Welcome Eclipse Expeditions – a New Luxury Eco Charter Operation

Eclipse, a brand-new sailing catamaran, arrived in Fremantle during April and tied up outside Blue HQ. She had sailed across the Indian Ocean from Cape Town, South Africa on her 42-day maiden voyage.

Eclipse. Credit Eclipse Charters

Eclipse’s tender. Credit Eclipse Charters

Eclipse Expeditions has launched a new charter operation for sailors wanting to explore Australia’s amazing West Coast, including remote parts of the Kimberley, the untouched Montebello Islands and the Southwest wine Region.

These sail-based cruises will appeal to those seeking a more eco-positive cruise adventure.

Eclipse is the first of the West Australian coastal explorer cruises to deliver cruising in six-star comfort onboard the new Leopard 50.

This Leopard 50 sailing catamaran is 15.4 metres long and 8 metres wide. The vessel is spacious with plenty of areas for relaxing with other sailors. She has four ensuite queen cabins to accommodate eight lucky guests. Each suite has air conditioning and large windows.

The Leopard 50 was awarded boat of the year in 2019 by Cruising World and is described as ‘the modern explorer’s sailing vessel’.

She’s sleek and elegant and can cruise at 10-12 knots. No problem if you are a solo traveller, the port aft cabin can be converted to twin beds.

This is an environmentally conscious way to travel and to explore the beauty of Western Australia taking nothing but memories and leaving only footprints behind. Even when motoring, less fuel is consumed due to the vessel’s lightweight design and shallow draft. The vessel also has solar panels and large lithium battery banks to reduce fuel consumption.

The entire vessel can be chartered for around $13,300 per night or $1,750 per person per night.

Eclipse sailed out of Fremantle in the early hours of 4 May on a voyage to Broome, from where her first charter will begin.

Yesterday, she reached Steep Point, Dirk Hartog Island.

Eclipse at Steep Point, Dirk Hartog Island. Credit Eclipse Charters

Visitthe Eclipse website for more information. What are you waiting for – this takes blue water cruising to another level?

STORY and photographs, except where indicated otherwise, by Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey. Jean is our Shipping Correspondent and also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

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