Choosing the right bareboat for your Whitsunday Island Charter is something the team at Charter Yachts Australia would love to help you with. When you are planning a yacht charter the kind of boat you choose can make all the difference… A yacht, sailing catamaran, or power catamaran?
Finding the right boat for your charter depends on many factors, such as whether you are sailing together with family or friends, the length of your charter and your level of sailing experience. For this reason, at Charter Yachts Australia, we would like to share some information on the different vessels to help make your choice a little easier.
MONOHULLS
Charter Yachts Australia has a fleet of modern yachts which have been designed to make sailing as easy as possible. All lines lead back to the cockpit, allowing the yachts to be crewed by two people quite easily. When you sail one of our yachts you will experience the exhilarating feeling of traditional sailing with the wind in your face as your glide past tropical islands.
Test your skills on the helm, sailing as close to the wind as possible and adjusting for each wave and gust of wind. You will be “living life on the edge” leaning the boat over till the rail touches the water. Of course, you can take pity on your crew and sail gently downwind.
All our yachts are fitted with gimballed stoves, so for the die-hard sailors baking that fresh loaf of bread or cooking a hot meal for the skipper is possible, although most would prefer a BBQ at anchor.
Monohulls will tilt (heel) to one side while sailing due to their v-shaped hull.
Keep in mind that crew have to factor this in when sailing and everyone needs to be mindful of other crew when moving around on deck and when under sail. Monohulls will sail closer to the wind than a catamaran and catamarans can sometimes be difficult to tack.
Because of their keels, monohulls extend deep below the surface of the water – sometimes two metres. This makes them more prone to hitting the sea bed or coral outcrops, an event whose impact can range from embarrassing to catastrophic.
CATAMARANS
Are much more stable than monohulls because they don’t heel or lean over. This can be a bonus for families, people with restricted mobility or large groups. They are also much more stable at anchor with a more fluid movement.
Catamarans are much wider than monohulls and therefore provide enormous aft cockpits which follow through to the saloon area. In the Whitsunday tropical climate this is a huge advantage because charterers tend to spend the majority of their time in the cockpit, dining, reading and relaxing. This makes entertaining a breeze.
In general, they also offer larger refrigeration and freezer space, allowing you to provision for a week or more. Cooking underway is much easier and more enjoyable because you are looking out at the view rather than being “down below.” Most do not require gimballed stoves and ovens due to their stability.
The twin-hull design can also provide greater privacy than a monohull, with cabins and heads positioned well apart from one another.
They will sail very quickly on a reach, the disadvantage is they won’t sail to windward like a monohull, so you sail a greater distance to arrive at your destination but at a much higher speed.
Catamarans are much wider than monohulls making them more susceptible to windage in gusty conditions, possibly causing problems when picking up moorings, anchoring and berthing. More to the point, a catamaran lacks a deep keel to prevent leeway – watch where you have been as well as where you are going.
Although they have small keels, propellers and rudders under the waterline, these can still be damaged by impact with the seabed.
…So, the choice is yours and usually depends on your preference. Both types of boats have their own advantages and disadvantages; both will give you an unforgettable holiday!!