Sailing in the Coral Sea - The Whitsunday Islands

Sailing Area The Whitsunday Islands | YACHTICO.com

Boats for rent in: Coral Sea

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The Whitsunday Islands charter destination are a group of 74 islands that lie off the north east coast of Australia in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The island group is a tropical paradise of lush greenery, white sands and turquoise waters. There are several luxury resorts as well as many deserted spaces, and sailing between the islands is the most uninhibited way of taking in the exceptional scenery. Hamilton Island is a good starting point for Yacht Charter Whitsunday Islands, and there are many boats available for hire here. The most frequented Whitsunday’s are the islands of: Whitsunday Island, Hook Island, Hamilton Island, Henning Island, Daydream Island, Long Island, Border Island, Hayman Island, Lindeman Island, and South Molle Island. There are a wide range of national parks and reserves, snorkeling sites and walking tracks accessible to visitors, and the clear, warm waters of the Coral Sea are brimming with exotic marine life.

The area is very well set-up for yacht charter and island hopping vacations. There are many safe and convenient anchorages, and at each anchorage it is possible to anchor overnight and for two hours at a time during the day. The sailing infrastructure is designed to be easy to use and to carefully protect the natural environment. The resorts are yacht friendly and will lend the use of their facilities to passing sailors. Due to their sheltered position by the Great Barrier Reef, it is possible to sail all year round in the Whitsundays. However, the best time to sail is between April and October when the South-east trade winds blow steadily at around 4 Beaufort. The wet season runs from December to March, but despite its name there is only a little amount of rain during this time. Navigation can be done by line of sight, and the anchorages are rarely over two hours apart. The only potential dangers are strong gusts and water level changes. Strong gusts of winds or ‘bullets’ do occur at some anchorages, so it is necessary to anchor securely. Water levels change significantly as there is a tidal range of 3-4 meters.

Sailing Routes Coral Sea

Grab your sunhat, your snorkel, and get ready for the sailing trip of a lifetime in the Whitsundays. Cruise from island to island and see nothing but blue seas, clear skies and white sands. Tour one of the most beautiful tourist
destinations in the world with our 7-stop itinerary. Hamilton Island is the nautical center of the Whitsunday Islands. Hamilton Island Marina has an excellent range of facilities and services. Here you can find more suggestions where to go by boat on Whitsunday Islands:

How to get there - Airports in Coral Sea

  • Great Barrier Reef Airport
  • Brisbane International Airport
  • Cairns International Airport
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Climate & Weather in Coral Sea

The islands are in a tropical climate zone. The average daily temperature during mid-summer (January) is 30 °C, and the average daily temperature during mid-winter (July) is 23 °C. The water temperature is usually similar to air temperature, with highs of 28 °C and lows of 20 °C. Despite the high temperatures during the summer, the trade winds have a cooling effect.