William at the helm
SailTas guests are not only provided with the opportunity of sailing along our majestic coastline, they also get to experience the wide range of activities the Tasmanian waterways have to offer including; bushwalking, swimming, fishing, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, whale/seal/dolphin/bird watching or just sipping a cool beverage on the deck.
We’ve listed some of the comments and photos of our guests below
East Coast Tasmania
Wineglass Bay, Maria Island, Port Arthur, Norfolk Bay
Our itinerary was perfect – sailing around the north Bruny Island around the breathtaking capes of the Tasman Peninsula and Tasman Island to Fortescue Bay, Maria Island, and back through the channel at Dunalley.
Past the capes, Jamie anchored at a protected and gorgeous little cove which allowed us to hike the stunning Cape Hauy (and experience multiple echidna encounters).
Sailing onto Maria Island, with my son at the helm, we were joined by seals and dozens of dolphins darting through the waves at the bow much to everyone’s excitement.
On Maria Island, Jamie took us on a guided walk of old ruins as well as wombat spotting (we counted 24 in an hour!). Diving off the boat and swimming at our gorgeous Maria Island anchorage, we were all stunned by the pristine turquoise waters and long, white deserted beaches. You’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the Whitsundays – only without the crowds!
The sailing itself was a wonderful experience for us all with our various levels of experience. The whole family participated – tacking and trimming sails and being on the helm as well as learning knots and navigation.
Jamie was the perfect host – patient yet encouraging and full of knowledge, happily sharing his years of sailing experience with us. He was always mindful of the forecast and was led by the conditions when planning each night’s anchorage to maximise comfort.
The catering was excellent – returning to the yacht each afternoon after hiking, swimming and exploring, we enjoyed a platter of local cheeses with Tassie wines and beer following by a wonderful meal including chicken korma, seafood chowder. Jamie and his deck hand Natalie were also great company over dinner, giving us great insight into Tassie history and culture.
Sea G, a 42-foot Catalina, was immaculately maintained and so comfortable with its roomy saloon and well-equipped kitchen. And the cabins were perfect.
We were all very sad for our 5 days to come to an end and loved our adventure so much with Jamie on Sea G, we plan to return for an 8 day sail to Flinders Island. We can’t recommend this trip enough to anyone: families or adults of all ages on a getaway weekend with friends. It was an all-round fantastic experience.
We had an amazing time sailing Tasmania’s east coast aboard SeaG. The 42ft sailboat was very comfortable in all conditions and our skipper Jamie provided safe sailing with great service. We were fortunate to have Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park all to ourselves while moored in this pristine bay. We also stopped at some convict ruins at the Coal Mines historic site
We saw whales, seals and had plenty of dolphins greeting us when we came close to shore.
It was a fantastic experience sailing back to Kettering and I even got to steer SeaG while sailing by Maria Island. We will most likely go back on SeaG to explore other parts of Tasmania. Highly recommended.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
catherine330
Lake Macquarie, Australia
6 day sail around Maria Island and Tasman National Park
A fantastic 6 days sailing out of Kettering, through the Dunalley Channel to Maria Island, and around the Tasman Peninsula including Fortescue Bay and Port Arthur.
It was a perfect mix of sailing and bush walking. We did the 4 hour walk to Cape Hauy (part of the 3 day 3 Capes walk) amongst others, saw lots of convict ruins on Maria Island and the historic coal mines on the Tasman Peninsula. We also had an afternoon to spend exploring Port Arthur with our yacht moored right in front of the historic site which provided us with the beautiful sight of the ruins lit up at night.
Jamie was the perfect host and skipper. He quickly worked out our sailing abilities and tailored what we did to meet our skills and interests. He also adjusted the planned route to optimise what we did in the weather conditions.
Our meals were fully catered with the 6 day menu planned to perfection with a wide variety of meals.
We were a group to f 5 friends and we are all keen to return and do another sail with Jamie in the future. Highly recommended for sailors and also novices. You can sit back, do mouthing and enjoy the ride or you can actively sail the boat. It’s up to you!
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S4iln
Newcastle, Australia
214
Reviewed 2 weeks ago
5 women, a yacht and a skipper
We, five sailing friends, hired Jamie and his 42′ Catalina yacht for 5 nights and six days. Jamie tailor made our itinerary to include both sailing and walking. We sailed north of Bruny Island to our first night anchorage on the Tasman peninsular. Next day we sailed through the Denison Canal and on to Chinaman’s Bay on Maria Island. We stayed here for two nights so that we had plenty of time to enjoy a few of the great walks on Maria Island. The first afternoon we walked to Point Lesueur to see the convict ruins and next day we walked to Darlington (about 25km return). The wild life was spectacular – wombats. kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons, plus birds including Cape Barren Geese. Next day we sailed down to Fortescue Bay and did the Cape Hauy walk. This was spectacular and an excellent cardio vascular work out! The hard work was well worth the views. Then we sailed on and next anchorage was right in Port Arthur. What a spectacular way to arrive at this historic site! We spent the afternoon exploing the site. The guided tour which comes as part of the entrance fee was very well done and we learned lots of interesting facts. Then sadly, we had to make our way back to Kettering. We were lucky with our weather although Jamie tells us that, at this time of the year the weather is mostly sunny, short showers and good sailing winds. Jamie was an excellent skipper. The boat is well maintained. All our evening meals had been pre-cooked which made the domestic chores very easy. Pamela had stocked the boat with lots of breakfast foods, lunch foods and snacks. We were well fed. One always has to be very careful about how much water is used on such trips but we were able to swim and then have brief showers on the back deck. The beds are comfortable. However, you have to remember that you are living on a 42′ yacht and the furthest away that you can get from anyone else is 42′! As we are all sailors, Pamela didn’t come with us and Jamie took that into account when quoting a price. If you had no sailing experience, you could put your trust in Jamie and Pamela and if you wanted to learn a bit about it they would love to teach you. I can’t think of a single thing that was not perfect and we five are already planning our next sailing adventure with Jamie!
See all 3 reviews by S4iln for Kettering
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Susan H
Twilight Cruise
Centennial, Colorado
216
People who want a more intimate, relaxed cruising experience should sign on for a voyage with Jamie and Pamela. They are truly genuine people, who treat each other with great respect. The atmosphere is calm, and the seas and sights are gorgeous. We enjoyed our sail over by Bruny Island with quite strong winds, but stopped and anchored at “the duck pond” for some refreshments and conversation. Learning more about the vessel, their travels and other things was a lovely way to spend a late afternoon. Coming back into the harbour as the sun was dropping was beautiful. Thanks Jamie and Pamela, and best wishes on your future endeavours and travels!
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Fiona_J_Baz
Melbourne, Australia
We enjoyed a beautiful sailing trip with Skipper Jamie and his wonderful partner, Pamela. Along with their warm hospitality, we loved the opportunity to jump off the yacht for a swim. We saw seals and enjoyed a stunning sunset from the water. Highly recommend the twilight sail (and swim!) … weather/water permitting!
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Bruny Island Day Cruise
williaml4352
258
My wife and I did a day sail in their very neat Catalina 42 footer. Jamie is an excellent knowledgeable host. Weather perfect. Scenery really damn good. Lunch of seafood chowder, Tasmania Riesling spot on, while moored in a little bay with white sand beach, cliffs and gums – Arthur Streeton- esque views.
The bay area is sheltered so you should not get swell and slop – even if it’s a bit windy. (In case you are worried)
You can do as much or little sailing duties as you want – steering, ropes, etc.
“Slow tourism” at its best.
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Bruny Island Two Day Cruise
bat56
Somerset, Bermuda
2
Booked an overnight sail that turned into much more! Stunning Bruny Island scenery, with unmatched peace and tranquillity.
Instead of finishing the next day accepted the twilight racing invite out of Kettering with bbq after .
James and Pamela are great skipper/hosts , meals were just right! Highly recommend ..Cheers guys!
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Rowan5432
Sydney, Australia
1
I went on a weekend, 2 day 1 night trip with SailTas. Jamie and Pamela were great hosts and shared the gorgeous cruising grounds around Bruny Island with me. Their local knowledge had us at anchor in a perfect bay overnight with good wine and food and a relaxed atmosphere after a packed day of sailing and bush walking. You can choose to help out on the boat, or relax and be looked after. The trip was only one night and left me wanting to stay on board for a week. We were lucky enough to have apprentice sea coxswain Saul with us as well, adding to the relaxed friendly atmosphere. If you want a break from work and life stress, this trip fits the bill perfectly
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Bruny Island Day Cruise
Chloe E
Fantastic day out for a group of work mates
Jamie and Pamela hosted an absolutely fantastic day out for our work crew.
There were about 12 of us and we spent a really varied day which was relaxing (great food, plenty of room, variety of places to sit) interesting (getting involved with sailing, lots to see, our hosts a wealth of knowledge, we had a little explore on an island) and at times exciting (we saw seals and dolphins, the wind picked up and the boat really moved). It was such a great de stress for everyone. You could see people unwinding and enjoying themselves, it was absolutely great.
Thankyou so much
Chloe
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Norfolk Bay Two Day Cruise
We had a wonderful two days sailing on our recent 20th anniversary trip to Hobart. The food supplied was delicious and there was plenty of it. We enjoyed the opportunity to take the helm for a short stint. Our hosts were easy going and made the trip comfortable. Highly recommended.
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Bruny Island Day Cruise
neil594
1
Fantastic skipper, great boat. Jamie was totally flexible, responsive to our wishes of where to go, allowed us to use our experiences to operate the boat under his supervision, provided wet/cold weather gear as needed, was outstandingly safe. We saw two whales, bunch of seals and marvellous scenery, will be coming back for longer trips.
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gworsfold15
Perth, Australia
1
We were a group of four who spent a day sailing across from Kettering to Bruny Island with Pamela and Jamie. They were fantastic hosts who did everything possible to make our day a special one. The scenery was just beautiful and the food was delicious and there was lots of it! It was one of the most enjoyable, relaxing days we have had in a long time and was by far the highlight of our trip to Tassie. I would recommend this as a must do to anyone making the trip. Thanks Pamela and Jamie.
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kateshev
Perth, Australia
7952
A few friends and I were lucky enough to get a beautiful sunny day to sail from Hobart to Kettering with SailTas. I was so impressed! My first time sailing and I had the most incredible experience. You’re in the hands of Captain Jamie who seems to know everything about his boat and sailing. It was just so beautiful to see that side of Tas, the stunning coast line and an experience I can’t put into words. We had hot cross buns for Easter, and then cheese and wine. I can’t wait to come back and do a twilight cruise to Bruny or another day trip somewhere! This really made my trip to Tas that much more special!
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oddis
Bergen. Norway
2
Wonderful sail down the D’Entrecasteaux channel in Tasmania
We went on a day sail with James and SailTas down the D’Entrecasteaux channel. Since we know how to sail, James was flexible and adapted the trip to our needs the way that we did a longer and perhaps more challenging trip than the standard Bruny Island trip. Fortunately, we had a fresh wind and the sailing was excellent in the sheltered waters of the channel, i.e wind but small waves. We anchored behind Satellite Island for our lunch. Lunch was a delicious fish chowder, which I can really recommend.
The boat is in very good shape, and James is a safe, calm and trustworthy captain.
We highly recommend SailTas.
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Two Week Charter
My husband and I have always wanted to try Great Barrier Reef cruising and SailTas delivered.
The itinerary personally developed by Jamie provided a varied land and sea experience. We saw Dolphins, flying fish and turtles. We experienced beautiful deserted beaches on Fraser island, with bushwalking opportunities if we wanted them. Our stay at Lady Musgrave island included snorkelling and watching the giant turtles lay their eggs and even more special, watching the new born young make their way to the sea.
With fishing rods on board we could catch our dinner if we wanted to!
Jamie is an experienced and competent yachtsman who took great care of us. He ensured our sailing legs were comfortable and overnight moorings were always in protected coves.
Sea G is a lovely Catalina Mark 2 with good facilities and plenty of space and we would highly recommend her
Jane and Doug Patten 5 April 17
Weekend Cruise
We had an amazing time sailing with Jamie and Sea-G! The food, company and experience at sea was brilliant! Highly recommend it!
We had a wonderful overnight charter sailing on SeaG. Jamie and Pamela are so passionate about the natural environment and really helped make the most of our sail by explaining to us what to look out for. We were very indulged with sunset drinks and the lodgings are everything you could need, for a comfortable night on a boat.
Twilight Cruise
I took the twilight cruise. It was a stunning afternoon. Just enough wind to fill the sails for a gentle cruise across the inlet to a sheltered bay. Our hosts James and Pamela treated us to local Tasmanian wine and cheese. Some guests caught some fish which James filleted, while others like myself enjoyed good conversation and stunning scenery. On our return to Kettering we spotted seals waiting in the wings in the hope of an escapee from the salmon farm. James literally went out of his way to drop me on Bruny Island where I was staying.
The boat is beautiful. Pamela a great hostess and deckie. James an accomplished sailor. It was a great afternoon/evening. Well worth putting on the “to do” list when visiting the area. Thanks guys.
Wonderful experience!! Jamie and Pamela were very friendly hosts and made sure we were well looked after and that we had a good time. Perfect for people of any age. Thanks Again.
I had a great day sailing with Jamie and Pamela. It was a small group and a very personal experience, as if I was out with friends for the day. Lunch was a delicious meal of seafood chowder, local cheese, wine and cherries served on…More
Had a wonderful time sailing with Jamie on the Sea-G – incredible view of Tasmania from the water with wonderful company. Absolutely stunning scenery. Jamie was clearly an experienced sailor, with a lot of local knowledge. Would absolutely recommend it!
Stunning day sailing up the D’entrecasteux Channel, Tasmania with James and Pam in their Catalina 42’ vessel. Kids had a go at the helm. Then after a delicious lunch on board, we caught fish for dinner. Such fun and easily our best day of two…More
I took the twilight cruise. It was a stunning afternoon. Just enough wind to fill the sails for a gentle cruise across the inlet to a sheltered bay. Our hosts James and Pamela treated us to local Tasmanian wine and cheese. Some guests caught some…More
Day Sail
We had 12 people on the yacht and it was fine. The weather was ideal. Jamie had a BBQ on the back of the boat and we were able to BBQ our own abalone and dress our rock lobsters. The seafood chowder and bento boxes…More
We had the best time sailing on the Sea-G! The scenery was beautiful and the service excellent. Thanks so much to Jamie and Pam for a wonderful day, highly recommend!!
The trip to beautiful Bruny Island is an absolute must-do while in Tassie and Sailtas is the must-use sailboat! I challenge you to find a bigger legend than skipper Jamie- could not recommend more
