Maxi Cruise 2 - Whitehaven Beach Picnic Adventure
Sixteen nautical miles from the mainland is a place which has become one of the world’s most famous beaches. The water at Whitehaven is usually nothing less than crystal clear, so it’s a great spot to enjoy a swim in the warm tropical waters of The Whitsundays. Beach cricket, volleyball, frisbee and other activities are available for those that feel the need to expend some energy whilst on the beach. Your picnic is an informal affair and yet the menu is exotic.

For food there is a selection of fresh tortilla rolls with satay chicken or vegetarian salad, rare roast beef and salad rolls and a fresh Queensland tropical fruit platter. A gourmet afternoon platter is served on the return sail to the mainland. The return sail past some very interesting and dramatic scenery tops off a day trip that is a must for every visitor to the Whitsundays!

Beach cricket, volleyball, frisbee and other activities are available for those that feel the need to expend some energy whilst on the beach.

Your picnic is an informal affair and yet the menu is exotic.

Sails Thursday & Sunday (plus Tuesdays in high season).

An exciting 2½ hour sail to Whitehaven Beach.

Spend up to 2 hours relaxing at one of the worlds most beautiful beaches.

A picnic lunch is served under the shade of the trees lining the beach.

Swim the crystal clear waters of the Whitsundays.

Perhaps sight a turtle surfacing for air.

Sail home past Hamilton Island, South Molle Island and Long Island.

What's included:
- Lycra Suits in season
- Local pick up & drop off
- Lunch, morning tea & afternoon nibbles
- Special dietary requirements catered for on request
- Environmental Management Charge ("Reef Tax")
- Snorkelling equipment & buoyancy aids at Blue Peral Bay
- Beach activities at Whitehaven Beach
- Raincoats (if required)

What to bring:
- Hat, sunscreen, sunnies, towel, swimwear, jumper on cooler days
- Cash, Mastercard, VISA for drinks and souvenirs (sorry no EFTPOS or room charge on board)

A gourmet afternoon platter is served on the return sail to the mainland.

The return sail past some very interesting and dramatic scenery tops off a day trip that is a must for every visitor to the Whitsundays!

Maxi Ragamuffin's registered length is 23.1m. She carries a crew of between 4 and 7 and a maximum of up to 57 passengers.

Operator Profile
This company was built by Kelly and Haugh boat builders in Mona Vale, Sydney, Australia. She was launched in 1979 as Bumblebee 4 for Sydney yachtsman John Kahlbetzer. At the time she was the worlds state of the art maxi yacht. The first offshore race that she entered was 1979 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in which she took out a convincing line honours victory.

In 1980 she competed in the Long Island Sound Series and the New York Yacht Club Series and took out line and handicap honours in both events and line honours and 3rd on handicap in the Greenwich to Newport race on the East Coast of USA.

1981 saw Bumblebee take out line and handicap honours at the Mediterranean Maxi Championships and the World Cup in Sardinia. Other achievements that year included gaining Line Honours and 2nd on handicap in the Middle Sea Race.

In 1982 she competed at the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in Florida and gained 2nd place overall. The Maxi World Championships were held again in 1982 and Bumblebee was placed second.

In 1983 Bumblebee was purchased by Australian yachtsman, Syd Fischer, and renamed Ragamuffin. Mr Fischer made alterations to the hull and incorporated a new longer stern, a new keel and added 3 metres (10 foot approx.) to the height of the mast. With the new configuration Ragamuffin took out line honours at Hamilton Island Race Week 1984, and line honours in the Sydney to Hobart 1988 and 1990. Other placings in the Sydney to Hobart include a 2nd in 1986 and two 3rds 1985 & 1989, giving her six placing from eight starts. In the two races that she did not gain a place she was retired due to gear failure.

Ragamuffin gained 4th place at the Clipper Cup in Hawaii in 1986. In 1988 the event was renamed the Kenwood Cup and Ragamuffin was placed 7th. Later that year she returned to Sydney to dominate the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Anton Starling, of Joico Hair Care Products, purchased the vessel in 1993. He found that a then 14 year old maxi could not match the speed and agility of the newer, lighter maxis, and put her up for sale having owned her for less than 12 months.

In 1994, she was purchased by Whitsunday yachtsman Bernard Heimann and converted to being a day charter yacht. She now runs scheduled day trips sailing to glorious island destinations, offering snorkelling and SCUBA diving, and cruises to beautiful Whitehaven Beach and Blue Pearl Bay.

Most recent racing achievements include Line Honours in The Great Whitsunday Fun Race, September 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003 and achieving the coveted Line and Handicap double in the 1998 Whitsunday Vista Cup.

ECO Certified
We care greatly about the Great Barrier Reef and our Planet. We follow Responsible Reef Practices, we recycle and monitor our carbon emissions to ensure that future generations can enjoy the Great Barrier Reef in years to come. We are an ‘Advanced Eco Certified’ Tour and an accredited ‘Climate Action Innovator’.

We operate to prime ECO tourism sites in the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park & Whitsunday Islands National Park and would love you to join us to appreciate the natural wonders of Blue Pearl Bay and Whitehaven Beach.

* The Great Barrier Reef is the largest tropical coral reef system in the world.

* At 348,000 sq km, it's bigger than Victoria and Tasmania combined, bigger than the UK and about half the size of Texas.

Get To The Depot:
Departing Shute Harbour in the heart of the Whitsundays.

There is Courtesy transfers from local Airlie Beach and Cannonvale accommodation and bus stops. To organise your transfer please let the Operator know in the comments section when making your booking.

Testimonials:
Ewan Hogg 29-10-08
I have been visiting freinds in Airlie for a number of years, I have been out on Ragamuffin a total of 4 times. It doesn't do it justice to say I'm not bored of the idea. I have the time of my life each time I sail with the great team. Any one who visits the area must experience the fun of doing a day trip on Ragamuffin. It is a credit to the team that you create such a fun, stress free trip. Thank you and I look forward to trip number 5.
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Guest 29-10-08

Had to go twice
We did the Whitehaven sail on Sunday the 12th Oct 08, and not only enjoyed the sail, but also the hospitality so much we went back again on Friday the 17th to Blue Pearl Bay. Wendy in the office was a real character, when I checked my initial account with her she helped me out (mere male that I am), and suggested George the skipper may let me at the helm. This did eventuate on the return from Blue Pearl, WHAT A THRILL on this magnificent maxi. George, your very attentive crew, Kim, Hayley and co are a credit to you and Ragamuffin. Many thanks from Diane and I. Adrian Wood

Guest 21-10-08

a great day

To the wonderful people at Ragamuffin,

I went out on 20th Oct for a famil trip to blue pearl bay. I have to say, you guy's rock. Your customer service is second to none. Your team were all great fun, really interactive with the guests, and they went out of thier way to ensure that all on board had great day. The sun cream hand out was the cream on the cake. It shows you really care about your guests.. I want to extend a warm thanks to Janine ( I know i have spelt that wrong) for the intro dive.. It was amazing. I WILL definatley be recomending that as an add on..She was great with all the divers, taking her time and she was very patient. Being lead around by her made the first dive of my life very enjoyable as i trusted her ability and felt comfortable that i was safe.. Even the bus ride to the marina and home was made enjoyable by Jim the driver. His whit and sense of humor were a blessing espessially at 8.00am. He to is a credit to the day as he made it start really well, so thank him..

So in conclusion the over all day was A1 from the very begining to the very end.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to experience your company. I will highly recomend it to all who wish for an awsome day sailing.

Thanx again,

Jody Langham

Karin Taylor 16-10-08

The Unincredables

Hi all the fantastic crew on maxi rags,

George Rainman Kimmy (look at Moi) Anitta and Paul.

We went out on friday the 10th of october 2008. it would have had to have been one of the best days in our lives.

we are the UNINCREDIBLES, nothing like an ill fitting super hero outfit. and we are nothing like superheros.

All the crew on maxi rags made the day, with there brilliant senses of humour especially to put up with us.

We will defintley be going back for a sail when we next terrorize airlie beach.

Remember Kimmy we still have a mutiny to take over maxi rags from George.

Will send some photos of the UNINCREDABLES soon.

Once again thank you all for the best day out

We highley recommend Maxi Rags and crew to any one who wants a great day.

PS We want the super heros suits.

Till we sail again,

Karin

Guest 22-09-08

Thank You

I travelled with you on Ragamuffin to Blue Pearl Bay at the end of July 2008.
I have a physical disability.
I would like to extend my very sincere thanks for all the help your staff gave me when I booked and on the trip itself.
Your staff are very professional and sincere and you should be congratulated.
They did so much to assist me.
I am gladly telling people about your excellent service.I hope to one day go on another trip.
Many thanks.

Guest 31-07-08

Thank You

A note for skipper George and the crew and the organisation behind the boat. You guys have the best organised, relaxing, fun, professional thing that I have done in Australia. As a professional tour operator myself I will be taking your attitudes and easy going style home with me to England. Please, would you to pass my thoughts on to the crew.

Important information about your voyage
Prior to departure you will be required to sign a rental agreement with the operators of this vessel. Here is a summary of the terms and conditions:

Definitions
The following definitions apply for the Terms and Conditions for this vessel.
-  The Supplier or Operator means the operator who supplies this vessel to you on arrival.
-  The Client is also referred to as the renter (s) or hirer (s)

What's included:
- Stinger Suits in season
- Local pick up & drop off
- Lunch, morning tea & afternoon nibbles
- Special dietary requirements catered for on request
- Environmental Management Charge ("Reef Tax")
- Snorkelling equipment & buoyancy aids at Blue Peral Bay
- Beach activities at Whitehaven Beach
- Raincoats (if required)

What to bring:
- Hat, sunscreen, sunnies, towel, swimwear, jumper on cooler days
- Cash, Mastercard, VISA for drinks and souvenirs (sorry no EFTPOS or room charge on board)

Cancellation policy
The initial deposit paid is non-refundable. In addition to forfeiting your deposit, the following charges also apply:
No cancellations accepted after 5.00pm on the 3 days prior to travel.

Medical Statement
Introductory divers need to sign a medical statement to say that they do not currently suffer from or have a history of: asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, lung, heart or ear conditions / illnesses. A medical certificate from a doctor may be required for any pre-existing medical conditions otherwise they may be precluded from Diving.

Terms of booking on this website

Information disclaimer
The rates on this website are often heavily discounted. This is due to our negotiated rates and bulk buying power. On very rare occasions, a rate may be displayed incorrectly due to our, or a supplier's error. In such a case, if you book with us at a quoted rate that is incorrect, we will notify you of any price change and give you the option to proceed or cancel. We make every effort to keep information on our site up to date, but we cannot guarantee this website is free of errors or omissions and retain the right to update or change the information published at any time.

Liability
To the extent permitted by law we/the owners of this website will not be liable to you or to any third party (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including but not limited to any accident, injury, delay or loss of enjoyment) arising out of your reliance upon information contained on this website, including but not limited to your use (or inability to use) any products or services described or procured through this website.

On departure day, before you commence your trip, you may be required to sign a rental agreement (in the case of boat charters) with the supplier of the vessel. Your rental and use of the vessel will be governed by the terms of the rental agreement and any other documentation or information provided to you by the supplier at the time you pick up your vessel. The rental agreement is between you and the supplier and we will not be liable to you or to any third party in relation to the terms of the supplier rental agreement or any other documentation provided to you by the supplier at the time of pick up.

While we will make reasonable efforts to ensure we are representing only reputable suppliers, we make no warranty about the fitness or suitability of any third party (supplier) product or service and will not accept responsibility for the quality or fitness of any vessel. We welcome feedback from our customers on their experience with our suppliers. We may, at our discretion, provide you with reasonable assistance in resolving any dispute you may have with a supplier.

Our total liability to you in relation to your use of this website and the information contained on this website will not exceed the dollar amount of the deposit we have received from you in relation to your booking/rental. Refunds will not be made for bookings cancelled due to inclement weather. Again, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance. Your use of this website is governed by the laws of New Zealand and the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.

Booking information
To make a booking, you must complete our no-obligations reservations enquiry form which is easy to follow and secured with the latest encryption technology. Once we receive your enquiry, we will contact you via phone or email, to advise of availability and confirm the final price is correct - and discuss payment options. A booking is confirmed when you have been emailed a confirmation notice and at this stage the deposit is processed on your credit card and becomes non-refundable and any cancellation fees stated in the terms apply. Upon receipt of your confirmation, please check your details carefully and notify us immediately if there are any incorrect details, as it may not be possible to make changes at a later date.

Please note we accept Visa and Mastercard and the credit card fees are: 
1) 1.75% for the deposit amount.
2) 1.75% for the balance of payment.

If you are booking via phone, please first make sure you have read the terms and conditions of your selected sailing adventure. Our reservations consultant will ask you if you have read the terms and agree to them before proceeding. The onus is always on the renter to ensure they make themselves fully aware of the terms displayed on our website.

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In booking on this website you acknowledge that we disclose your information to your selected Supplier in order to provide the requested rental, trip or charter services.

Amendments
Please check the terms of each vessel to see whether amendment fees apply. Please also note that for some vessels an amendment is treated as a new booking and the rate current at the time the amendment is made to recalculate the entire booking amount (not just the days changed). In the case of boat rental/yacht charter, if the hire or number of days is increased, an additional deposit may be required, while reduction in rental periods or price may reduce the total, but the deposit amount will remain unchanged.

Vessel Capacity and fitness to charter (for Bareboats only)
Under no circumstances are you permitted to carry more passengers than the vessel you charter is legally registered to carry, and if you do your insurance may be invalidated. The number of passengers allowed is indicated next to each vessel on this website. It is your responsibility to choose a journey that is within your capabilities. A boat or trip supplier can refuse to hire a vessel to any person who is in their opinion unfit to skipper or does not meet eligibility requirements. In such circumstances we will have no further liability to you.