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Guides for Superyachts - Australia |
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Introduction
Wondering where to go after visiting
 South East Asia? Many Superyachts, particularly those requiring a re-fit, head for the Pacific
Rim and Australia.
The gem of Australian cruising is the Great Barrier Reef, off Australia's east coast. It is World Heritage
listed and abounds with wildlife, including dugongs, green turtles, dolphins and whales.
It is the largest barrier reef in the world spanning an unbelievable 1,000 miles from Cape York to Brisbane
and consisting of more than 3,000 separate reefs. It is scattered with beautiful islands.
The most popular area is the Whitsunday Islands which features abundant anchorages on offshore islands
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Weather
The climate of the Great Barrier Reef varies and it is
generally more tropical in the north than the south.
The dry season, with relatively low humidity and cool breezes, is between May and October and the wet season,
with tropical rainfalls caused by the monsoons, is between November and April. The wet season brings with it
the splendor of the waterfalls in full swing and the fast raging rivers.
Charts
Charts of Australia are produced by the Australian Hydrographic Service.
Charts can be purchased on-line from Boating Books & Charts Australia - accredited Chart Agents for the
Australian Hydrographic Service - at www.boatbooks.com.au
In Australia there is a 12% sales tax on charts which does not apply if charts are sent to a customer
outside of Australia. |
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Cruising Guides
Alan Lucas is Australia's foremost cruising author. His books include: |
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Australian Cruising Guide - This cruising guide surveys all Australian waters and is intended as a handbook
for yachtsmen wishing to visit the country. It contains all the necessary planning information. The work is
divided into sections covering geography, climate, formalities, plus navigational advice, sailing directions,
and detailed two-colour sketch charts.
Cruising the New South Wales Coast - This is a sailor's guide to the ports, anchorages and lakes of
Australia's First State and also Lord Howe Island. First published in 1976, this book has been fully revised
and updated in a fourth edition, using personal research and surveys carried out by the author aboard his
own boat during 1994 and 1995. The maps for the port approaches and recommended anchorages are very clear
and include all navigation information. |
Cruising the Coral Coast - First published in
1968, this book
has reached its seventh edition and remains the only guide to embrace the entire east coast of Queensland,
the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef. This edition, published in 1996, includes notes on the Gulf
of Carpentaria and the Coral Sea. To celebrate its successful twenty-five years, this edition is the
biggest yet with larger, more detailed charts and the inclusion of more ports and anchorages than ever
before.
These guides can be purchased on-line from companies such as:
Boat Books Ltd
and Bluewater Books and
Charts. |
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Tides
In both eastern and western Australia there are two high tides and
two low tides every 24 hours but in southern and northern Australia, due to the canceling or competing
effects of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, there may only be one high tide and one low tide in 24 hours.
Occasionally on South Australian shores there may be a "dodge tide", where the tide may remain fairly
stationary for a couple of days.
South-eastern Australia, including New South Wales and Victoria and Tasmania, has a 2 metre tidal range,
while south-western Australia has a 1 metre tidal range. |
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Courtesy Flag
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An Australian courtesy flag should be displayed whenever entering
Australian waters.
The stars of the Southern Cross represent Australia's geographical position in the
Southern Hemisphere, the Commonwealth Star symbolizes the federation of States and Territories, and the
Crosses stand for Parliamentary Democracy, Rule of the Law and Freedom of Speech. |
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Security
Survey's show that there has been a decline in the level of crime
in Australia and other industrial countries in the last ten years. A significant proportion of
Australians believe that the police do a good job of controlling crime and Australia rates third behind
the USA and Scotland in its level of satisfaction with its police force. |
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Arrival
All vessels sailing into Australia are required to give prior
notification of their estimated time of arrival to the Australian Customs Service, Department of Immigration,
Multi Cultural Affairs and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. They can be contacted direct
through any Telstra Coastal radio station on 2182 khz.
Regulations
Customs clearance must be completed immediately and everyone on board
the vessel will require a valid passport and, where necessary, an Australian Visa; they will also be
required to complete a passenger card and traveler's statement. The skipper must have proof of clearance
from his last overseas port of call.
The two Australian members of the Association of Yacht Support Services (A.Y.S.S.) -
Barwil Agencies Australia Pty Ltd
and
Major Yacht Services - can assist with check-in procedures and local regulations. |
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Facilities
Australian marinas are located in New South Wales, Queensland, South
Australia and Western Australia.
Here are some of them:
Anderson's Boat Shed & Marina, Booker Bay, New South Wales
Westport Marina,
Cabarita, New South Wales
River Quays Marina,
Sydney, New South Wales
Spinnaker
Sound Marina, Bribie Island, Queensland
Gladstone Marina,
Gladstone, Queensland
Marina Mirage,
Port Douglas, Queensland
Keppel Bay Marina,
Yeppoon, Queensland
Flinders Marina,
Adelaide, South Australia
Aquarama Marina,
Freemantle, Western Australia |
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Australia is a popular place for re-fits and
Cairns Slipway
is equipped with extensive wharves, dry dock, slipway, side slip and workshops. The slipway can
handle vessels up to 1200 tonnes and 70 metres long.
Two members of the Association of Yacht Support Services (A.Y.S.S.) are based in Australia:
Barwil Agencies Australia Pty Ltd (E-mail:
cairns@barwil.com.au)
Major Yacht Services www.majoryachtservices.com.au |
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