Aquila 44's take the Whitsundays by storm
In as little as 12 months, Cumberland Charter Yachts, the parent company to Luxury Yachts Whitsundays, have welcomed their second Aquila 44 power catamaran into their fleet this week, making them the only bareboat company in the country that holidaymakers can charter one through.
The Aquila 44 was first launched at the Miami Boat Show in America in 2014 and went on to win the Active Interest Media (AIM) Editor’s Choice Award for ‘Best Multihull’ in the same year, highlighting boatbuilding achievements, innovative technology, and design.
Working closely with Multihull Central, Cumberland Charter Yachts welcomed their first Aquila 44 into the fleet in February 2017 and has been well received by people looking for large, luxurious vessels of choice to experience whilst bareboating in the Whitsundays.
General Manager, Sharon McNally said demand for the Aquila 44 was strong therefore a second Aquila 44 was required. It offers customers a whole new level of luxury, space, and comfort. It also provides more choice through our Luxury Yachts Whitsundays’ brand.
“Having the only two Aquila 44’s in the country available for charter positions Cumberland Charter Yachts as industry leaders providing a unique luxury offering to those who are new or seasoned bareboat charterers.” Said Sharon.
“It’s a brilliant addition to our luxury yacht fleet. They’re extremely popular charter vessels in the Caribbean and we hope to keep expanding the fleet to meet the needs of those looking for premium choices”
Brent Vaughan from Multihull Central is very pleased to see yet another Aquila 44 in the Whitsundays with Cumberland Charter Yachts, reflecting the brand’s position as the world leader in power catamaran production.
“The Aquila represents the absolute ultimate in luxury bareboating holidays and the design lends itself perfectly to the cruising waters of the Whitsundays,” said Brent.
“It has three large entertaining areas and very spacious accommodation, something that you would normally only see on a 60-foot motor cruiser, but with more stability”
Cumberland Charter Yachts are a multi award-winning company and have been operating for 30 years from Abell Point Marina in the Whitsundays, offering bareboat holidays on sailing yachts, sailing catamarans and power catamarans across a fleet of 28 vessels.
Cumberland Charter Yachts Win National Tourism Award
Cumberland Charter Yachts is the parent company of Luxury Yachts Whitsundays, who took out the silver award for Unique Accommodation at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards held at the Perth Optus Stadium on Friday night.
They were one out of ten winners from Queensland and is the third accolade won by Cumberland Charter Yachts in 2017 after winning silver at the Whitsunday Tourism Awards and gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards.
Being able to skipper your own boat in the best cruising area on the planet is a truly memorable experience and Cumberland Charter Yachts has proven to be a leader in the bareboating industry.
Managing Director Charlie Preen and General Manager Sharon McNally celebrated alongside BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday, Abell Point Marina, Island Jetboating and Ocean Rafting all representing the Whitsundays after winning gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards in their respective categories.
"Receiving this award is an absolute honour," said Sharon.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my amazing team who have worked tirelessly over the past 12 months whilst recovering from Cyclone Debbie and getting on with the general day to day business. We also could not have done this without each and every one of our boat owners. Investing their boats with Cumberland Charter Yachts helps us make the magic happen. This accolade goes out to them".
Charlie Preen stood proudly on the night and was ecstatic at winning silver after being up against six finalists from other states and territories who were all winners at their state tourism awards in the same category.
"Winning gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards was something special but winning silver at the Australian Tourism Awards is simply amazing." Said Charlie.
"We'd also like to congratulate Ocean Rafting for winning gold in the Major Tour and Transport Operator category, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday for winning bronze in the Caravan and Holiday Parks category and of course Abell Point Marina and Island Jetboating for being finalists at national level".
Luxury Yachts Whitsundays was created in 2017 after Cumberland Charter Yachts started seeing an increase in demand for larger and more luxurious vessels. Their pride and excellence in customer service and tourism is carried through to the Luxury Yachts Whitsundays brand and are proud to be able to offer luxurious experiences whilst bareboating in the Whitsundays.
General Manager Sharon McNally and Managing Director Charlie Preen accepting the silver award for Unique Accommodation at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards at the Perth Optus Stadium on Friday evening.
Chartering a Luxury Bareboat or Crewed Charter with Kids
Taking your kids on board a luxury bareboat or crewed charter can certainly be a rewarding and memorable experience. They learn new skills, discover another beautiful part of the country, jump off the back of the boat into azure waters, climb hills to spectacular views and discover marine life like they've never seen before.
A memorable experience could turn out to be one all for the wrong reasons if the children aren't prepared for what life is like living on a boat and what to expect. With a little forward thinking and preparation before your charter, you can help ensure it's an enjoyable experience not only for them but for the parents as well.
Prepare them for life on a boat
Start using boating terminology when speaking to them, and around them, about the holiday. Get them use to words such as 'port', 'starboard', 'tender' 'galley' so that when you are on board the boat it'll become 2nd nature to them and understand various aspects and parts of a boat and understand what you are talking about.
Get them involved
If they're not already seasoned sailors, get them use to being out on the water. Take them to a local sailing club and see if you can get them on board for a twilight sail, or if you have a friend with a small tender with an outboard, take them cruising on local waterways. This will help them feel comfortable once on the charter.
Onboard safety
A thorough briefing on the area and any hazards, as well as onboard safety, is provided before you depart the marina on your first day. It is important to run those details over with the rest of the crew including the children so that everyone is aware and can help keep an eye on each other.
Drinks and snacks
Be sure to take plenty of snacks and drinks on board. Being out in the sun and wind, swimming, snorkelling and sailing, works up quite an appetite for both adults and kids. Think muesli bars, fruit, crackers and dips and plenty of water. Have them fill up their water bottles and keep them handy at all times.
Entertainment
There will be times when cruising, swimming and snorkelling have come to an end for the day and you may find them looking for things to do before or after dinner. Pack some travelling board games, books and playing cards so they can entertain themselves and give the adults some peace and quiet.
Island Resort Activities
Getting them off the boat and on to dry land helps break the charter up a little and gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs. There are many island resorts in the Whitsundays that you can berth at or pull up a mooring, and head ashore and take part in the many activities (most a free) the resort offers.
At the end of the day, you want everyone to enjoy their charter holiday and there's nothing worse than having bored children or don't understand the hazards of being on a boat. Educate them before the charter which will make it so much easier once you step on board.
Stock and Items Included on Bareboat Charters
The bareboat (skipper yourself) vessels with Luxury Yachts Whitsundays are fully equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and well stocked charter. From linen and lighters, whisks and waterhoses to tide tables and tongs, Luxury Yachts Whitsundays has you covered. Here is a comprehensive list of what you'll find on the boat and what you needn't worry about buying or going without.
* 12v to 240v Invertor
* GPS and chart plotter
* Electric anchor winch
* Dinghy and 6hp outboard
* Boat hook
* Cabin fans and air-conditioning
* Induction stove
* Boarding swim ladder
* Fenders and mooring lines
* Cockpit lights
* Electric BBQ
* Water hose
* Shore power cord
* Safety gear
What We Supply On Board
* Linen and blankets
* Pillows and pillowcases
* Bath towels (2 per person)
* Tea towels
* Fully equipped galley (Kitchen).
* Cleaning gear
* Shower/toilet.
* Deck shower
* Snorkelling gear - mask, snorkel and fins.
* Ipod connectivity, AM/FM Radio & CD Player
* Wet weather jackets
* Bimini
* VHF Radio
Safety Gear
* Flares
* Tools and spares kit
* Life rings
* Depth sounder
* EPIRB
* Torches
* VHF radio
* Binoculars
* Life jackets
* Complete vessel safety briefing
* First Aid Kit (Charterer pays for items used)
* Vinegar
* Tide tables
* '100 Magic Miles' cruising guide
* Charts
* Rule and divider
* Lead line
* Operational manual
* Salad servers
* Tongs
* Food storage containers
* Colander
* Grater
* Cork screw
* Can opener
* Egg rings
* Egg slice
* BBQ spatula
* Peeler
* Whisk
* Masher
* Measuring jug
* Mixing bowls
* Toast rack
* Clothes pegs
* Dustpan and brush
* Sink plunger
Galley (Kitchen) Supplies
* Dinner plates
* Side plates
* Desert bowls
* Cutlery
* Cutting knives
* Cutting boards
* Serving platters
* Mugs
* Tea pot
* Wine goblets
* Tumblers
* Champagne flutes
* Coffee plunger
* Kettle
* Water jug
* Frying pans
* Sauce pans
* Baking trays
* Salad bowl
*Coffee pod machine
Consumables Kit
* Sponges
* Scourer
* Detergent
* Disinfectant
* Jif - cream cleaner
* Spray and wipe
* Garbage bags x 3
* Toilet rolls x 2 per toilet
* Smart casual dress for resort visiting
* Old pair of sneakers or deck shoes
* Favourite CDs, DVDs or Ipod.
* Your lucky fishing gear!!
* Books, playing cards and games
* Insect repellant
* Travel insurance
* A sense of adventure
What You Should Bring With You
* Sunscreen
* Sunglasses (polarised)
* Hat with toggle
* Light casual clothes
* Your camera
* Beach towel and swimming costume
* Warmer gear during winter
Tenders
All vessels come with a tender fitted with a 6hp outboard engine, safety gear including oars.
Moor and Moor New Public Moorings for the Whitsundays
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) have announced an additional 60 new public moorings have been installed around the Whitsundays, and 40 new reef protection markers installed in order to protect the fringing reef better, provide convenient and sustainable access for boaties and help the area recover after Cyclone Debbie.
Prior to the cyclone, the Whitsundays already had 85 public moorings and 50 reef protection markers around the fringing reef of the islands. Now with a total of 145 public moorings and 90 reef protection markers for use by recreational boat users, bareboat charterers and the tourism industry operators, the reef is in a better position now to recover and regenerate.
Moorings are designed so that anchors don't have to be dropped on the sea floor and reef protection markers guide operators where it is safe to drop an anchor without it landing on coral bommies. The Environmental Management Charge (EMC) that charterers are charged, go towards the upkeep, maintenance and installation of moorings around the Whitsunday islands.
Different coloured moorings allow operators to easily identify the vessel size limit and maximum wind speed allowed for that particular mooring and is in the best interest of the 'captain' and the crew to adhere to these guidelines when picking up moorings for the safety of all on board as well as the protection of the reef. The Zoning Map will also help you understand where you can go and what activities you can undertake in each area of the islands.
If you follow Cumberland Charter Yachts' (Luxury Yachts Whitsundays parent company) 'Reef Protection Practices' while on charter and become a Citizen of the Great Barrier Reef, we can all do our little part in nurturing the Great Barrier Reef.
Five fast facts about Christmas Tree Worms
Christmas Tree Worms are one of my favourite things to find when snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, and so in the spirit of Christmas, here are some fast facts about these little guys. I bet your bottom dollar they'll be the first thing you go looking for when you snorkel straight from the back of the boat on your next luxury charter in the Whitsundays!
For those who celebrate Christmas, tree decorating comes once a year, but in the world's tropical seas, 'tis always the season! Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) are a type of polychaete, a group of segmented worms that contains over 13,000 species. And just like their cousins the "sea mice" and feather dusters, these unassuming invertebrates put on quite the eye-catching display.
1. Tree sieve
The Seuss-style plumes you see above – which come in an array of colour morphs – are called "crowns", and you'll notice they appear in pairs. That's because each worm has two of them. By pumping water up and over the crowns, a Christmas tree worm can filter out tiny plants and animals to snack on. The feathery structures are lined with both sticky mucus and spiky bristles (called cilia), which help trap passing prey.
2. Double duty
After a bit of size sifting, the worm moves any tasty morsels – conveyor-style – to the mouth, but the crowns do more than just catch food: they also harness oxygen! For this reason, the structures are often mistakenly called gills.
3. Now you see me
Underwater "pines" might be beautiful, but they're really just the tip of this worm's iceberg. Two-thirds of the body of a Spirobranchus lies hidden in a calcium carbonate tube, which it erects as a bunker.
Some groups take this one step further, by setting up shop in stony corals. But the crafty worms don't do the heavy drilling: by nestling their bodies against the corals' living tissues, they force the polyps to build around them. Over time, these coral-encased bunkers can reach ten inches in length.
Spirobranchus worms are pretty choosy about which corals they settle on, but scientists are still working out why. Some speculate that landing on carefully selected species could help the worms with reproduction. Others suggest the pickiness comes down to avoiding accidental predation (no worm wants a coral-munching parrot fish is hankering for its home turf).
4. Only the classics for these worms
Once settled down, a Christmas tree worm can live upwards of 30 years! (Though 10-20 is more common.)
5. Ladies and gents
While many invertebrates reproduce asexually, there are actually male and female Christmas tree worms. These animals are broadcast spawners, meaning they shoot their genetic contribution into the surrounding water, in the hope that it meets its match. Once fertilisation occurs, it takes just 24 hours for larvae to develop.
