Airlie Beach - The Whitsundays
3 day yacht charter cost
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 day yacht charter cost
For many travellers craving more than a typical resort holiday, the appeal of a sailing adventure is undeniable, but it’s natural to feel a little daunted without prior boating experience. The idea that you need boating qualifications, serious expertise or years of experience to enjoy a self-skippered charter is also understandably common. At Portland Roads Sailing the Whitsundays, no boating licence or sailing experience is required for a Whitsundays yacht hire. We’ve spent more than 20 years as a local, family-owned team helping first-time sailors discover the beauty and freedom of the Whitsundays. The same people who conduct your pre-departure briefing have spent much of their lives on these waters, bringing practical knowledge, local insight and genuine care to every charter. 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 day yacht charter cost’ or ‘big yacht for rent‘, 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.
Every charter we offer at Portland Roads is built around freedom. You can skip the fixed itineraries and crowded tour schedules; instead, you may design your own 6-day adventure exploring across up to 74 islands throughout the Whitsundays. We provide practical guidance before departure, then the experience becomes yours to shape. You can spend the day snorkelling vibrant reefs, hiking scenic island trails, discovering quiet beaches or simply relaxing aboard your catamaran while surrounded by turquoise water. Our fleet of sailing catamarans offers a range of options to suit different budgets and comfort preferences without changing access to the experience itself. The SV Whitsunday Freedom can accommodate up to 8 guests, offering generous space, comfort and strong performance, while the SV Lawless brings together private double cabins and a beautifully designed outdoor space for waterfront dining. For smaller groups or couples seeking a romantic escape, the SV Due West delivers a more intimate experience. For those researching ‘3 day yacht charter cost’, ‘6 person yacht‘ or ‘best yacht charter companies‘, our free ANCHOR CLUB membership provides additional value. Lifetime access, guaranteed discounts of at least 40%, peak season priority access, early boarding privileges and access to the Luxe Ocean Club are what the club members can enjoy.
To start your sailing adventure with Portland Roads, choose a catamaran and review the boat charter availability and cost. From there, pick your crew, enter your contact details and lock in your booking. We run charters on Fridays and end on Wednesdays, giving you 6 unforgettable days of exploration across the Whitsunday Islands. Our crew will give you a thorough hands-on briefing before your catamaran leaves Airlie Beach, with this covering Navigation, Safety, Boat Handling, Water Safety, Boat Rules, Sailing, Motoring, Anchoring, Mooring and Emergency Safety Management Systems. Plus, if you want a little more time to boost your confidence on the water before departure, our optional sail training offers just that, and plenty of first-time sailors book this training. Every confirmed booking includes our 7-day Change of Mind / Cooling Off Policy, giving you 7 days to review your booking and receive a full refund on the yacht hire pricing, less applicable payment platform fees, should you decide not to proceed. If you have any questions about ‘boat trip Whitsundays‘, ‘boat chartering business‘ or anything else, you can reach our team by phone or in person at our office in Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. So, if you have been browsing for ‘hire a catamaran‘ or ‘sailing boat Australia‘, book your catamaran today.
