Multihull Solutions Whitsunday Rendezvous a great success

The waters of the Whitsundays are still again as the 2013 Multihull Solutions Whitsunday Rendezvous has drawn to a close.

This year’s event was an overwhelming success with 15 multihulls and their crew enjoying a week of casual sailing events, fantastic social events and idyllic relaxation.

The Rendezvous kicked off with a Welcome evening at Sorrento’s on Monday 2 September. Strong winds forced a change in plans to sail to Cape Gloucester Eco Resort the following day, and many crews opted to transfer via buses instead for the famous Pirates and Wenches party. The swashbuckling celebration included a delicious dinner, live entertainment and dancing, presentations, and a surprise birthday piñata for the skipper of Hanuman, the fleet’s Athena 38.

A layday was scheduled to allow all participants to recover from the festivities and the fleet headed to the sanctuary of Mays Bay for sundowners aboard the owners of the new Helia 44 catamaran.

Persistent winds continued on the next day and the annual Multihull Solutions Prawn and Punch party was relocated from Whitehaven Beach to the shelter of Cid Harbour. Tasty fresh prawns and punch complemented the hilarious action of the blind dinghy race which was fiercely fought but won by Kuringai 2 under the amazing direction and leadership of Flick Walton.

The following morning, seven brave entrants tackled Whitsunday Peak with Multihull Solutions’ Rachel Haynes and, despite gruelling rainforest terrain and the sighting of a terrified snake, were rewarded for their efforts by spectacular views across the islands.

The group then cruised to the idyllic Nara Inlet where the ever-popular Figurehead Competition was conducted. Again, competition was intense with the participants transforming themselves into mermaids, firemen and other hilarious costumes to adorn the bow of each vessel. The inlet swelled with music, singing, dancing, followed by beach cricket with sunset drinks and nibbles and a hotly contested trivia competition, won by the crew of Wild Spirit.

The final day saw the group reluctantly sail back to civilisation for the presentation evening on Hamilton Island. Once all boats were safely moored, the entrants gathered on the spectacular Bommie Deck of Hamilton Island Yacht Club for sunset drinks before heading downstairs to the Keel Deck for an exceptional dinner, entertainment by Multihull Solutions’ Condorus Maximus, a charity auction raising funds for OceansWatch, as well as the event’s major presentations.

The overall winner of the Rendezvous was the crew of the Mahe 36 Reflexion, who took home two nights accommodation on Hamilton Island, while Kuringai 2, a Bahia 46, won the lift, water blast and three days hardstand kindly provided by The Boat Works based on the Gold Coast.

The Rendezvous was generously supported by a host of sponsors including Bunkers Wines from Margaret River, Hamilton Island, Cape Gloucester Beach Resort, Sorrento’s Restaurant, Mountain Designs, Abell Point Marina, Mariner Boating Holidays, The Boat Works and Yaffa Publishing.

All participants refused to end the Rendezvous willingly and celebrated until late into the evening. As the crews retired to their vessels, plans were already being made to return for the 2014 event.

For those who can’t wait until then, or were unable to join in the action in the Whitsundays, the Multihull Solutions Pittwater Rendezvous is just around the corner.

From 4-6 October, Multihull Solutions in partnership with the Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay (RMYC) will host the cruising Multihull Rendezvous Rally to complement the traditional APC Logistics Lock Crowther Multihull Regatta racing regatta.

The Multihull Rendezvous invites cruising multihulls to enjoy an unforgettable social rally in the beautiful waterways of Broken Bay.

Further information on this event can be obtained by emailing David Renouf on 02 9979 1661

Multihull Solutions has also joined forces with Mariner Boating to showcase two exciting new international multihull rallies in early 2014.

The Caribbean Canter Yacht Rally will take place from 28 February to 10 March, encompassing a cruise through the Leeward Islands between Antigua and St Martin. Including the pristine islands of Barbuda and Saba.  The rally race program is low key with some serious parties, and is designed to get participants from one destination to the next while soaking up the colourful mix of cultures and spectacular landscape. We will sail one way from Antigua to St Martin and include the totally unspoiled islands of Barbuda and Saba into the mix.

The Sail Tahiti Yacht Rally  from 13-24 April in 2014 comprises an unforgettable cruise through the spectacular Leeward Islands of French Polynesia aboard a spirited Catana 41 or renowned Catana 47.

The rally will take in some of the world’s most beautiful locations including the ‘vanilla island’ of Taha’a and the stunning island of Bora Bora where lush valleys blossom with hibiscus, sparkling white beaches circle the emerald lagoon, and brilliant fish and giant manta rays glide through endless coral gardens. The itinerary also includes a cruise to the ‘woman island’ of Huahine where mirror-like lagoons reflect phosphorescent coral formations that lay scattered in and along the reefs, a stop at Faaroa Bay, and night at the diving and spiritual mecca of Raiatea, which legend holds to be the cradle of Polynesian civilisation.

Participants can also use these international rallies as a great way to try before they buy.

Anyone who participates in a Mariner Boating Rally and decides to purchase a new boat from Multihull Solutions will have the cost of their rally holiday reimbursed via a deduction from the vessel’s purchase price.  Conditions apply.