Whitsunday Islands Sailing

Sarah Graham on 13 October 2017
After a wonderful farewell reception at The Star Hotel, it was time to move on. In groups of around 12 people we all set off to explore different parts of this amazing country.

Each group was given an Aussie wildlife nickname and we were the cockatoos. We flew up to Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands. The flight with Virgin Australia was so easy and only took around 90 minutes.

TOP TIP: I would highly recommend requesting a window seat as the views of the Whitsundays as we came in to land were amazing!

From the airport we were whisked to the marina to find our home for the next 24 hours - Boomerang - an authentic sailing boat that used to race around the world! A true Maxi vessel, she boasts 83ft in length and 20ft wide. In her racing past, she achieved great success, including placing first place in World Maxi Series Race, in addition to other wins in the USA, Japan and New Zealand. She has called the Whitsundays home since 2009.

What an amazing experience! We were fortunate enough to have perfect weather for sailing around the Whitsundays and the fabulous and knowledgeable crew quickly made us feel at home! We got to help raise the sails and learn about sailing boats as well as the Whitsunday islands we passed. Watching the sunset from the deck was a highlight along with lying on the deck after dark star-gazing.

The following day after a hearty breakfast we set sail to go snorkelling and saw some amazing marine life. We then sailed to a perfect little island for a little picnic and wander.

Boomerang can sleep up to 28 guests in an open plan layout and is primarily aimed at the backpacker market looking for a value for money island sailing adventure. She was a perfect choice for our group to chill out and get to know each other as we watched the world go by. There's an array of options to sail around the Whitsundays - from budget to luxury.

At Corroboree West 2017 we were lucky enough to meet the very best suppliers and I now have amazing contacts and can tailor-make your perfect Australia trip. I can let you have more information about Boomerang or any of the many other ways you could sail the Whitsundays from group boats to private yachts and everything in between. Before we knew it, it was time to head to Airlie Beach and our next stopover - Hamilton Island!