Charter for a Cause: Brand-new Seawind 1370 charter giveaway in the Whitsundays, Queensland
by Joscelyn O'Keefe 3 Jun 07:50 AEST
Kim Mitchell and Geoff St Clair aboard their brand-new Seawind 1370 Sidetracked © Whitsunday Escape
When life takes a turn for the worse for the people who you care about, your first thought is "how can I help?".
This is exactly what happened to the close-knit team at Whitsunday Escape on hearing the news that four-year-old Lucy Scarrott - sister to two-year-old Ella, and daughter to well-known Whitsunday boating community members, Cat and Andy Scarrott - has been diagnosed with medulloblastoma - an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Determined to make a difference in these darkest of times, and with the support of one of their long-term investors, the bareboat company has launched a raffle for a five-night charter on a brand-new luxury boat.
On top of that, this is no run-of-the mill charter catamaran.
Sidetracked is one of the first Seawind 1370's to make landfall in Australia and the very first available for charter in the Whitsundays.
Boasting additional features not commonly seen in a charter fleet, such as trifold doors and performance capabilities enhanced by lightweight, carbon-reinforced construction, Sidetracked is not only spacious and luxuriously appointed, but also a superior sailor.
Sailed fresh from the factory in Asia to the Whitsunday Escape base at the Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach, by owners Geoff St Clair and Kim Mitchell, Sidetracked breezed through headwinds and sea states that would have literally stopped other boats in their tracks.
Under normal circumstances Sidetracked would be set straight to work in the Whitsunday Escape fleet where Mr St Clair is a repeat investor, but on this occasion her first 'charter' is to raise money for the Scarrott family.
"Lucy's parents Cat and Andy are dear friends of the Whitsunday Escape family and their whole world has been turned upside down by a heartbreaking diagnosis no parent should have to face," Whitsunday Escape Managing Director, Jaclyn Watson, said.
"Both parents have had to give up their jobs and relocate to Brisbane so that Lucy - who has already undergone major brain surgery at the Queensland Children's Hospital and now faces months of intensive radiation and chemotherapy - can receive daily treatment for an entire year in a fight to survive.
"We may not be able to wave a magic wand and make Lucy's diagnosis disappear, but one thing we can do, thanks to Geoff and Kim's generosity, is take some of the immense financial pressure off, so that they can focus on what matters most, which is being together and supporting Lucy through this battle".
Winning the holiday of a lifetime, sailing the Whitsundays aboard Sidetracked, and being a part of Lucy's support team, is as simple as buying a ticket through Raffletix, where proceeds will be administered to the Scarrott family via the Proserpine Lions Club.
Only 1,000 tickets are available at a cost of just $50 each, with the winner set to sail away on a charter worth $11,000, and priceless in terms of the experiences it will deliver that money simply cannot buy.
Mr St Clair said the winner should prepare to be impressed.
"You're going to be getting a beautiful sailing boat! Its sailing capabilities are exceptional, but with the volume and all the luxuries of the latest, greatest new boat - it'll definitely have 'wow factor'," he said.
"And even if you don't win, you'll be contributing to an incredibly worthy cause," Ms Watson added.
The raffle runs from today until 10.30am on July 31.
To purchase tickets, go to raffletix.com.au/whitsundayescape2026 or follow the links on Whitsunday Escape's Facebook and Instagram accounts.