Whitsunday sailing on Lady Katherine

Since purchasing Lady Katherine, a Peterson Serendipity 43, last September and delivering her to Airlie Beach from Townsville, we have done some great sailing around Pioneer Bay and the Whitsunday islands.

The gentle art of sailing

We are regular contenders in the weekly Wednesday Twilight race hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club, usually with a not so regular crew. Every week brings a new set of enthusiastic sailors with varying skill levels, from complete first timers through to ocean crossing professionals. And every week brings new experiences with a whole load of fun for everyone as we sail around the triangular course. Well, we enjoy it anyway!

Wednesday Twilight Race start. Division 3 completes 2 laps around the triangular course

Plenty of room for everyone - join in or sit back and enjoy the ride!

Lady Katherine sails like a witch up the breeze

Last week we finally came first on handicap in Division 3, having won second or third place a few times over the last six months. We even made the local paper, the Whitsunday Times. And we have managed line honours on one or two occasions as well. Our efforts are rewarded with prizes donated by the club – we always make good use of the food and beverage voucher at the post race roast dinner buffet.

Pipped at the line for line honours, but had the last laugh with a win on handicap.

No matter what your experience or where you are from, join in the fun on Wednesday afternoons.

Winners are grinners. And save some money too!

The highlight destination of our boat ownership so far has been our Christmas sail to Bait Reef, 30 nautical miles north east from Airlie Beach. A pre-dawn start from Hayman Island had us hoisting sails in about 12 knots of easterly breeze; perfect conditions for us to be picking up a mooring some three hours later and snorkelling to our hearts content on the Great Barrier Reef.

Christmas Day snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef

Bait Reef all to ourselves.

In February, we held our first Weekend Navigator course; an on-water introduction to coastal navigation for recreational sailors, and for those commercial mariners who need to brush up on their skills.  The ability to plot running fixes on the AUS 252 chart increased in speed and accuracy as the day progressed, and as night fell, we sailed from Double Cones to the Molle Island group before returning to our berth in the Port of Airlie.

Teaching the finer points of coastal navigation

Our hopes of winning a second consecutive Warri Cup (with a different boat but same name!) were dashed this year. We crossed the line in fourth place but were handicapped to the tail end of the field in spinnaker division. Still, it wasn’t a bad effort for an inexperienced crew, who were well led by the very experienced skipper!

The MPS makes for a far easier hoist, especially for beginners.

Port of Airlie, home of Lady Katherine 

Lady Katherine is available for private charter and small group sailing tuition, and if you are wanting to get some commercial sea time check out our sea time events calendar.

A man and his boat.

My turn at the helm!

Hope to see you out on the water!