Boxing Day Cruises – The best day to be on Sydney Harbour.
The day begins with a short cruise on Sydney Harbour before we take up our priority position right on the start line for Australia’s premier Blue Water Racing Classic. From this position, we can gain a full appreciation for the pre – race tactics in the final minutes before the starting gun is fired.
Your host and veteran yacht racing champion skipper, John Boyce says “Boxing Day is the best day of the year to be on Sydney Harbour and the best boat to be on belongs to anyone else” because the colourful start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race attracts all the “once a year boaters” on to the water creating navigational problems for spectator vessels. Both sides of the exclusion zone (reserved to give the racing yachts clear passage and room to manoeuvre) are “jam-packed” with craft, all trying to get a better view of the on water excitement.
It takes all John’s skills, as a charter skipper with more than 30 years experience, to position “Sydney Sundancer” right on the start line as the starting gun is fired, thus ensuring a clear uninterrupted view of the competing craft for all guests aboard. The following images were all taken by Lynne from the decks of Sydney Sundancer over the last 7 years.
John always gets THE BEST POSITION to witness all the excitement of the start of the race EVERY YEAR! Maintaining this position on the starting line surrounded by hundreds of boats in close proximity is a skill not to be underestimated, and it is only by this method that guests can take photographs like those displayed on this web site!
We can pretty much guarantee the best spectator boat location for the exhilarating Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Check out last year’s video here – see just how close you can get.
As the armada of spectator craft surges forward, John maintains this exclusive position alongside the racing yachts so that all guests aboard “Sydney Sundancer” almost feel part of the action, as the crew of the racing yachts frantically tack their vessels for best position in the Southern Hemispheres most prestigious yacht race.
We follow the fleet of racing yachts to farewell them and wish them bon voyage at the Heads of Sydney Harbour. Having farewelled the fleet, we will continue our cruise around Sydney Harbour before anchoring for a late lunch accompanied by live entertainment from our “muso” who is an expert guitarist and singer.
Two facts combine to make a Sydney Harbour Cruise on Boxing Day, the best day of the year to be on Sydney Harbour!
The first is that John’s navigational skills are exceptional (as all the accompanying photographs show – click any photograph to enlarge and sample the photographs you could capture on your camera simply by joining in the fun and excitement aboard Sydney Sundancer). He is able to manoeuvre Sydney Sundancer to the best position to view the action. Many guests, who own their own boats, choose to leave them on their mooring, so that they can enjoy this great day without the stress!
And the second is that all guests enjoy a shipboard feast second to none – “Bon Appetit”, the American gourmet magazine, has written to John’s wife, Lynne, requesting one of her recipes for publication in the USA, so you can be assured that the meal will exceed expectation and surpass much of what is served in well known Sydney restaurants !
Needless to say, Boxing Day is an event, which becomes booked out very early (usually by early October), so if you would like to join us BOOK EARLY!! Every year our waiting list grows longer, and those on it are always disappointed to have missed such a spectacular day. It is great value for money at $340 ($290 for children under 18) because it includes the sumptuous on board banquet, all beer, wine, champagne and soft drinks, as well as the live entertainment.
Departure will be at 11.15 am (SHARP) from Rose Bay Ferry Wharf returning there about 5 pm.
Parking anywhere on the waterfront on Boxing Day is always a problem because of this spectacular event so you should make plans to be on the wharf well ahead of departure time.
From the vantage point aboard one of our Sydney Harbour cruises, you’ll be able to experience all of the Harbour’s ‘moods’. From sunshine bathed skylines to twinkling night lights, our luxury yacht charter around Sydney Harbour provides you with a cornucopia of panoramic delights. The most exciting yet relaxing way to appreciate a Sydney Harbour cruise is on our luxury yacht – effortlessly and silently harnessing the wind for propulsion, just as nature intended! For Sydney Harbour cruises, we are unmatched for elegance, style and experience.
Contact us today to enquire about how we can custom design your most memorable Sydney yacht charter.