The phone's ringing and the e-mail inbox is full... Questions, questions, questions. "Do sails come with a bareboat yacht?" "Can I bring my hair dryer?" Will my mobile phone work?" Can I use my iPod?" "I'm a powerboater, and I don't know how to sail. If I don't raise the sails, can I charter a yacht?" "What's the difference between a monohull and a catamaran?"

"Does 'bareboat' mean there's nothing on the boat?" "I see there's a charge for sleeping aboard. Does that mean I have to get off the boat every night?"

Strange questions?... Wacky?... Maybe so, to experienced charterers and cruisers, but to those in the business - these questions-all of them real ones posed to bareboat yacht charter companies by flesh-and-blood charterers-are expected and encouraged. For most the notion of sailing an unfamiliar charter boat outside of home waters normally provokes lots of questions.

To foster curiosity and to satisfy it, bare boat charter companies and charter brokers work hard to demystify the experience of bareboat charters, and educate potential clients. One company publishes a timeline and boating articles about chartering a bare boat that help charterers understand the bareboat process and check off the items they need to accomplish before arrival at the base; one company has created a chat room and a monthly e-mailed newsletter specifically about the bareboat yacht charter experience. Some companies offer sailing schools. A few have helped charterers make reservations for marina slips, dinner, and, yes, weddings. And all bareboat charter companies will provide a skipper if requested for the first afternoon to guarantee success the first time those marina lines are cast off.

Not all queries are as unconventional as those at the beginning of this article. What qualifications are needed to bareboat? How much will the charter cost? What's the best time of year to book a Whitsundays yacht charter? What Whitsunday maps are available and what anchorages and islands should we explore? How do I provision? Are towels, bedding, and water toys provided? Will there be any help in case of an emergency?

Through them all, bareboat charter companies abide by a golden rule and that is that intending charterers should... "never hesitate to ask questions no matter how trivial"... this may account, now and then, for some far-ranging queries but is intended to promote successful bareboat sailing.

The Three Rs

Buy a pair of cheap store magnifying eyeglasses and a Queensland atlas. Those are the tools you really need to follow what bare boat charter companies consider the single most essential piece of advice... and one that clients usually fail to follow... and that is "ninety-nine out of 100 problems can be solved by reading.'

Don't just scan charter company websites. Read then thoroughly, and then read the contract down to the fine print... Do your research-on the cruising area, the weather, the boat-and digest the charter information sent you in advance.

Bareboat Sailing Competency

While you don't have to be licensed to skipper a bareboat, companies offering bare boat charters look at levels of sailing and boat-handling experience. If you have little or no sailing experience, consider hiring a skipper for the whole charter. Or you could turn your holiday into a learning adventure by enrolling in a sailing school run by a charter company. Still haven't found what you're looking for? If you're not a rank neophyte, you can hire a skipper for as little as an afternoon, a day of part of the trip.

If you own or have owned a boat, if you have chartered before, or if you've achieved certification from a reputable sailing school, bare boat charter companies and charter brokers want to know, so include that information in your sailing resume. As a charterer it is good to have hands on cruising experience on a similar vessel in a comparable cruising area.

"For example, day sailing on Lake Macquarie in NSW may not prepare you adequately to handle a larger vessel in the Whitsundays and deal with charts, tides and currents." Realize that requirements are as specific as the companies themselves, so look around. "Each bareboat yacht charter company has different procedures for qualifying their bareboat charter guests."

Remember, too, that the more you charter, the more your skills are bound to improve, and each time you cruise, you're adding to you sailing experience.

Packing

The following easy-to-understand steps about packing for your bareboat charter is the second most important piece of advice for holidaying sailors. After you pack your bags... put them on the floor and look at them. Then unpack half of what you packed... Look at them again... Unpack half. Repeat, and you will still have too much. And no wheelie suitcases!... Pack a carry-on with medications, personal items, a change of clothes, and your swim suit. Be prepared for the airline to delay or even lose your baggage. Don't pack anything valuable. You can purchase T-shirts, shorts, and swim wear along the way.

Sailing is no formal affair. "Bring half as many clothes as you think you'll need and twice as much money .You'll have a wonderful time."

For help planning your next sailing holiday in The Whitsundays, Australia - and for good sound advice from the locals review the Yacht Charter Whitsunday islands directory