Chartering a boat in Australia
A Trip on the Hawkesbury There are many ways to enjoy the delights of boating. The best way is to own your very own boat. However, we had a 5-week trip to Australia to visit family, and I could not bear the thought of 5 weeks with no boating. What were we to do? Obviously find a boat to hire. I discovered a 36 foot flybridge that we could rent for a day on the beautiful, meandering, Hawkesbury River. That sounded ideal. The whole family (wife, daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren) could spend a day out on the river. I booked it. Fortunately, this went down well with my wife, especially as I forgot to mention the cost! On the day of our charter, we were greeted by the delightful couple who own the business. It was a reasonably spacious 36-footer flybridge. Old, but spacious, with all the facilities you needed for a day trip. We had the necessary safety briefing and were given the charts of the Hawkesbury, and then we were off. We decided on a relaxed journey up the river as far as we could in a day. This was what river cruising is all about. Relaxed, beautiful scenery, easy navigation, great weather, no tides to speak of, not over-crowded and plenty of sights to see. Along the river, the wreck of the HMAS Parramatta can still be seen against the shore line. It was launched in 1910, but in 1934 broke loose from its moorings and eventually sunk. We passed a number of islands, including the now-defunct Peat Island, which had variously been used as an asylum for drunks and for those with mental illnesses For about 10 miles of that journey, we were accompanied by the largest, longest swarm (or ‘smack’) of jellyfish I have ever seen. We passed many small communities on the river that literally had no roads to them. Their only transport was by boat. Indeed, even the post had to be delivered by boat, on the ‘postman’s ferry’. We eventually found a small sandy alcove along the way that looked great. We anchored off, checking carefully that the anchor seemed to be holding OK.We ferried ourselves in the small dinghy across to the sandy shore. The kids enjoyed the sand, clambering over rocks, and the picnic we had brought with us. All too soon it was time to get back onto the boat for the return journey. We checked. Yes, the boat was still there, firmly anchored. So, we took the dinghy back to the boat. As we approached what I will call its home port (i.e. the jetty), the owner came out in his dinghy to greet us. Although he had trusted us with his boat for the day, he apparently did not trust us to berth it. Very wise! He berthed the boat for us. The Lesson From This? If you get the opportunity to rent a boat while on holiday, it is worth considering. Note, however, that not all countries are as relaxed about this as Australia.
Interview with Blue Davies
Go Earth Marketing Manager, Jacey Roberts, had the pleasure of sitting down with Blue Davies, to talk about all things boating. Blue has a wealth of experience within the leisure-marine industry, including 5 years as the Head of Training at British Marine. More recently, Blue has joined the team at Go Earth as our Brand Ambassador. With a plethora of knowledge and contacts, invaluable to Go Earth and it’s clients alike. Firstly, welcome to the team, Blue! Secondly, what do you think of Go Earth’s new website? Thanks for the warm welcome, Jacey! I am thrilled to be working as a Brand Ambassador for Go Earth. The new website looks great – it looks slick and is easy to navigate – making it easy to locate the services you may be interested in. How do you think Go Earth’s services can help boat buyers? The Go Earth offer is unique and offers such a broad range of services that a boat buyer will be able to access a range of independent advice and guidance in their journey to buy a boat. What trends do you see or predict in the boating industry? The main trend I think will be technology and how it makes boating easier to access, simpler to partake in and safer. This in turn will attract more family-oriented users and hopefully a more diverse section of the community. With the easy-to-use technology, a wider range of people can get into the boating industry, compared to a white male dominated market. Also, social media will help, seeing a variety of different people to get into the boat search. How would a beginner put ‘dip their toe in the water’ with boating? Seek out your local Sailing Club, most will have opportunities for beginners to give it a go, whether is sailing or powerboating. Take a course, get qualified and build your confidence, then in time the next step is to give Go Earth a call and look in to buying your own boat. What are some great reasons people should buy a boat? A lifetime of adventures awaits you, and what better way to experience that than in your own boat? It has great health and wellbeing benefits as well; fresh air, exercise and the freedom of the seas. Owning a boat can seem daunting and there is much to consider before buying, but ultimately it can be easier than you may think. Purchasing a boat doesn’t have to cost the earth either, starting from as little as £3000 for a 5-metre sail boat. There are excellent programs for children as well, where they can learn to sail and be confident in their abilities. What are some questions you should be asking the seller before purchasing a boat? Always have a survey completed on the boat you are buying and if possible, it’s like when buying a car, you wouldn’t buy a car without checking if it has an MOT. Also, take someone with you who knows about boats, especially if you are new to boating. This is where Go Earth come into their own, providing all the advice you will need to make a purchase or not as the case maybe. What are some destinations you would recommend to visit on a boat in the UK? I live in the Solent on the south coast of England and the waters around the coast line are fantastic, with the Isle of Wight close by and rivers like the Hamble and Beaulieu easy to access with stunning scenery. Jacey: I live in the ‘Cheshire circle’ which hosts a number of canals, nestled within chocolate box villages. The canals are a great way to spend time on the water – you can hire narrowboats which is great fun for all the family.
