Departure
Gladstone Marina · Friday 6 November 2026
Guests arrive in Gladstone on Friday 6 November 2026 and spend their first evening aboard the vessel at the marina.
A Science Under Sail × Lumara Expedition
Bite Club Goes to Sea Under Sail
Southern Great Barrier Reef
9 nights | Commercial Liveaboard Sailing Catamaran
6–15 November 20269 nights aboard
Gladstone MarinaDeparture & return
$2,600 AUD per personPilot Expedition — Private Invitation
For invited guests. Contact Anika to confirm availability and receive payment details.
About the Expedition
Bite Club is an exclusive international support community for survivors of serious animal bite incidents, as well as families, friends and loved ones whose lives have also been affected by these life-changing experiences.
While every member's story is unique, the community is united through shared experiences and strengthened through compassion, empathy, positive encouragement and mutual support.
Bite Club Goes to Sea Under Sail introduces the first of what we hope will become a continuing series of expeditions and gatherings designed to bring people together in a supportive, engaging and encouraging environment.
For our inaugural adventure, we are coming together to sail, snorkel, swim, explore and enjoy life at sea aboard a commercial liveaboard sailing catamaran.
This is our pilot expedition and is being offered privately to a small group of close friends, family and Bite Club community members.
It is also the beginning of something much bigger.
We already have many more expedition ideas in development for the 2027 calendar and beyond.
The Journey
Setting Sail
Saturday 7 November 2026
Morning preparations, introductions and vessel safety briefing.
Approximately 12:00 pm departure from Gladstone.
Return
Sunday 15 November 2026
Planned return to Gladstone Marina at approximately 10:00 am.
The itinerary will remain flexible throughout the expedition and will ultimately be determined by weather, sea conditions and the skipper.
Main Destinations
The two main destinations for the expedition are:
Lady Musgrave Island & Lagoon
A spectacular coral cay and lagoon within the Southern Great Barrier Reef, offering opportunities for reef exploration, snorkelling, turtles, marine life and time surrounded by an extraordinary coral ecosystem.
Lady Elliot Island
Another major destination planned for the voyage, renowned for its coral reefs, turtles, rays and diverse marine life.
Depending on weather and conditions, other potential destinations may include:
- Mast Head Island
- Heron Island
- Erskine Island
- Sykes Reef
- Fitzroy Reef
- Pancake Creek
All destinations are weather dependent and subject to the skipper's final decision.
What We'll Do
The experience may include:
- Sailing through the Southern Great Barrier Reef
- Living aboard a commercial sailing catamaran
- Snorkelling coral reefs
- Swimming and ocean exploration
- Turtle encounters
- Opportunities to encounter manta rays and other marine wildlife
- Remote islands and coral cays
- Marine science and reef ecology discussions
- Wildlife photography
- Shared meals aboard
- Sunsets and sunrises at sea
- Relaxed evenings at anchor
- Time to reconnect with the ocean
- Time together as friends and community
Wildlife encounters are always natural and cannot be guaranteed.
Meet the Crew
Dr James Udy — Science Under Sail
Captain & Skipper
Dr James Udy brings 30 years of experience working as a marine scientist. His career has included lecturing at the University of Queensland, managing the Research and Development team at Seqwater, and serving as Chief Scientist for Healthy Waterways. James brings this extensive marine science background to the expedition alongside his role as Captain and Skipper, overseeing navigation, vessel operations and safety throughout the voyage.
Anika Craney — Lumara
Second-in-Command | Co-Skipper | Expedition Coordinator
Anika will coordinate the expedition and guest experience while working alongside James in vessel operations.
This will be Anika's first expedition delivered through Lumara and the beginning of a larger expedition program planned for the business.
James and Anika will be the two paid working crew members aboard the expedition.
Expedition Price
$2,600 AUD
per person
This is a special pilot expedition price made possible through a discounted mates' rates arrangement for our inaugural voyage.
The expedition price is intended to cover the core costs associated with operating the voyage, including:
- Commercial vessel costs
- Fuel
- Food
- Crew
- Expedition organisation
- Marina and operational costs
- General expedition expenses
- Deposit
Due 10 September 2026 - $1,000 AUD per person
- Remaining balance
Due 10 October 2026 - $1,600 AUD
The deposit secures the guest's place aboard.
Contact Anika to confirm availability. She’ll send payment details directly to invited guests, then confirm your place once payment is received.
Contact Anika to arrange your place ↗Prefer to pay the full $2,600 now? Contact Anika to arrange it. For questions about what’s included, travel arrangements or cancellation terms, please speak with Anika before paying.
Optional Extended Sailing Passage
Following the main Bite Club expedition, the vessel may continue south on a longer delivery passage.
This will primarily be a crew passage, separate from the $2,600 expedition.
However, if suitable berths are available, there may be an opportunity for particularly adventurous expedition guests to enquire about continuing aboard.
Any extension would be:
- Separately arranged
- Subject to skipper approval
- Subject to weather
- Subject to available berths
- Subject to additional costs and operational requirements
The Bigger Picture
This first voyage is more than a single sailing trip.
Bite Club Goes to Sea Under Sail will be the pilot for a much larger series of experiences I would like to develop through Lumara.
The goal is to create small, meaningful ocean and nature-based expeditions centred around adventure, connection, conservation, marine education and shared experience.