Live-aboard Whale Watching Tour on Sailing Yacht "Jocara"

Sailing yacht "Jocara"

“Jocara” is a beautiful and seaworthy centre-cockpit cutter-rigged sloop. 52' on deck, Jocara is a solidly-built fibreglass yacht designed and constructed in New Zealand to Herreschoff hull lines in 1974. Jocara has sailed extensively in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, and has seen her crew safely through hurricanes and tsunamis in over 30,000 miles of ocean cruising.

Extensively refitted with completely new interior furnishings, mast, running and standing rigging, new sails and state-of-the-art navigation electronics in 2007, Jocara offers classic clean lines and elegance combined with stable comfort, modern technology and performance.

Whale Song Research

Jocara is equipped with advanced non-disruptive sonar and an underwater hydrophone. A high-frequency (well above anything that could disturb whales) forward-looking sonar imaging system can be steered to image submerged whales and the seabed, while the large colour screen navigation display is able to superimpose digital charts, radar images and other information to give a clear picture of what's going on both above and below the waterline. Jocara is also equipped with underwater listening equipment to allow guests to listen to and record Humpback whale song, a fascinating and eerie display that is thought an important part of the breeding behaviour of Humpbacks in the Vava'u island group. Recordings can be transfered to CD for guests to take home with them as a wonderful and unique souvenir.

Jocara's length and heavy cruising construction make her a remarkably stable platform for photography and those sensitive to motion discomfort. Her spacious interior boasts a full 6' 6" headroom in the main salon. Jocara has two double cabins, one forward and one aft with an en-suite marine toilet and sink. In addition, there is a single private cabin to port and another in the passageway forward to starboard. A day-bed in the main saloon completes the list of bunks, permitting up to 6 guests. There is also a separate marine toilet, sink and shower forward.

A large galley, equipped with a marine gas oven and stove, a sizeable freezer and a fridge make it easy for the cook to prepare the fresh healthy meals for which we are well-known.

On deck, there is a shower at the stern for rinsing off after a swim or dive. Solar panels and a diesel generator ensure there is plenty of electrical power and a desalination plant generates fresh water to keep the tanks topped up while an extensive library of guide books provides guests with ample opportunity to learn about the natural wonders around them.

The spacious and comfortable centre cockpit allows dining outside in the fresh air with clear views of the setting sun, yet protected from the occasional shower by the hard-top and roll-up side transparent panels. The custom-designed teak-seat on the pulpit allows guests to sit comfortably out at the tip of the two-metre solid teak bowsprit, whether just to watch the yacht slice through the water or to photograph dolphins playing in the bow wave.

For approaching whales and other marine life with minimal disturbance, Jocara is equipped with a 3.5m Aquapro Divemaster Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat certified for 6 persons and a powerful but quiet and ecologically-friendly 20 hp four-stroke outboard motor.