Our Whitsundays Adventure | A Week of Sailing, Sun & Generally Salty Vibes in the Whitsunday Islands

So I am sure everybody in our lives are well and truly sick of hearing about our search for the perfect yacht.

I am trying to sound sorry as I write that but we are definitely still boat obsessed.

It was about time we got back out on the water ourselves though and made sure a life of  adventures as sea gypsies was what we really wanted.

So as a couple of wide eyed wanna-be salty sea dogs we packed up our car and began our journey up to the Whitsunday Islands.

 

We actually looked at a couple of yachts on our way to and from Airlie Beach, but that is another story entirely!

 

 

Our bareboat charter yacht for the week was a cheeky little 2008 Beneteau Oceans 31. Now I say “little” because that’s what we were expecting. Turns out though, 31 feet of yacht is well and truly big enough for 2 people. We were able to sleep on the boat the night before we set sail. That night, we spent some time walking around the marina, day dreaming about owning one of the beauties that call it home.

Our little Bennie was just perfect for our holiday though and we were super stoked for our induction and sail the next day.

 

 

We got some study in the night before so cruised through the morning induction, brushed up on some skills and were let loose in the big blue.

It was finally just the two of us handling a vessel on our own!  Let me tell you, for the first couple of hours it was terrifying!!

 

 

 

Sailing really isn’t difficult but it is intimidating the first time you set out on a half decent sized boat. Thank goodness the Whitsunday Islands were only 3 hours away!

I can’t even imagine how nervous we will be when it is our own yacht!

It didn’t take long though before we just slipped into boat life and got the hang of sail setting, trimming and dodging the other crazy charter boats that don’t know the rules of the road.

 

 

Living on a yacht you are in constant motion and it is definitely something to adjust to.

They call it “life on a lean” for a reason!

After a week we seemed to get used to it. Meal prep can be interesting though. Especially when you are under-way and being thrown around galley while trying to make a sandwich.

Unfortunately there is no footage of me flapping around like a salmon while trying to prepare lunch.

I think living this way came naturally to us though. It gave us a taste of a life we are so ready to dive into.

 

 

 

We got some amazing weather and I think we got to experience the Whitsundays the best way possible.

So boat life…. Each morning you would wake up, have your coffee while looking at the weather and plan which magical place you were heading to that day.

 

 

Days were sunny with perfect wind, the ocean was clear and nights were crisp with the most amazing sunsets.

 

 

Our days were spent snorkelling, fishing, exploring and taking a much needed break from work.

 

 

We picked fresh oysters in the bay, climbed rocks on the beaches and watched whales play around the boat. We walked through beautiful green forest and enjoyed the crystal clear waters of Whitehaven beach.

 

 

Island life really is the best life.

 

 

I’m not forgetting the most important part though, the sailing!

And boy did we get our share of fair winds. It does take a bit of concentration at first but we had some awesome days on the water cruising between the Whitsunday Islands.

 

 

It sounds really cliche but the feeling of wind in your sails is so damn cool! To know the wind can take us to all the places we want to explore just makes it even better!

Cruising along, only the sounds of the ocean around you and some tunes going in the cockpit. Seriously, nothing like it!

 

 

Now we know a blissful week bareboat chartering a yacht in the Whitsundays is not the same as living on and maintaining a yacht of your own. The latter involves a HUGE amount of work. It did however remind us of the type of adventures we want to have. And let me tell you, the work seems totally worth it.

A week of these beautiful islands is definitely not enough.

 

 

You could spend week after week exploring the Whitsunday Islands. We are so stoked to think we will be back in our own yacht one day!

 

 

Bareboat charters aren’t the cheapest holiday especially if it just the two of you. We went with Queensland Yacht Charters and were super impressed with all the staff, the boat and the service throughout the whole experience. You do need to have a degree of experience before they give you the yacht but it so totally worth it!

 

Just give us a bit of time Whitsundays, we will be back I promise!

 

Until next time.

Xx