Where are 'Reef Dive Whitsundays'?

by Whitsunday Times on 16 Feb 2008 Passengers aboard ‘Romance’ who were airlifted to safety in the early hours of Tuesday morning were full of praise for their rescuers. Melissa Bourton, Nina Pollack and Tariq Alabbasi were three of the 32 passengers and five crew aboard the 23m schooner. However, a debriefing meeting was held for the survivors on their return to the mainland and those who spoke to the Whitsunday Times claimed the owner of the boat had not offered them anything.

'We have no accommodation and no money to pay for food or accommodation or even to call our families. All of our credit cards are still on the boat,' Mr Alabbasi said.

'We would like a refund for our trip so we can afford to get through until next week at least when we can get insurance sorted out.'

Attempts by the Whitsunday Times to contact the owner were unsuccessful.

The group were on the second day of a three day sailing adventure of the Whitsundays when the boat washed up on rocks on the north-west end of Hook Island, at Caves Cove. No-one was injured. Ms Bourton from England said she was trying to sleep in 60 knot winds when the ship ran aground on rocks. Mr Alabbasi from Bahrain said passengers had to leave their wallets, passports, mobile phones and everything on the boat.
'There was water leaking everywhere, it was coming through the vents and the boat was broken all down the left side,' he said.

Ms Pollack from Germany said the anchor snapped its mooring pushing the boat onto the rocks.

'I was very scared. I feared for my life,' she said.

All three survivors were full of praise for the efforts of the crew, the RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter and the Water Police.

'We have had a great time in Australia and will continue our travels but this has left a bad taste in my mouth,' Mr Alabbasi said.

Ms Bourton, Ms Pollack and Mr Alabbasi all booked their trip through a travel agent in Hervey Bay and were also trying to make contact with him.

'A local tour company in Airlie Beach have been very helpful and are trying to find accommodation for us for tonight (Tuesday) but most places are already fully booked. They have also given us phone and email packs so we can call home,' Mr Alabbasi said.

Tourism Whitsunday is working with the Whitsunday Charter Boat Association to try to help the passengers, which information is expanded by smh.com.au:


Backpackers plucked from a yacht which ran aground on the north Queensland coast have been offered free food, accommodation and trips after accusing the yacht operator of abandoning them.

Thirty-two frightened tourists and five crew from the yacht Romance were rescued by helicopter after the vessel ran aground on rocks on Hook Island in the Whitsundays early Tuesday morning.

Most were forced to leave their property on board the boat which had offered three-day sailing and diving trips, meaning many now had no money, credit cards, phones or passports and had lost cameras and clothes.

The backpackers later accused the charter yacht operator of abandoning them.

A spokesman for operator Discount Travel declined to comment.

Backpacker Tim Jones, 25, from Britain, said the passengers were very grateful for the help that had been offered, from free and discount accommodation to free meals, toiletries, clothes and transport, after the nightmare experience.

'We were smacking the rocks, we didn't know if there was help coming, we didn't know if the mayday calls had been received,' Mr Jones said.

'It was hell really ... there was no-one on that boat who wasn't terrified and I think it's hitting everyone now how lucky we are.'

A police spokeswoman said officers boarded the yacht in treacherous conditions on Thursday to recover what belongings they could, but some had been swept into the sea.

Tourism Whitsundays CEO Peter O'Reilly said the community would continue to look after the backpackers, while the Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association, of which the Romance is not a member, had offered them free sailing trips on their boats.

'The community is dismayed that these visitors have had to endure such an awful experience that unfortunately didn't finish the moment they were rescued,' Mr O'Reilly said.

'International backpackers are the vibrant heart of Airlie (Beach) and we'd like to see this group receive the care and attention we'd want for our own children in similar circumstances.'

Queensland Transport's marine safety department is currently investigating the incident.