So we're planning a trip up to Cairns then to the Whitsundays in July, planning to do our SCUBA course on the reef and then go down sail the glorious beaches of the Whitsundays by catamaran (headed there by train, no car so can't stop at Alva/Mission Beach sadly)...im still a relative noob (1st season) but the idea of having a lagoon to yourself is pretty amazing and rather tempting (for anyone im sure).

There are 5 of us, but i'm the only one with the kiting gear (9m 2010 Blade Trigger) and would only be able to use it 3 or 4 times assuming there is wind. What are your recommendations, in terms of the wind up there and risks involved (for a newbie)? Out of my depth?

Cheers,
David.

Yeah as Koma said its not the best for kiting...... although I have had some decent sessions One at Langford Reef ( a small island with a sand bar tail directly infront of Hayman Island. The other was at whitehaven......shark and ray jumping in the shallows.

IF you are a confident diver and happy to dive either on your own ( naughty ) or with someone from your group get your bareboat charter company to organise some gear to be onboard ..... the diving and snorkelling are sensational as good if not better than the GBR in places...... Best spot I found is Manta Ray Bay verry little crowd if any and far better than the more well known spots such a blue pearl bay ...... NARA INlet is the best overnight ancorage and it has an awesome waterfall right up the end ( if it rains ) and some aboriginal caves with paintings.

If you are hiring a bareboat grab your self a copy of the book 100 magic miles, its a comprehensive guide to the whitsundays and includes dive spots, ancorages etc..... its like a bible for the islands.

If you are travelling with a group consider a night at Peppers to break up the cruise...( not everyone likes being on a boat for 5-10 days straight ) Peppers on long island is a small high quality resort.... you can anchor out the front overnight for about $80 ( i think ) and have full use of the facilities ( showers, pool, bar etc.....awesome cocktails ) its kinda a romantic resort so if its a group of rowdy mates probably not recommended. The only catch is that you have to have dinner at the Restaurant its very good quality but not that cheap ........ Looking at about $70 -$80 per person ( from memory ) including wine etc....

Good Luck ....its my favourite holiday ( bareboat charter in the whitsundays ) and reasonably cheap if you have a group and typing this makes me jelous.

If you want further info about any of the island etc....PM me and I will try to help if I cant.... I know a few people who will be able to.

You can hire gear just for the day at either Hamilton Island or Airley .... im just not sure if that is practical given that you would have to sail back there to return it.

Perhaps enquire about the prices for a 5 day hire or similar, from memory it was suprisingly cheap when organised with the charter.

Dont get me wrong the snorkelling is sensational dont be too disappointed if you cannot organise dive gear as you will see 99% if you can hold your breath anyway the coral seems at its best only 3-4m below the surface.

In all honesty if you are the only one kiting it is probably not worth taking your gear ( although having said that you wont take it and it will blow constantly ).

Probably better off just snorkelling and enjoying a beer or 2 or 3 or 4 and watching the sunset then have another 3 or 4 knowing that your bed is just metres away, its a pleasant sleep with water gently lapping the hull....... unless its really hot.

Either way you are assured of an enjoyable holiday

harry potter said...


If you are hiring a bareboat grab your self a copy of the book 100 magic miles, its a comprehensive guide to the whitsundays and includes dive spots, ancorages etc..... its like a bible for the islands.

Should be on most hire boats anyway

^^^ yeah I also disagree.
I have been going there for many years usually at least once a year.. first as a kid on my parents boat in 1986 and later many many bareboat charters almost every year,

Only a few times have I seen the wind much over 20+knots, I do agree the wind does funnel through some of the islands ( although it tends to be very gusty not high winds but one minute 2 knots the next its 17knots ) this enabled my sessions at Langford Reef as mentioned in my first post, as the wind funnelled between Hayman and Hook but outside of the funnel points there isnt much.

To kite langford reef the wind needs to E -NE this time of year the trades are blowing and they are from SE which puts Hook Island ( and her high hills/mountains ) right in the way. In a SE you can sometimes still kite whitehaven if you are right up the northern end.

If you have lived there you are probably aware of a few other spots where you can maximise your chances of wind but in my opinion it is probably not worth taking gear particularly if you are the only one kitesurfing as the other members of your party will want to be on the leeward side of the island where they are out of any wind and the waters are flat and clear you on the other hand will want to be on the windward side........ and then the arguements start.

As always : dont take your gear and it will be windy, take it and it will be like a millpond for the whole week.

I was lucky enough as a child that my parents took me to many places around the world sailing Hawaii, Fiji, Corsica, Sardinia , Morocco, S/France and to this day none in my book even come close to the Whitsundays in good weather.

We are so lucky to have places like this in our backyard.

Yep as above for the whitsundays.
It is not a place for a kiting holiday

You may get lucky, but with only a week there is plenty of other stuff.

With really not many beaches, all islands are large hills, the tides run really fast you really need to many things to all be just right to make the most of it and try to get a session in.

But just down the road at mackay or up the road at Bowan or alva is a completely different storey though