Airlie Beach - The Whitsundays

cost of renting a yacht for a week

Award-winning skipper-yourself bareboat catamaran charters. 6, 13 & 20-day options, no license required.

Tourism Whitsundays Best of QLD experience 2026
Tourism Whitsunday Best Bareboat Operator Winner - Gold

40% off is only a click away with Anchor Club membership

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Not Ready To Book Yet?

Secure your ANCHOR CLUB Offer

No obligation. We usually reply within 24 hours.

5.0 rating ·
720+ five-star reviews
490+ GOOGLE REVIEWS
170+ TRIPADVISOR
60+ FACEBOOK
20 yrs FAMILY-OWNED

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

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

Four private double cabins, each with its own ensuite, and a gorgeous teak cockpit for waterfront dining all day, every day.

STANDARD

SV Lucy

Lagoon 420 · 8 Guests

Sister ship to our matriarch — ease of handling at her core, with an air-conditioned saloon and air-conditioned cabins throughout.

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

A classic Lagoon 380 built with economy in mind. Two double and two forepeak cabins – where most people start their cruising dreams.

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.

WE LET OUR GUESTS DO THE TALKING

720+ reviews. All of it glowing.

The youngest, smallest local company - with five times the feedback.

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.

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.

Many of our guests don’t put the sails up and instead prefer to just motor around – it’s completely up to you.

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 cost of renting a yacht for a week

Many travellers want an experience that goes beyond a resort holiday, but without boating experience, the thought of captaining your own sailing trip can seem overwhelming. A lot of people also think of self-skippered charters as something only experienced sailors, adventurous experts or those with boating qualifications would do. 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. What’s more, we’ve held a perfect 100/100 Best of Queensland Experience score for the seventh consecutive year, collected more than 700 verified 5-star reviews and received the Best Bareboat Operator award from Tourism Whitsundays in 2025 because we truly understand the seas and their nature. If you have been interested in ‘cost of renting a yacht for a week’ or ‘cost to charter a yacht for a week‘, 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.

Having the freedom to craft your own adventure is what Portland Roads is all about. A 6 Day skipper-yourself experience means every charter puts you in command of your own Whitsunday Islands holiday. The catamaran becomes your home on the water, and you spend your days according to your interests, whether that’s snorkelling coral reefs, hiking island lookouts or simply basking in the sun. Before you set sail, we provide practical guidance so you can begin your adventure 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. The SV Ruby Sunday keeps things economical without compromising on destination, while the SV Lucy wraps you in fully air-conditioned comfort for the same remarkable journey. So, whether you’ve been looking up ‘cost of renting a yacht for a week’ or browsing ‘cost of renting yacht‘ and ‘cost to rent yacht for a week‘, you can find the right vessel for you while still having access to the same breathtaking experience. You can also sign up for the ANCHOR CLUB completely free, gaining lifetime access, guaranteed discounts of at least 40% and a host of other perks.

To start your sailing adventure with Portland Roads, choose a catamaran and review the boat charter availability and cost. The next step is choosing your crew, sharing your contact details and completing the booking. Running from Friday to Wednesday, each charter delivers 6 unforgettable days of exploring the Whitsunday Islands. Before you depart Airlie Beach, you’ll receive a full hands-on briefing from our team, covering topics such as Navigation, Safety, Boat Handling, Water Safety, Boat Rules, Sailing, Motoring, Anchoring, Mooring and Emergency Safety Management Systems. For those who’d like extra time to build confidence on the water, we also offer optional sail training, which is a popular choice among first-time sailors before they set off. 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 ‘yacht rental for private party‘, ‘charter small yacht‘ 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 ‘sailing trip family‘ or ‘luxury yacht charters‘, book your catamaran today.