HAMILTON ISLAND & HOW TO SAIL SOLO ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
- Traveldriven
- May 31, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 2
Hamilton Island
The Great Barrier Reef
The island is a tourist mecca of the Whitsunday Islands Group in Queensland, Australia. There are all types of accommodations and tourist activities. Located approximately 887 kilometres (551 mi) north of Brisbane.
Hamilton Island Airport is serviced by commercial domestic flights from all over Australia. High rise units are some of the many accommodations available. There is an 18-hole golf course on neighbouring Dent Island.
Daydream Island is serviced daily by ferry and is 18 km distant. From Hamilton Island boat cruises depart for the famous white sands of Whitehaven Beach on a high speed catamaran. The beach only thirty minutes away. Most people on Hamilton Island use golf buggies as a means of getting about. Regular public bus services run on the island.
Watersports sailing and equipment hire on Hamilton Island's Catseye Beach are within quick walking distance from the islands high rise accommodation. Sailing catamarans are available for hourly hire from Catseye Beach. Prior little experience is required. All must stay within the confines of Catseye Bay.
Hire a Sailboat on Catseye Bay
I wanted to try a little sailing. Others did not want to join in, so I hired a Hobie Getaway catamaran for a solo sail of a few hours. Hire catamarans were lined up along the sand of Catseye Beach. The hire person said any prior sailing experience would be useful. Or perhaps not to go solo. Some time ago I was told, but not shown, how to manoeuvre a small sailboat and I had gleaned sailing basics online without being on water. I said beginner sailing experience.
The hire person, a girl no older than twenty in a brief bikini, instructed don't leave the confines of Catseye Bay as the offshore currents will overcome the sailing capacity of the cat and it will be pushed dozens of kilometres away further along The Great Barrier Reef.
Rescue of Sailors in Difficulty
The young girls quote, 'I am watching the craft on the bay for any unlikely incidents, I will attend and assist if required' she explained. Her youthful appearance and casual manner did not give confidence. However, she must be competent to have the job.
The Getaway sailboat has a full-batten mainsail, dual transom-hung rudders and no keel or dagger boards. A mast-top float and righting line to right the boat upon capsize. Five metres in length and a beam over two metres. Mast length of 7.6 metres. Both rudders are steered in tandem by the steering tiller.
Stalled in Wind
Catseye Bay is 1.7 km wide by 800 metres. With life jacket on, but no person to boat tether, I jibed to the left of the bay and stalled in slight gusting wind someway off of the beach. My mainsail was fluttering with no steering effect and the Getaway sailboat began slowly drifting towards a shoreline of rocks. I was unable to steer the cat about. Maybe assistance is already needed. The thought of rescue by an attractive woman in a bikini very pleasant but embarrassing. However, ten minutes of a few failed tacking attempts and the cat turned around. Wind billowing the sail.
Solo Sailing Fun
The cat took off like a rocket across the bay. I tacked starboard towards land and shot 1.5 km on return, further out this time. Slowed, using the tiller and tacked back again. I am watching movement of waves for the gusting wind and the direction of the thin telltales sailcloth high on the cat's main sail. Luckily, I did not capsize in these first few attempts while learning to handle tacking the catamaran to turn about as a solo sailor.
Upon tacking moving body weight from port to starboard and back was essential to avoid tipping right over. I felt if parted away from the cat for any reason the speed was such, attempting to catch and reboard the cat would be next to impossible. It was a thrilling experience as the breeze freshened. I jibed and tacked many times lifting the hull clear of the water on occasion. Gaining more confidence on each jibe and tack. Not wanting to push the limits too far in case of a capsize I enjoyed sailing solo for several hours.
It was great fun skimming the water in Catseye Bay. Better than I expected. Alas, no need for a rescue.
Traveldriven
ENTER CLICK/TAP
ISLAND SUNSET
SAILING A GETAWAY SAILBOAT
IN STRONG WIND
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