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It's snap to pack for holiday resorts in Queensland, everything is on your side. The weather is moderate and uniform on the whole, and
the style of dress is delightfully casual. The rule of
thumb is to pack lightly: few items, and clothing that's
light both in colour and weight.
What you need depends largely on your itinerary and
desires... Are you packing for a bareboat yacht charter or skippered yacht charter, will you spend a few nights on small ship cruises off the Australia coast, ... If you forget something at home, it won't
be a disaster.
You can buy everything you need. It's quite feasible
to bring only one or two changes of
clothing with
the express purpose of outfitting yourself while there.
Prices on bathing suits, bikinis, and summer wear are
quite reasonable.
Leave the jewellery at home - you don't want to lose
your favourite pearls overboard. Take off your rings,
too, because you have to grip ropes with your hands,
and rings can pinch your fingers (or worse!). Any item
of clothing or equipment that water can ruin should
stay on shore. (If you must bring it, at least put it
in a zip-top bag.)
Visiting
Whitsunday holiday resorts
If you plan to visit a Queensland
or Whitsunday holiday resorts, the generally accepted mode of dress, depending on
the type of Resort being visited, is good 'Queensland
casual'. This style recognises the warm moist climate
and is neat and comfortable for the tropics -
- For men... sports shirt, slacks
or shorts with long socks and shoes.
- For women... slacks or dress, not shorts.
You really have to consider only two modes of dressing in
Queensland - beachwear and casual clothing. To relax in a
tropical climate clothes need to be light, made from natural
fibres and comfortable... with shorts, tee shirts and swimsuits
being the norm.
Packing tips for cruising
On
your feet
Cruising barefoot on sailing holidays may seem like
a good way to get in touch with nature, but running around
without shoes is an open invitation for a stubbed toe - or
worse. Where you're going to walk on a wet, slippery deck,
non slip shoes are required equipment. Pick shoes that are
non-marking, like the shoes you wear on a tennis or basketball
court, they are so much more comfortable than leather boating
shoes and provide plenty of grip on a slippery foredeck. No
black soles on board please!... A few years ago, the
shoe companies came out with athletic shoes with a true, non
slip sole ideal for a boating holiday.
You probably own a pair of sneakers or soft-soled athletic
shoes that are fine for cruising (you'll find that soft rubber
soles with plenty of grooves to grip the deck are best). You'll
find yourself slipping around the deck in your regular shoes,
so be sure to bring a pair of shoes for sailing.
Also take a pair of solid, comfortable walking shoes for
exploring the Whitsunday islands, and make certain you take one pair
of older sand shoes suitable for coral walking and fossicking
at low tide (shoes you don't mind getting wet or cut by coral).
Packing for your Whitsunday Holiday
Items
to have in your gear bag include the following:
Sun stuff - sunglasses, hat and sunscreen: The glare
of sunlight (even on a lightly overcast day in the Whitsundays) reflecting off
the water and sails of your charter yacht makes these items essential. Make sure
that you have a string or some sort of retainer for your sunglasses
and your hat...It can be proven beyond a doubt that sunglasses
sink.
When you're going to be on the water all day, put sunscreen
on first thing in the morning, because sunscreen is most effective
when it has time to soak in. Then reapply sunscreen before
going out on the water, and try to remember to add another
layer a couple more times during the day. Don't forget to
put sunscreen on the back of your neck, on your ears, and
on the backs of your hands, and be sure to use a product with
an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or higher.
On sailing holidays around the Whitsunday Islands, wear a long-sleeved shirt (an
old button-down) and lightweight, long pants every few days,
just to give your skin a rest from the sun... Don't
let sunburn ruin your holiday... and if you think you might be prone to sea sickness you need to read our First Aid boating article about staving off seasickness on boating holidays.
- Gloves: Sailing gloves are a good investment, unless
your other hobby is rock climbing and your hands are well
calloused. Head to your local marine store for a good pair.
Open-fingered gloves are best so that you can still use
your fingertips for tying knots and opening the lunch box.
- Hairband: Keep long hair in a ponytail
or a braid. Loose hair can get caught in the lines and blocks
and then pulled out in big chunks. (That's painful even
to think about - ouch!).
- Consider the following: one or two pairs of
light cotton slacks for going out and about, and one
pair of jeans for hiking. Two to three casual
sundresses - three or four pairs of shorts for
beachwear and for sightseeing; four to five short-sleeved
shirts or blouses and one long-sleeved; three to four
coloured and printed tee-shirts.
- Bathing suit (nylon ones dry quickest),
and for the Resorts, a beach cover-up, short terrycloth-type
is best and a plastic bag to hold wet bathing suits
and laundry.
- Five to six pairs of underwear; towels
(optional, because hotels and charter boats provide them);
a pocket-size first-aid kit; suntan lotion; insect repellent;
a daypack or large beach purse.
- During the cooler months in the Whitsundays, Australia from May to August
include warmer trousers or jeans and a light tracksuit
or sweater.
- Experienced snorkellers in the Whitsundays frequently wear a
long sleeved lightweight shirt in the water to provide
some protection to those parts of the body which remain
exposed when the sunscreen gets washed off. You'll also
find the shirt welcome when reef walking on a hot afternoon over some of the exposed fringing reefs surrounding the Whitsunday Islands.
- Jacket or foul-weather gear and/or a bathing
suit: Now you have both weather extremes covered.
- A brimmed hat for rain and sun - the
crushable floppy type is great for purse or daypack.
- Camera or video camera - and don't
forget the polarising filter.
Remember space is limited on board a sailing yacht, so choose
carefully, don't bring too much, and pack it all in a soft
fabric luggage bag.
Check the equipment specifications of your chosen bareboat or skippered yacht,
and if you choose to - bring your favourite CD's, cassette
tapes and selected video movies...For a full rundown on the
bareboats and houseboats available for charter in Queensland see our Bareboat yacht charter directory and our directory of Queensland houseboats for rent.
You'll find snorkeling masks and fins on board...for
the keen fisherman it's recommended you bring your own tackle.
To check out the tackle you'll need fishing Queensland's
coral reefs. Read our Saltwater fishing articles.
Specialty
items
Following is a list of specialty
items you might find useful on sailing holidays. They're not necessities but most definitely come in
handy.
- A pair of binoculars really enhances
sightseeing - great for watching birds, sweeping panoramas,
and almost a necessity if you're going whale-watching.
- A folding Teflon-bottomed travel iron
makes up for cotton's one major shortcoming - wrinkles -
and you can't always count on hotels having irons.
- Nylon twine and miniature clothespins
are used for drying garments, especially bathing suits.
Commercial and hotel laundromats abound, but you can get
by with hand washing a few items in the sink.
- A transistor radio/tape recorder provides
news, weather, entertainment, and can be used to record
impressions, music, and a running commentary for your slide
show.
- Hair dryer: although the wind can be
relied on to dry hair, it leaves a bit to be desired in
the styling department.
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