Airlie Beach - The Whitsundays
3 cabin yacht
Award-winning skipper-yourself bareboat catamaran charters. 6, 13 & 20-day options, no license required.
40% off is only a click away with Anchor Club membership
- TOURISM WHITSUNDAYS GOLD · BEST BAREBOAT OPERATOR
Not Ready To Book Yet?
Secure your ANCHOR CLUB Offer
No obligation. We usually reply within 24 hours.
- TOURISM WHITSUNDAYS GOLD · BEST BAREBOAT OPERATOR
Not Ready To Book Yet?
Secure your ANCHOR CLUB Offer
No obligation. We usually reply within 24 hours.
Key Info You'll Love To Know
NO BOAT LICENSE
Our Award-Winning, pre-departure, Maritime Briefings give everyone the confidence to manage and navigate our catamarans around the 74 islands of the Whitsundays.
7-DAY REFUND GUARANTEE
We know plans can change, which is why every booking comes with our 7-day Change of Mind / Cooling Off Policy. No Hoops to jump through - No Stress, No Fuss Cancellations and Refunds.
6, 13 or 20 Days in Paradise
Choose the adventure that suits you with 6, 13 and 20-day skipper-yourself charters. With 74 islands to discover ask your boss for more time off and ensure a fully immersive, unforgettable sailing experience.
LARGEST CHARTER AREA
Blessed with local connections, state-of-the-art satellite technology, and our role as custodians for Australia's Great Barrier Reef, we have the industry's largest charter area. Discover More, Stay Longer.
Eco-Friendly Experience
Witness our Award-Winning Tomorrow's Reef Today initiatives that ensure a pristine, thriving marine ecosystem for your holiday. By sailing sustainably, you'll enjoy vibrant coral, crystal-clear waters, and exclusive, eco-conscious encounters.
Adventure Your Way
You're the Captain. Your mates/family are Crew. This is the holiday you never knew that you needed. ADVENTURE Simply Done Better.
Portland Roads provide a minimum of 6 days hire to ensure you experience the best of the Whitsundays.
Ready to experience the Whitsundays?
or call 1300 991 474
40% off is only a click away with Anchor Club membership
OUR CATAMARAN FLEET
Choose your vessel
From entry-level classics to our ultra-premium Lagoon 450S – every charter is tailored to your budget and your crew.
ULTRA PREMIUM
SV Whitsunday Freedom
Lagoon 450S · 8 Guests
PREMIUM LUXURY
SV Lawless
Lagoon 42 · 8 Guests
STANDARD
SV Lucy
Lagoon 420 · 8 Guests
STANDARD
SV Portland Roads
Lagoon 42 · 6-8 Guests
CLASSIC ENTRY
SV Ruby Sunday
Lagoon 380 · 8 Guests
CLASSIC ENTRY
SV Due West
Lagoon 38 · 6 Guests
A classic Lagoon 380 – the world’s most popular production sailing catamaran. True to her history, she accommodates up to 6 guests.
ULTRA PREMIUM
SV Whitsunday Freedom
Lagoon 450S · 8 Guests
Huge, stylish and modern, she out-sails the entire fleet with facilities never before available on charter.
PREMIUM LUXURY
SV Lawless
Lagoon 42 · 8 Guests
STANDARD
SV Lucy
Lagoon 420 · 8 Guests
STANDARD
SV Portland Roads
Lagoon 42 · 6-8 Guests
Where it all started. The matriarch of our fleet, designed for world cruising and the best of both worlds in comfort and style.
CLASSIC ENTRY
SV Ruby Sunday
Lagoon 380 · 8 Guests
CLASSIC ENTRY
SV Due West
Lagoon 38 · 6 Guests
WE LET OUR GUESTS DO THE TALKING
720+ reviews. All of it glowing.
The youngest, smallest local company - with five times the feedback.
“If you’re looking for an extraordinary catamaran experience in the
Whitsundays, look no further. Exceptional service, top-tier boats and a genuine commitment to unforgettable vacations set them apart.”
Jamie Starkweather
Catamaran Charter
“Our kids each had a job keeping this awesome cat sailing. Portland Roads is friendly, fun and professional. Due West was immaculate and comfortable for all of us. Can’t wait for the next trip!”
Lauren Meerman
Aboard SV Due West
“Wow! What a beautiful lifetime sail with family. Brad was available at all hours to ensure we were comfortable. If you want a magnificent sail in the Whitsundays, look no further.”
Mark Strobel
Family Sail
“We returned from a fabulous 6-day trip aboard Lucy. Brad gave us daily advice on where to moor according to winds and tides – invaluable. If it isn’t on your bucket list, add it.”
Neil Bone
Aboard SV Lucy
“It was EVERYTHING we could have wanted and MORE. The water was clear, the catamaran had heaps of space, and watching the sunrise and sunsets on the boat is my favourite thing. Planning another trip asap!”
Paige Withington
Aboard SV Lucy
“An absolute must-do for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. The team were brilliant right from booking, the briefing was thorough, and the boat was exactly as we had hoped. Just can’t wait for our
next trip!”
Mitchell Evans
Aboard SV Ruby Sunday
What is Bareboating?
You become the skipper
Bareboating simply means hiring one of our catamarans without a crew or captain. We teach you everything you need to know – and yes, no licence or experience is required.
A full pre-voyage briefing covers navigation, safety, boat handling, sailing, anchoring and mooring. So thorough that even complete novices set sail with confidence.
40% off is only a click away with Anchor Club membership
Do I need a license to go bareboating?
No, you do not need a licence or experience. A full briefing is provided to ensure you are at a competent level before departure. The briefing is so thorough that even novices can give this a go!
Your briefing includes Navigation, Safety, Boat Handling, Water Safety, Boat Rules, Sailing, Motoring, Anchoring, Mooring and Emergency Safety Management Systems.
How does bareboating actually work?
The term bareboating (aka bare-boating) simply means hiring one of our extraordinary sailing catamarans without a crew, a captain or any provisions. We’ll be teaching you to do all of this yourself. YES ! – You become the skipper. But don’t worry, we teach you everything you need to know to confidently set sail (or motor) around the glorious and Ancient Ngaro Sea Country of the wonderful Whitsunday Islands.
Do we have to put the sails up?
Many of our guests don’t put the sails up and instead prefer to just motor around – it’s completely up to you.
How long is the charter?
All charters are for 6, 13, or 20 days.
IT ALL STARTS RIGHT HERE
Your next adventure is waiting
Peak season books out months ahead. Reserve your 6 days in paradise with our 7-day cooling-off policy – no hoops, no stress.
or call 1300 991 474
40% off is only a click away with Anchor Club membership
Learn More About 3 cabin yacht
A sailing adventure is more memorable than a resort stay, though for many travellers without boating experience, taking the helm can feel like a big ask. There’s also a common assumption that you need boating credentials, serious expertise or extensive experience to take on a self-skippered charter. At Portland Roads Sailing the Whitsundays, no boating licence or sailing experience is required for a Whitsundays yacht hire. As a family-owned, local operation with more than 20 years of experience, we’ve helped countless first-time sailors experience the freedom and beauty of the Whitsundays. The crew who brief you before departure have worked on these waters for most of their lives, and they bring practical knowledge, local insight and genuine care to every journey. In addition, we’ve earned more than 700 verified 5-star reviews, the Best Bareboat Operator award from Tourism Whitsundays in 2025 and a perfect 100/100 Best of Queensland Experience score for the seventh consecutive year, because we genuinely know these seas and their nature. If you have been interested in ‘3 cabin yacht’ or ‘Queensland sailing‘, our chartered holidays can take you to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, whose waters have been navigated by the Ngaro people for thousands of years.
At Portland Roads, the real adventure starts when you’re free to chart your own course. A 6 Day skipper-yourself experience means every charter puts you in command of your own Whitsunday Islands holiday. Once aboard, your catamaran becomes your home on the water, and every day shapes itself around what you want to do, whether that’s snorkelling coral reefs, hiking island lookouts or simply soaking up the sunshine. We make sure you’re well prepared before you leave the dock, so you can set sail with confidence. To make preparation even easier, Whitsunday Provisioning can deliver food and drinks directly to your vessel before departure. Our fleet of sailing catamarans includes a range designed to suit different budgets and comfort preferences. From the fully air-conditioned and comfortable living spaces aboard the SV Lucy to the wallet-friendly SV Ruby Sunday, both vessels deliver the same extraordinary destination. So, whether you’ve been looking up ‘3 cabin yacht’ or browsing ‘3 cabin catamaran‘ and ‘3 bedroom yacht‘, you can find the right vessel for you while still having access to the same breathtaking experience. For added benefits, guests can also join the ANCHOR CLUB for free to enjoy lifetime access, guaranteed discounts of at least 40% and many more perks.
The booking process is simple, so you can focus on the adventure ahead. Start by choosing the catamaran that suits your group, select the dates and yacht hire pricing that work best, add your crew details and complete your booking. After that, you’re good to go; every charter heads out on a Friday and returns to port on a Wednesday. Right before your catamaran leaves Airlie Beach, departure day will start with a hands-on briefing from our experienced local crew. The briefing will cover Navigation, Safety, Boat Handling, Water Safety, Boat Rules, Sailing, Motoring, Anchoring, Mooring and Emergency Safety Management Systems, ensuring that you are leaving for your trip feeling prepared instead of intimidated, whether you are interested in ‘premium boat charter‘ or ‘great barrier reef adventure Hamilton Island‘. Travel plans don’t always go as expected, and we know that, which is why every booking comes with our 7-day Change of Mind / Cooling Off Policy. This allows you to cancel within 7 days of booking for a full refund, less any applicable payment platform fees. For questions about ‘boat charter website‘ or ‘great barrier reef coral sea‘, our team can be reached by phone, email or at our Coral Sea Marina office whenever questions arise. Check out our boat charter availability today.
