Your crew package includes; all meals onboard, crew meals ashore in Airlie Beach, Lord Howe Island and in Pittwater, accommodation onboard, your Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew shirt, marina fees, the use of a PFD (personal floatation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether. Your bedding, a pillow and towel is also included along with suncream.

Your crew package excludes; accommodation ashore, flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports, alcohol, toiletries, clothing and wet weather gear.
You will need to complete a 2-day Sea Safety and Survival Training Course or equivalent at least 1 month prior.

Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility incase of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules.

S/Y Salt Lines

Salt Lines is a 70ft, steel-hulled, 30-ton, ketch-rigged sailing vessel. Built to Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) unlimited survey requirements, she was the second of the Laurent Giles Shipwright 70 class built on Tyneside by AMARC (TES) Ltd in 1990 for the Ocean Youth Trust (OYT). She was launched and named the John Laing by Lady Laing in Poole, UK.

Over her many years of service, she has sailed under multiple names including, “John Laing”, “Yacht Discovery” and most recently “eXXpedition”. Although the name may have changed, what has always been common is every owner has used Salt Lines for true adventure sailing. From sailing around the world, collecting plastic samples with Emily Penn, to exploring Antarctica with the British Army, Salt Lines has done it all.

Airlie Beach, Austrlia

Sydney, Australia

On the 17th of August 2022, you can either fly directly into Airlie Beach (Proserpine). We will have a crew dinner at Airlie Beach on the 17th and make final preparations to depart the next day. Our trip begins on August 18 at Airlie Beach Marina, as we head south through the Whitsunday Islands.

Navigating the Australian coast is a minefield, with islands, reefs, whales, commercial ships, pleasure boats, and the Australian Navy to be aware of. Normally, it takes us 12 days to sail from the north to the south, and we’ll make some overnight stops in sheltered bays, islands, and marinas while travelling. As we sail south from Airlie Beach, we’ll overnight at a coastal marina or an island. Depending on the weather and tide times, we’ll decide whether to sail down the eastern or western side of the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island.

A challenge of the inside (western) route is traversing the notorious Wide Bay Bar at the southern tip of Fraser Island. This is followed by a stopover on Lord Howe Island before heading to Pittwater, NSW, and the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

After we have cleared Fraser Island, we will head SE for a sail by Middleton Reef, the site of over 80 shipwrecks, before sailing onto Elizabeth Reef, where we will anchor and go ashore. We will then set sail for Lord Howe Island, where we will tie up in the lagoon for two nights on the western side of the island and enjoy swimming, cycling, hiking, relaxing and taking in all that this stunning island has to offer. Following Lord Howe Island, we will sail past the fascinating Balls Pyramid, which juts out almost
500m up out of the ocean before we change course for Pittwater.

Pittwater should be reached by the 1st of September, and you are welcome to stay onboard the entire time and should plan to depart Sydney on or after the 2nd of September.