ITINERARY

WRAPUP - ACTUAL - PLANNED

WRAPUP

Overall the trip was superb. The diving was spectacular, as was the snorkeling. Fishing provided lots of fun, particularly when seagulls pointed the way to the frenzied tuna and mackerel schools. The scenery and weather was fabulous. Australian Yacht Charters AKA Whitsunday Charter Vacations was fantastic and provided us with an excellent boat (Explorer 42 cat) to accommodate the 8 people for 5 days. We had tons of room. There were only minor glitches such as some galley items missing and we weren't aware that the boat really couldn't be sailed in strong winds without an engine running to provide rudder authority. We never got close to running out of water or battery power.

ACTUAL ITINERARY

Monday - Departed Airlie Beach's Abel Point Marina at noon. Motored to Nara Inlet on the Southeast corner of Hook Island for the night.

Tuesday - Stopped at False Nara Inlet for breakfast. Found the waves and wind from the SE winds pretty bad. Headed up the west Coast of Hook Island stopping at Langford Reef for a snorkel and lunch. Moved to Butterfly Bay for the night and that afternoon did a so-so dive on the South side of the point separating the two 'wings' of the bay.

Wednesday - Moved to Pinnacle Bay for a superb dive on the East side of the Pinnacles then back to Luncheon Bay for the night.

Thursday - Motored to Cateran Bay for the night. The West side of the bay is one of the best snorkels in the world. We had a spectacular dive on the West side of the entrance to the bay and and an equally good dive along the wall and overhangs on the East side of the entrance to the bay.

Friday - Over to Whitehaven Beach for lunch, some hiking and fishing. Then straight to Hamilton Island for the night. Up at 5AM and cast off at 6 to get the boat back to Airlie by 10AM.

ORIGINAL PLANNED ITINERARY

Monday/9:00 All hands arrive at boat and pack gear. Scuba divers retrieve their gear.

10:00 Briefing starts

~1100 we cast off for sailing instruction.

~1400 We head for our first stop, the southwest tip of
Hook Island for an afternoon fishing, swimming, sightseeing, snorkeling and scuba diving and anchor in some secluded sandy cove by 1600.

Tuesday/0900 We cast off for a day of fishing, swimming, sightseeing,
snorkeling and scuba diving on Hook Island and anchor in some secluded sandy cove by 1600. Lunch at Langford Reef.

Wednesday/0900 We cast off for a day of fishing, swimming, sightseeing,
snorkeling and scuba diving on Hook Island and anchor in some secluded sandy cove by 1600.

Thursday/0900 We cast off for a day of fishing, swimming, sightseeing,
snorkeling and scuba diving and anchor in some secluded sandy
cove by 1600, but probably Cateran Bay..

Friday/0900 We cast off for a day of fishing, swimming, sightseeing,
snorkeling and scuba diving near Whitehaven Beach and anchor at Hamilton Island by 1600.

Saturday/0600 We cast off (minus the Fuessels) and beeline for Airlie beach, to be there by 10AM by noon.