Luxury Yacht Charter Whitsundays

The Whitsundays are a group of 74 islands and islets, rated as one of the world’s most beautiful sailing grounds. Hamilton Island is the ideal place from which to start your Whitsundays sailing holiday, giving you the opportunity to explore this wonderful island before they depart on their yacht charter.

Along with the golden sandy beaches that you would expect, the Whitsundays boast unparalleled fringing reefs, making them a delight for snorkelers and diving enthusiasts. Tropical fish and turtles are in abundance, and frequent sightings of dolphins and humpback whales, are only a few of the marvels you are likely to experience here.

Most Whitsunday charters require a minimum of 5 days, but if you’re travelling up to the Whitsundays, we can organise day sail charters also.

To make your holiday even more enjoyable, add more fun and comfort to your cruise:

• Get your boat provisioned in advance with our Grocery Packs
• Enjoy alfresco dining and cruising thanks to our sundeck cushions and the gas BBQs.

Sailing Information

Australia is Sailing Experience Level 2/3.Experience levels are based on sailing conditions and the length of passages within your chosen sailing area.

Sailing Licences

There are no sailing licenses required to sail in Australia, however you are required to have a minimum amount of experience. The minimum sailing experience required for your safety being 2 adults on board with previous sailing experience. The skipper will need to have at least 5 days sailing experience not power, on a similar size vessel and will have an understanding of anchoring, navigation and tides. The 2nd adult on board will need at least 3 days sailing experience and will need to know what to do in case of an emergency i.e. work the VHF radio, turn engine on and off and be able to take sails up or down. If you have not already done so then the Skipper and 1st Mate will be required to fill in a Sailing CV to confirm that you have the necessary skills for sailing in this region.

We can customise any of our featured packages to suit your personal travel requirements. Mates’ Escapes can also build fully tailored one-of-a-kind itineraries from the ground up, if you can dream it up we can certainly make it happen.

We can tailor a trips regardless of your group size, be it 2, 8 or 20. Get in touch with us and let’s discuss your options.

Booking Conditions

• Following your enquiry, we will advise you on the amount of the Deposit is required to make a booking.

Payment Options

• Direct Credit into our Bank Account. Details will be shown on your invoice.
• Credit Card (Surcharges apply).
• Cheques can be made payable to PlaySeeGo Travel Group Pty Ltd and posted to PO Box 34, Kew East, Victoria, 3102.

Additional Terms

Legal

1. Your Contract

A contract exists as soon as you pay the booking deposit and by making that payment you will be deemed to have accepted our quotation invoice and agree to be bound by our booking conditions. When confirming your booking, the person signing the booking confirmation form (the “Party Leader”) must have and is taken by us to have the authority to do so on behalf of all the other people covered by the booking.

Where “you” or “your” is used, this is the Party Leader and all people covered by the booking. By signing the form it means all people covered by the booking have read and accepted these Booking Conditions. The Party Leader will be responsible for the full cost of the holiday, including any insurance premiums and cancellation or amendment charges and will also be responsible for any amounts for which you may be liable in relation to the holiday. This contract is made on the terms of these Booking Conditions which are governed by Queensland Law and we both agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Queensland Courts at all times.

2. Your Holiday Price

The holiday price quoted is in Australian Dollars. Where prices are indicated in printed material, they are accurate at the date of publication but could have since changed. Prices in printed material supersede all prices in other material printed at an earlier stage. Once you have made your booking and paid the relevant deposit, the cost of your holiday will not normally be subject to any change. However, we reserve the right to increase/surcharge or decrease prices, due to variations in service charges, security/insurance levies or fluctuations in exchange rates used to calculate the cost of your holiday. The balance of the price of your holiday must be paid at least 10 weeks before your departure date or if it is booked less than 10 weeks before the departure date, upon making the booking. If the balance is not paid in time, we may cancel your arrangements and retain your deposit. If you book through a travel agent, all contact with you will be via them. Money which you pay to the travel agent will be held by them on our behalf. In addition, if payment is late, clients paying their holiday balance by credit card will be charged an additional 1% surcharge per month on the balance overdue.

Please be advised that if you return the charter vessel after the specified time on your last day of charter you will be charged a late return fee for each hour after the specified disembarkation time as stipulated on your booking confirmation.

3. If you change your booking

If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your arrangements in any way we will do our utmost to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing and signed by the Party Leader or your travel agent. You will be asked to pay any further cost we incur in making this alteration. Should you request a major alteration within 10 weeks of departure date (such as a change of date or area) then this will be treated as a cancellation and re-booking. Changes from a brochured booking to late availability or other special offers will not be permitted. Requests for changes to your booking should be sent to our Reservations Department or to your travel agent, if you booked with them.

4. If you cancel your booking

You or any member of your party may cancel your arrangements at any time. Written notification of cancellation from the Party Leader or your travel agent on your behalf must be received at our offices on Hamilton Island referred to in paragraph 1. Cancellation will be effective on the date it is received by Sunsail. Cancellation charges are payable as follows:

5. If we change or cancel your holiday

The arrangements for holidays as advertised in our brochures are made many months in advance and it is sometimes inevitable that changes or cancellations may need to be made. We reserve the right to make such changes should they become necessary. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you or your travel agent of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your travel arrangements.

We will not cancel your arrangements less than 14 days before your departure date, except for reasons of ‘Force Majeure’ or failure by you to pay the final balance. If we are unable to provide the booked travel arrangements and have had to cancel them before the holiday is due to start, you can either: • Accept our offer of a replacement holiday of equivalent or higher quality (subject to availability). • Accept our offer of a replacement holiday of lower quality (subject to availability) and we will refund the difference in cost. • Accept a credit towards a future Sunsail holiday.

No compensation will be paid nor a replacement holiday offered where the change or cancellation is due to ‘Force Majeure’. ‘Force Majeure’ means unforeseeable and unusual circumstances beyond our control. Such circumstances or events include (but are not limited to) war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, unavoidable technical problems with transport, closure or congestion of airports, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire and adverse conditions.

6. Holiday Termination and Indemnity

You must accept responsibility for the proper conduct of yourself and any members of your party. We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to terminate without further notice the charter arrangements of any client who refuses to comply with the instructions or orders of the company staff, agent or other responsible person or whose behaviour or competence in our opinion is likely to cause distress, damage, danger or annoyance to their crew, other customers, staff, any third party, any person or to property. Upon such termination our responsibility for your charter ceases and we shall not be liable for any extra costs incurred by you.

7. If You Have a Complaint

If you have a problem during your charter, please inform a relevant member of our staff immediately, who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please follow this up within 28 days of your return home by writing to our Company Director at our address in paragraph 1, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. It is strongly suggested that you communicate any problem to our base staff without delay and complete a report whilst at the base. If you fail to follow this simple procedure we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify your complaint during your holiday and this may affect your rights under this contract. It is unlikely that you will have a complaint that cannot be settled amicably between us. However disputes to do with this contract which cannot be settled amicably, may (if you wish) be referred to an independent Arbitrator agreed to by both parties.

8. Our Liability to You

Other than as set out in these Booking Conditions or as implied by law, we are not liable for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person in relation to the holiday arrangements. In addition, we are not responsible or liable for loss, damage or theft of personal luggage and belongings. Please check with your insurance agent prior to departure to make sure you are adequately covered for any eventualities.

9. Equipment and Yacht Insurance Cover

Our insurance policy provides comprehensive and adequate cover for the equipment and yachts for your skipper and crew. The Company cannot be held responsible for any loss which you may suffer as a result of the insurers refusing cover, including without limitation, which is as a result of you providing incorrect information, such as previous sailing experience, when requested, or due to your negligence, deliberate default or willful misconduct. Should damage or loss to yachts and equipment be caused as a result of not obeying the Company’s instructions, you will be liable for the full amount of repair or replacement and any resulting costs. Adults will at all times be responsible for minors in their charge.

The Company agrees to insure and keep insured the yacht against public liability and marine public liability to such an extent as the Company in its absolute sole discretion shall deem appropriate. Such insurance policy does not cover loss of life (except that caused through the negligence of the Company), or damage to or loss of property of any person on board against which you must insure prior to the charter. Advice about such insurance is available from the Company on request.

Collision Damage Waiver and Security Deposits 

Please note that for all sailing holidays featured, you will be required to provide coverage against accidental damage or loss to the vessel and ancillary equipment and either pay a Security Deposit at the base or purchase Yacht Damage Waiver as further detailed below. Our All Inclusive Crewed Yacht Charters include the Yacht Damage Waiver and no security deposit is required.

In the event you or your party cause damage or loss to the vessel (however caused), or to property belonging to a third party and you have opted to take the Security Deposit option you will be liable for the full extent of the loss suffered and our right to claim against you will not be limited or waived by the payment of the Security Deposit.

If you or your party cause damage or loss to the vessel, any ancillary equipment, or to property belonging to a third party and such damage or loss is caused as a result of your gross negligence or reckless conduct you will be liable for the full extent of the loss suffered and our right to claim against you will not be limited or waived in any way by the payment of the Security Deposit or purchase of Yacht Damage Waiver.

Acts that will be considered as gross negligence or reckless conduct will include, without limitation, sailing outside of defined sailing areas and/or hours, sailing the vessel under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, not having sufficient crew in charge of the vessel at all times, not being in control of the vessel.

Option 1: Yacht Damage Waiver

All bookings will automatically be priced to include Yacht Damage Waiver. You will be provided with the cost of purchasing the Yacht Damage Waiver during the booking process which will be added to your overall holiday cost. In addition, you will be expected to pay the sum listed in the below table (or equivalent in local currency as security deposit upon arrival at the yacht base. Sailing and Power charters that have hired a Sunsail Skipper will only be required to pay 50% of the security deposit, as outlined in the table below. Security deposits will be collected in the currency of your booking office. All major credit cards are accepted, including American Express. No monies will be collected. We will pre-authorize your card for the security deposit amount required. The security deposit will be taken prior to embarkation and if you do not authorize we reserve the right to cancel your booking without further liability and without any right to a refund, and you will not be entitled to continue with the charter.

Option 2: Security Deposit

If you choose to pay a Security deposit, you will be asked to pay the sum listed in the below table (or equivalent in local currency) as security deposit upon arrival at the yacht base. Security deposits will be collected in the currency of your booking office. All major credit cards are accepted, including American Express. No monies will be collected. We will pre-authorize your card for the security deposit amount required. The security deposit will be taken prior to embarkation and if you do not authorize we reserve the right to cancel your booking without further liability and without any right to a refund and you will not be entitled to continue with the charter.

The security deposit paid under either Option 1 or Option 2 will be used as security for any loss or damages suffered by the Company as a result of any breach by you of these booking conditions and any damage caused to the yacht or its contents during the period of your arrangements. You cannot apply or deduct any portion of the security deposit from the final balance payable for your travel arrangements. You will be asked to sign a form before embarkation confirming that you fully understand your obligations in the event of any loss or damage to the vessel, ancillary equipment, or third party property.

Upon return of the yacht to the base following the charter period and following inspection of the yacht by our base staff, in the event that we are satisfied that there is no apparent damage to the yacht on its return from you, our base staff shall, where applicable, refund the relevant security deposit paid by you (please note that the Damage Waiver monies will not be refunded) to you as soon as reasonably possible.

In the event that we determine that accidental damage or loss was caused to the yacht and/or its contents during the period of your arrangements, you will be liable to us for all losses and damages incurred by us as a result except if you have purchased Yacht Damage Waiver in which case the extent of your liability will be the value of the security deposit paid.

In the event that we determine that damage or loss was caused to the yacht and/or its contents during the period of your arrangements as a result of your gross negligence or reckless conduct, you will be liable to us for all losses and damages incurred by us as a result. In both instances we reserve the right to retain, where applicable, part or all of the relevant security deposit paid by you. We may use all or part of the security deposit paid by you to repair any damage caused to the yacht or its contents during the period of your arrangements, including without limitation the costs involved in lifting the yacht for a full inspection to assess the damage to the yacht. Retention of the security deposit will not in any way limit or prejudice any claim which we may have over and above the sum of the security deposit paid by you where (i) you decided to take Option 2 and pay the Security Deposit; and/or (ii) the loss or damage was caused or contributed to by your gross negligence or reckless conduct and in these circumstances you will remain liable to us for the balance of any such losses or damages incurred by us over and above the sum of the security deposit paid by you.

In the event that the losses or damages suffered by us as a result of any breach by you of these booking conditions and any damage caused to the yacht or its contents during the period of your arrangements is less than the relevant security deposit paid by you, we shall refund, as relevant, part of the security deposit paid by you to you as soon as reasonably possible after the damage has been repaired or the repair costs have been ascertained. In the event of any disagreement over damage or loss, we shall retain the relevant security deposit paid by you until the matter is resolved.

Please note that if (i) loss or damage caused by your gross negligence or reckless conduct is in excess of the level of the security deposit; and/or (ii) loss or damage caused by you is in excess of the level of the security deposit and you decided to take Option 2 and pay the Security Deposit, we reserve the right to pursue a claim against you for the full extent of our loss.

For the avoidance of doubt, where we make any refund to you of the relevant security deposit paid by you, any Yacht Damage Waiver fees also paid by you will not be refunded.

10. Safety

The Party Leader is responsible for assuring that he/she and the crew are competent to undertake the planned itinerary. The Party Leader must take note of safety information contained in any written material or delivered in the yacht and chart briefings and is responsible for briefing the crew on this, the yacht and its systems.

As with other activity based holidays, watersports activities contain an element of risk. It should be understood that participation in these activities is your decision and at your risk. The party Leader is responsible for checking the inventory and yacht systems before the yacht makes passage. The Party Leader has primary responsibility for the safety and acts or omissions of the crew and craft at all times. Yachts may not be sailed single-handed and the second crew member should be fit and have at least a basic knowledge of yachts. The Party Leader has primary responsibility for the safety of the crew and craft at all times. Neither night sailing nor partaking in any third party race is permitted without our prior written approval.

In the interests of the safe conduct of your charter, we and our staff may order a change to your itinerary, decide whether or not conditions are safe to use a craft or make a passage and whether this should be under power or sail. We will not be liable in any way if these changes are made. You must follow the instructions of our staff at all times.

11. What if my yacht is not available?

Should your yacht not be available when you arrive through no fault of Sunsail (e.g. having been damaged by a previous client) Sunsail may substitute another yacht if necessary of a different type whilst remaining as close to the originally booked specifications as possible. If a yacht is not available then accommodation will be provided for you free of charge in a hotel of our choice while repairs are carried out or an alternative yacht is provided.  Should this happen you will be reimbursed under the Sunsail Guarantee.  This paragraph 11 does not apply if the cause is a ‘Force Majeure’ event (see paragraph 5).

12.   4 Hour Guarantee

Should a breakdown occur during a charter, Sunsail commits to completing repairs within four (4) hours of notification of our nearest base, or Sunsail guarantees a credit towards a future Sunsail product, based on the daily charter fee. This guarantee covers all equipment considered essential to the operation of the yacht, including engine, transmission, windlass, sails etc. Guarantee does not cover any equipment (mobile phones, VHF, refrigeration etc.) that does not inhibit yacht operation.

Vessels outside the designated Sunsail sailing area are not covered by this guarantee, and a waiver will need to be signed before charter commences.  Guarantee only covers the defined sailing hours (between 0800hrs and 1700hrs). The 4 hr period begins when direct contact is made by the charterer and the Sunsail base, and you must contact the base at the time of the problem/issue. The Sunsail Base Manager and the party leader must agree on the time lost and complete a guarantee form prior to departure from the marina.

Please refer to our General Terms & Conditions that are also used in conjunction with this package’s terms.