Perfect Duke of Edinburgh Silver Activity!!!

Come sail with the whales on South Passage, Queensland’s tall ship. Create memories that will last a lifetime! Join South Passage on her voyage south from Mackay to Townsville. Sail through the magnificent Whitsunday Islands which will provide spectacular photo opportunities and memories for you.

As part of the crew, you will help guide South Passage from the Capricorn Coast into the central Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 

 Here’s your chance to experience first hand what it is like to sail a 100 foot ship the traditional way.  South Passage is a sail training ship used to develop sailing and life skills as well as providing a unique and fun-filled adventure against the backdrop of the breath taking scenery of the east coast of Australia.

South Passage is a two-masted 100 foot (30.5m), gaff rigged schooner.  She is a modern ship, launched in 1993, but built on the design of the 19th century pilot schooners that operated off the east cost of America.  She is sailed the traditional way where everything is done by hand.

On voyages, trainees (passengers) run the ship under the guidance of the watch leader and one of the qualified crew. Trainees are organised in three watches named Red, White and Blue usually with between 6 and 8 in a watch. They are rostered for periods of two to fours hours and are in charge of the ship.  Each watch works as a team. They bunk together, eat together and run the ship together when they are on duty. Of course, there are times when it is all hands on deck with all watches involved.  When on watch the trainees will rotate around deck duties such as helming, lookout and recording entries in the ship‘s log and on the chart as well as tacking and gybing when required.

Our crew will show you how to raise sails, haul in a sheet, tack and gybe.  You can take a turn at the helm and feel the deck lift under your feet as the wind fills the sails.

DEPARTS:     Mackay Marina, approx 9am Sunday 25 May

 ARRIVES:     Breakwater Marina, Townsville approx 4pm Thursday 29 May