Rediscover the coast on a private catamaran
They say there’s a side effect to sailing – that it instils a sense of tranquillity and helps maintain a rhythm of calm. Naturally, it makes perfect sense to throw off the bowlines and set sail on our private catamaran, Oceans, for a morning out seeing the Gold Coast Broadwater.
Slipping off our shoes and daring to bare our painted toenails, Captain Steve and Maddie from Sailing in Paradise meet us at their berth in Marina Mirage. There’s something about wandering a marina that infuses a dreamy scene, even before breathing in the salty air and feeling an ocean breeze tousle my hair.
“So, what’s in store for you today, ladies?” Steve asks as we pull away under a clear blue sky and calm sea. We discuss what we would like to do on our private three-hour sail. This is Steve’s backyard, and I can tell he wants us to love it as much as he does.
We’re happy just to see where the wind blows us and experience the best of the Gold Coast from a different angle. Maddie pops the champagne and delivers a delicious grazing board, while we settle in like superstars to be rocked by the ocean and music, passing closely by many little islands and hidden beaches. At Wave Break Island we take a blissful swim in the shallows and saunter along the shoreline before climbing back onboard our luxury catamaran (pretending it’s ours, of course).
Oceans is the largest and most luxurious vessel of the Sailing in Paradise fleet. It can take up to 30 passengers, giving you the choice of indulging on your own, like our mother/daughter combination, or inviting friends along to enjoy the decadence of luxury sailing. Of course, we never want to leave, but Steve and Maddie wave us off with some lovely images as memories of our morning. Then, it’s time to check in to our accommodation at the Dorsett Hotel, Broadbeach.