Wondering where to go after visiting South East Asia? Many Superyachts, particularly those requiring a re-fit, head for the Pacific Rim and Australia.

The gem of Australian cruising is the Great Barrier Reef, off Australia's east coast. It is World Heritage listed and abounds with wildlife, including dugongs, green turtles, dolphins and whales.

It is the largest barrier reef in the world spanning an unbelievable 1,000 miles from Cape York to Brisbane and consisting of more than 3,000 separate reefs. It is scattered with beautiful islands.

The most popular area is the Whitsunday Islands which features abundant anchorages on offshore islands and spectacular beaches.

Weather

The climate of the Great Barrier Reef varies and it is generally more tropical in the north than the south.

The dry season, with relatively low humidity and cool breezes, is between May and October and the wet season, with tropical rainfalls caused by the monsoons, is between November and April. The wet season brings with it the splendor of the waterfalls in full swing and the fast raging rivers.

Charts

Charts of Australia are produced by the Australian Hydrographic Service. Charts can be purchased on-line from Boating Books & Charts Australia - accredited Chart Agents for the Australian Hydrographic Service - at www.boatbooks.com.au

In Australia there is a 12% sales tax on charts which does not apply if charts are sent to a customer outside of Australia.

Cruising Guides

Alan Lucas is Australia's foremost cruising author. His books include:

Australian Cruising Guide - This cruising guide surveys all Australian waters and is intended as a handbook for yachtsmen wishing to visit the country. It contains all the necessary planning information. The work is divided into sections covering geography, climate, formalities, plus navigational advice, sailing directions, and detailed two-colour sketch charts.

Cruising the New South Wales Coast - This is a sailor's guide to the ports, anchorages and lakes of Australia's First State and also Lord Howe Island. First published in 1976, this book has been fully revised and updated in a fourth edition, using personal research and surveys carried out by the author aboard his own boat during 1994 and 1995. The maps for the port approaches and recommended anchorages are very clear and include all navigation information.

Cruising the Coral Coast - First published in 1968, this book has reached its seventh edition and remains the only guide to embrace the entire east coast of Queensland, the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef. This edition, published in 1996, includes notes on the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Coral Sea. To celebrate its successful twenty-five years, this edition is the biggest yet with larger, more detailed charts and the inclusion of more ports and anchorages than ever before.

These guides can be purchased on-line from companies such as:

Boat Books Ltd and Bluewater Books and Charts.

Tides

In both eastern and western Australia there are two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours but in southern and northern Australia, due to the canceling or competing effects of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, there may only be one high tide and one low tide in 24 hours.

Occasionally on South Australian shores there may be a "dodge tide", where the tide may remain fairly stationary for a couple of days.

South-eastern Australia, including New South Wales and Victoria and Tasmania, has a 2 metre tidal range, while south-western Australia has a 1 metre tidal range.

Courtesy Flag An Australian courtesy flag should be displayed whenever entering Australian waters.   The stars of the Southern Cross represent Australia's geographical position in the Southern Hemisphere, the Commonwealth Star symbolizes the federation of States and Territories, and the Crosses stand for Parliamentary Democracy, Rule of the Law and Freedom of Speech.

Security

Survey's show that there has been a decline in the level of crime in Australia and other industrial countries in the last ten years. A significant proportion of Australians believe that the police do a good job of controlling crime and Australia rates third behind the USA and Scotland in its level of satisfaction with its police force.

Arrival

All vessels sailing into Australia are required to give prior notification of their estimated time of arrival to the Australian Customs Service, Department of Immigration, Multi Cultural Affairs and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. They can be contacted direct through any Telstra Coastal radio station on 2182 khz.

Regulations

Customs clearance must be completed immediately and everyone on board the vessel will require a valid passport and, where necessary, an Australian Visa; they will also be required to complete a passenger card and traveler's statement. The skipper must have proof of clearance from his last overseas port of call.

The two Australian members of the Association of Yacht Support Services (A.Y.S.S.) - Barwil Agencies Australia Pty Ltd and Major Yacht Services - can assist with check-in procedures and local regulations.

Facilities

Australian marinas are located in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Here are some of them:

Anderson's Boat Shed & Marina, Booker Bay, New South Wales

Westport Marina, Cabarita, New South Wales

River Quays Marina, Sydney, New South Wales

Spinnaker Sound Marina, Bribie Island, Queensland

Gladstone Marina, Gladstone, Queensland

Marina Mirage, Port Douglas, Queensland

Keppel Bay Marina, Yeppoon, Queensland

Flinders Marina, Adelaide, South Australia

Aquarama Marina, Freemantle, Western Australia

Australia is a popular place for re-fits and Cairns Slipway is equipped with extensive wharves, dry dock, slipway, side slip and workshops. The slipway can handle vessels up to 1200 tonnes and 70 metres long.

Two members of the Association of Yacht Support Services (A.Y.S.S.) are based in Australia:

Barwil Agencies Australia Pty Ltd (E-mail: cairns@barwil.com.au)

Major Yacht Services www.majoryachtservices.com.au