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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about chartering with us

From booking your first bareboat to returning it at the end of your trip — find answers to the most common questions about chartering in the Whitsundays with Cumberland Charter Yachts. Can't find what you're looking for? Our team is available 7 days a week.

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Jump to: Prior to Booking Prior to Charter During Charter After Charter

Prior to booking

Cumberland Charter Yachts is committed to providing suitable access for all guests wherever possible. While bareboating doesn't require a licence and is an enjoyable way to explore the Whitsundays, all guests should consider whether they are competent, fit and able to undertake a boating holiday.

To safely enjoy a holiday at sea, guests must be able to traverse stairs and ladders, have a good sense of balance and be able to use various forms of communication. While CCY makes every effort to be inclusive, the design and technology involved on board our vessels will require a level of competency. If you would like to discuss your fitness level or abilities, please contact our friendly team.

Located on the Queensland coast, 25 minutes from Proserpine, Airlie Beach has a tropical island resort feel with its gorgeous outlook over the Coral Sea towards the Whitsunday Islands. The town centre is a cosmopolitan hub with a variety of shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and retail outlets.

Click here for more information about Airlie Beach.

Air-conditioning units are installed on some vessels with a generator, some have units that work on shore power only, while some vessels don't have air-conditioning at all. When on a mooring or at anchor, all boats naturally face into the wind — simply open all forward-facing hatches and allow them to catch the natural breeze.

To find out which vessels have air-conditioning, check the vessel inclusion list at the bottom of its page or speak to one of our friendly sales and reservations staff for recommendations.

Generator supplied air-conditioning

All units work well, however they're not the same as conventional household air-conditioners. They work best when all portholes and doors are kept closed while running. If you choose to run air-conditioners overnight, take into account the noise from the generator.

Shore power only air-conditioning

As with generator supplied air-conditioners, shore power only units also work best when all doors and hatches remain closed while in use.

No air-conditioning

Make use of the natural breeze — open all forward-facing hatches while at anchor or on a mooring and allow natural airflow throughout the vessel.

The Whitsundays are serviced by two domestic airports:

  • Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) — located along the Bruce Highway, approximately 30 minutes drive from Airlie Beach.
  • Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island) — serviced by Cruise Whitsundays for ferry transfers to Port of Airlie in Airlie Beach.

Shuttle buses meet all arriving flights at Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine). Bookings can be made direct with the operator through the Charter Centre once your booking is confirmed. Shuttles can deliver you to either Coral Sea Marina or your accommodation. We recommend booking with Heart of the Reef Shuttles, although there are many other reputable transfer companies available.

The Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island) is serviced by QantasLink, Jetstar and Virgin Australia from Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Cruise Whitsundays operate regular ferry services from Hamilton Island Airport to Port of Airlie. A courtesy phone at the ferry terminal is available to call a taxi to Coral Sea Marina.

Hamilton Island start/end option: We can deliver your bareboat to Hamilton Island (additional fee applies) for you to start or end your charter there. Hamilton Island start/end is subject to availability at the time of booking.

All our vessels are fully equipped for the maximum number of guests allowed on board. We also provide a full vessel briefing including Whitsunday area briefing and full instructions on anchoring, mooring, setting sails, safety and any specific vessel functions prior to departure. Please allow 3–4 hours for your vessel safety briefing.

View the full list of bareboat inclusions here.

  • A full refund of the $1,000 deposit is provided if cancelled within 7 days of paying the deposit.
  • Cancellations 120+ days before commencement: a $250 admin fee applies.
  • Cancellations 119–91 days before charter: the full $1,000 deposit is forfeited.
  • Cancellations inside 90 days: no refund unless a substitute booking is obtained on that vessel over the same period. If a substitute booking is found, payment is refunded less $1,000.

All cancellations must be received in writing. A cancellation is the Charterer making the Charter Contract void, including date or vessel changes. See the Reference Schedule for full details.

Cumberland Charter Yachts is an eco-tourism accredited company and sailing in the Whitsundays is considered a minimal emissions impact holiday. However, your travel to the Whitsundays and the small amount of fuel you use during charter may be something you'd like to offset. Greenfleet and Climate Friendly are two organisations that can help you offset your carbon footprint.

Hertz, Budget and Avis have depots at Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) and Airlie Beach. Europcar, We Do Cars & Scooters and Gypsy Car Rentals have depots in Airlie Beach only.

There is ample parking in the council car park at Coral Sea Marina (South). Payments are made through EasyPark — refer to their website for pricing, terms and conditions.

Offsite secure car parking with Whitsunday Parking is also available. Please enquire with us to make a booking on your behalf.

  • A $1,000 deposit is required to confirm your charter if booking 91 days or more prior.
  • Full charter fees are required if booking within 90 days of your charter.
  • Additional charges are due before arrival: Damage Waiver, Environmental Management Charge (EMC), outboard fuel and LPG for the BBQ, stove and oven.
  • A Grounding Security Bond of $3,000 is payable upon check-in.

A non-refundable damage waiver of $60 per night (capped at $600) is charged to cover loss of the vessel's inventory or minor damage to the vessel. This excludes groundings, which are covered by the Grounding Security Bond.

The EMC is a fee mandated by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). Tourism operators who run businesses in the Marine Park are required to collect this fee from all visitors. The funds collected are passed on to GBRMPA, fulfilling a legislative requirement tied to the operators' permits and contributing directly to the preservation of the reef.

Formal qualifications are not required to hire a bareboat in Queensland, however some nautical experience is important. Take our preliminary informal online test to see how well you score on your nautical knowledge. Prior to a confirmed charter's departure, the most experienced charterer is required to take a formal online boating skills assessment so we can assess vessel handling ability.

A $3,000 Grounding Security Bond is held on a valid nominated card by the charterer or crew upon check-in on the day of departure. Upon return, a contracted diver will inspect the hull. If no hull damage is found, it will be released 5–7 days after your charter. The bond will be processed if there are any reports of the vessel running aground during your charter.

You can depart on or return from your charter on any day of the year except Christmas Day. The CCY office, provisioning companies, shops and restaurants are open every day except Christmas Day.

Public Holiday Surcharges: There is a $100 surcharge for sleep-on-boards the night before departure, and a $200 surcharge for briefings that take place on a public holiday.

Australian school holiday dates & Queensland public holidays.

Personal travel insurance

Travel insurance covers expenses if you need to cancel your trip for a specified reason — such as sickness, injury or death of you, a family member or travelling companion. There is also cover for cancellation due to a cyclone (refer to conditions and limitations on the Product Disclosure Statement).

Topsail Insurance specialises in yachting holidays and policies can be purchased online. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to check all conditions and limitations before purchasing.

You may like to learn to sail or brush up on your skills before your charter. There are a number of sailing schools across Australia offering courses from Introduction to Sailing through to Competent Crew and Day Skipper. Find your local sailing school through Australian Sailing.

Another great way to gain experience is to join your local sailing club or twilight sails at a local yacht club — sailors are always looking for extra crew and love to show novices the ropes.

NAVatHome offer an online Fundamental Skipper and Navigation course — a perfect introduction to helming your own yacht around the Whitsundays.

10% discount: Use the referral code 2023ccysailing when purchasing through NAVatHome for a 10% discount.

In addition to your briefing, you may also hire your briefer for an additional 2 hours or on a per-day basis (additional fees apply).

The minimum number of nights you can charter for is three nights. We recommend 5–7 nights to make the most of your charter. There is no maximum number of nights.

  • A $1,000 deposit is required to confirm your charter if booking 91 days or more prior.
  • Full charter fees are required if booking within 90 days of your charter.
  • Additional charges are due before arrival: Damage Waiver, Environmental Management Charge (EMC), outboard fuel and LPG for the BBQ, stove and oven.
  • A Grounding Security Bond of $3,000 is payable upon check-in.

All vessels have 12-volt power on board. Selected vessels have either small or large inverters, with some having generators (gensets) to produce 240V power.

Generator (genset)

A diesel engine dedicated to producing 240V power — suitable for running microwave ovens, air-conditioners, phone chargers, laptops and hairdryers. Some vessels have a fee of $15 per hour for generator use after the first 4 hours per day.

Small inverter

Converts 12V battery power to 240V. Suitable for low-power appliances including phone chargers and laptops. Will not run hairdryers.

Large inverter

Converts 12V battery power to 240V. Suitable for most 240V appliances. Phone chargers and laptops are no problem. Small hairdryers may work, but at the expense of battery storage.

All vessels have refrigeration/freezers of varying sizes. They are most efficient when opened sparingly. Freezers will maintain frozen items but are unlikely to freeze thawed items.

Pack food in order of use so you can quickly get what you need and close the fridge/freezer as soon as possible. Each vessel comes with an esky for the deck for additional storage. Crushed or block ice can be purchased from the kiosk at the marina.

Check the refrigeration/freezer size (by litre) at the bottom of the vessel page under 'inclusions'.

We have a diverse fleet of bareboats for you to choose from and our friendly staff can help you find the perfect vessel. To help us, we need to know:

  • The number of people on charter
  • Your preference — sailing catamaran, sailing monohull or power catamaran
  • Your preferred travel dates and number of nights
Check Availability Explore Our Fleet Enquire Online

All vessels come with a tender equipped with a 6hp outboard motor and oars. The tender has a full tank of fuel and can carry all the crew comfortably to and from the beach.

Our website provides up-to-date pricing and live availability. Check vessel availability here.

Prior to your charter

Looking for accommodation close to Coral Sea Marina? Airlie Beach has a wide variety to suit every budget, with most options offering stunning views of the Coral Sea and Whitsunday Islands.

View our recommended Airlie Beach accommodation guide.

Coral Sea Marina, Airlie Beach

Please arrive at our base at 8:30am. Your briefer will provide a trolley for you to load your luggage and transport it to your vessel. The briefing is divided into three parts: the area brief, boat brief and practical assessment.

  • Area brief — safety, navigation and Whitsunday Marine Park regulations
  • Boat brief — vessel systems, safety equipment locations and functions
  • Practical assessment — anchoring, mooring and sailing techniques

The combined briefings take 3–4 hours depending on your experience level.

Hamilton Island Marina

If flying into Hamilton Island, we offer the option to deliver your bareboat to the island (additional fee, subject to availability). Your briefing at Hamilton Island starts at 11:00am on board your bareboat. The fee covers delivery by your briefer, the briefing, and an overnight berth at Hamilton Island if required.

An open book briefing test must be completed prior to departure. The combined briefings take 3–4 hours depending on experience.

Choose from self-select at local supermarkets, or have your provisioning delivered directly to your vessel by a local provisioning company. Find out more about catering and provisioning options.

The primary charterer must be the person who accepts the charter contract — this can only be done online. View the full charter contract terms and conditions here.

All vessels are fully equipped with the cooking utensils and crockery needed to prepare and enjoy your meals. Click here for a full list of items on board.

Coral Sea Marina is the mainland port for the Whitsundays, located approximately 2km from the Airlie Beach town centre — a short 10-minute walk. The marina offers car parking, toilets, showers and laundry facilities, restaurants and a kiosk. The Cumberland Charter Yachts office is located at Shop 18, upstairs next to Sorrento's Restaurant and Bar.

More information about Coral Sea Marina and Airlie Beach.

You can bring your own fishing equipment or hire from us — rods and reels, tackle box, a handline with 40lb line and a landing net. Bait can be purchased at the kiosk at Coral Sea Marina.

Please note: Loss or damage to hired fishing equipment is not covered by the vessel damage waiver and may result in additional charges. A signed indemnity form is required to hire equipment.

It is perfectly safe to bring an infant on a bareboating holiday. However small, by law every infant must be included in the passenger list and therefore counts towards the maximum passenger allowance on board. Life jackets for children under 40kg are provided — orders can be made when completing your crew list in the Charter Centre.

Cumberland Charter Yachts recommends wearing snorkel suits at all times when in the water — they offer protection from the sun and from harmful stings from jellyfish. Snorkel suits are thin lycra full-length suits covering approximately 90% of the body and can be hired from us at check-in.

$35 per person for the length of your charter.

Paddling around inlets and bays is a great way to explore the Whitsundays quietly — great exercise and perfect for discovering out-of-the-way beaches. We offer single stand up paddle boards and kayaks, which are popular with children.

Order boards or kayaks online via the Charter Centre — they are delivered to your vessel ready for charter departure. More information about watersports here.

There is a Woolworths in Airlie Beach and Cannonvale, a Coles in Cannonvale and an IGA in Jubilee Pocket and on Hamilton Island. Find out more about provisioning options.

During your charter

Combined with your on-board copy of 100 Magic Miles, there are a number of approved anchorages where you can take your vessel — with information on whether you can moor only, anchor only, or both.

Download the approved anchorages list.

All vessels are subject to operational area limits:

  • North — to George Point including Hayman Island
  • East — to Harold Island including Border Island
  • South — to Cape Conway including the north-western side of Shaw Island

Area limits may be amended based on weather conditions. View the cruising area map.

Cumberland Charter Yachts is an accredited eco-tourism company, backed by a strong commitment to sustainable practices. We encourage all guests to adopt responsible reef practices while on charter and be environmentally conscious at all times.

Learn more about our sustainability credentials.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has a public monitoring program that contributes to the long-term protection of the reef by collecting information about reef health, marine life and incidents. The app is free to download and works even without mobile coverage during your charter. Learn more about the Eye on the Reef program.

Fishing is permitted in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, however there are strict regulations and it is important to adopt responsible fishing practices. Marine Park zoning helps manage and protect the values of the Marine Park — each zone has different rules for activities that are allowed, prohibited or require a permit.

Download the Whitsunday Marine Park Zone Map.

Each vessel comes with a full tank of fuel. Any fuel used during your charter is payable by the charterer upon return.

Restrictions are in place concerning Dent Passage near the Hamilton Island airport runway. Vessels navigating Dent Passage, specifically off the western end of the airport runway, should exercise caution due to regular aircraft movements day and night. All vessels should steer clear of the flight path zone during aircraft movements.

Flight Path Exclusion Zone

Charterers can book a berth at Hamilton Island Marina (additional charges apply) and use the resort facilities, dine in restaurants, shop and explore the island.

Bookings are required prior to arrival — minimum 24 hours beforehand. On approach to the marina entrance, contact the Marina Office on VHF Channel 68. Their on-water marina concierge staff will guide you to your allocated berth and assist with lines.

Check-in: 11am–3pm  |  Check-out: Prior to 10am  |  Phone: 07 4946 8353

Overnight Marina Berth From $220 Day Marina Berth From $32p/h Marina Map Resort Map

A number of islands have resorts, but not all welcome bareboat charters ashore to use resort facilities. For those that are welcoming, there is usually a fee to use their moorings. Find out which island resorts you can visit.

Your itinerary largely depends on prevailing wind and tides. Your briefer will have the latest weather forecast during your briefing and will help you plan a suggested itinerary before departure.

Twice daily we will contact you via VHF radio to provide an updated weather forecast and ask your plans. If your plans are not suitable for conditions, we will suggest an alternative route or anchorage.

View a sample itinerary.  |  Mackay Coastal Waters Forecast

While rare, jellyfish stings have occurred in the Whitsundays from Irukandji and Box Jellyfish. Stings can occur year-round but are more prevalent between November and May.

Cumberland Charter Yachts recommends wearing a snorkel suit at all times when in the water — a thin lycra full-body suit offering 100% UV protection and protection from stings. You can bring your own or hire from us for $35 per person for the duration of your charter.

Marine Safety Queensland requires us to provide a one-size-fits-all life jacket for each crew member. It is mandatory for all children under 12 years of age to wear a properly fitted life jacket — this applies in the vessel's dinghy as well. Cumberland Charter Yachts will supply an appropriate life jacket at no additional charge. Please provide your child's weight information when making this request in the Charter Centre.

Mobile coverage is not available everywhere in the Whitsundays. Check your provider's coverage map on their website. All vessels have a 12-volt outlet — bring your car charger to keep your phone topped up while on charter.

Cumberland Charter Yachts has private moorings available just off the rock wall at Coral Sea Marina, suitable for overnight stays if your departure time on the first day doesn't allow you to reach your first night's anchorage by 4pm.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has installed over 200 free public moorings around the islands to help minimise anchor damage to fragile environments. Colour codes on the moorings explain vessel class, time limits and maximum wind strengths. Your briefer will cover mooring use in detail during your briefing.

Download the GBRMPA public mooring map (May 2022).

All vessels are supplied with Bluetooth or auxiliary connections to play music through the on-board sound system.

Coral Sea Marina is a certified Clean Marina Level 3 offering recycling facilities for glass, aluminium cans, paper/cardboard and hard plastics. Please help maintain the region by crushing cans and cardboard boxes during your charter, separating them and using the appropriate bins to reduce waste headed to landfill.

Scuba equipment can be hired at Aqua Dive at Coral Sea Marina. Depending on the vessel, there is limited space to store equipment and we may restrict the number of scuba tanks on board. More information about scuba diving in the Whitsundays.

Sharks inhabit the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday islands. Shark attacks are very rare, but it is a reminder that exploring the ocean does pose some risks. To reduce the risk of negative interactions:

  • Sharks are more active at dawn and dusk — avoid swimming or in-water activities at these times
  • Always swim, snorkel or dive with a buddy
  • Avoid murky or unclear water
  • Never clean fish or discard food scraps over the side at anchorages
  • Use on-board holding tanks while in anchorages
  • Do not swim near or interfere with shark control equipment

We do not use electronic shark deterrent devices on our vessels — independent research has shown these could provide a false sense of security and are not proven to be 100% effective.

Download Shark Smart flyer

Snorkel equipment is included in your charter fees. Everyone is custom-fitted to their gear before departure — mask, snorkel and fins. More information about snorkelling in the Whitsundays.

Every day at 9:30am and 2:30pm, Cumberland Charter Yachts will contact you via the vessel's VHF radio to provide a weather update for the current day and the following two days. We will also ask about your daily plans and evening anchorage, offering alternative suggestions if conditions are unsuitable. Feel free to contact us at any time via radio if you've forgotten anything about the vessel.

Your vessel's water tanks are full prior to departure and should be used sparingly. Hamilton Island and Coral Sea Marina are the only places where you can refill your tanks. All vessels have hot water for showering and a cockpit shower. All grey water is held in holding tanks on board — your briefer will explain where you can dispense grey water during the vessel briefing.

Between July and September, Humpback whales migrate from the Antarctic to the Whitsundays to give birth in the calm warm waters around the islands. You can expect to see them during your charter. There are strict guidelines around whale sightings — please familiarise yourself with the national whale and dolphin watching guidelines.

More information about whale watching in the Whitsundays.

After your charter

Upon return to Coral Sea Marina, radio us on your approach. Once inside the marina rock wall, one of our friendly staff will meet you and assist you to the fuel dock to refill the tanks — please have a credit card available.

We will then berth the vessel and conduct a debrief, giving you the opportunity to let us know how the boat performed and what may need attention for the next charter. We'll provide a trolley to transfer your luggage. Please ensure the vessel is left tidy with all washing up completed and rubbish removed by 10am.

Upon arrival at Hamilton Island Marina, contact the marina office on VHF Channel 68. A representative will meet you at the marina leads in a tender to guide you to a designated berth and assist with lines.

Our designated briefer will join you on board for a debrief covering any matters for the next charter. Please leave the vessel in an orderly state with all washing up completed and rubbish removed by 11am. The briefer will then oversee the return of the vessel to Coral Sea Marina, handling refuelling and charging the credit card provided at authorisation.

We have a drop-off point where you can leave any unopened non-perishable food items at our office. We donate these to the local Neighbourhood Centre for families in need.

Still have questions?

Our team is available 7 days a week, 8:30am–5:00pm. Give us a call, send an enquiry or check live availability across our entire fleet.

Contact Us Check Availability Call 07 4946 7500