minimal damage from dual Cyclones Anthony and Yasi the Whitsundays is returning to normal. The Whitsundays has been extremely lucky not to be a part of Queensland's two major disasters in the past two months, having not flooded nor suffered much damage from two cyclones in a week. Take advantage of low season rates on charter vessels. www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au.
 
- Brisbane's dugongs feed almost exclusively on the seagrass that grows on shallow sandbanks in Moreton Bay. They grow to three metres long, weigh over 400 kilograms and can live more than 70 years. Moreton Bay supports a resident population of around 400 animals but Brisbane floodwaters are forcing dugongs southward to unaffected areas like the Gold Coast Broadwater, which is connected to Moreton Bay by a network of tidal channels. Sea World Cruises vessel Spirit of Migloo has reported a series of close encounters with these elusive marine mammals during their day tours on the Gold Coast Broadwater.