Airlie Beach - The Whitsundays

large catamaran charter

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

Not Ready To Book Yet?

Secure your ANCHOR CLUB Offer

No obligation. We usually reply within 24 hours.

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 large catamaran charter

The idea of a sailing adventure is irresistible to many travellers who want something more memorable than a resort holiday, but stepping aboard without prior boating experience can feel overwhelming. Many people also assume self-skippered charters are only for experienced sailors, adventurous experts or those with boating qualifications. 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. During your pre-departure briefing, you’re learning from people who’ve spent much of their lives on these waters and carry practical knowledge, local insight and genuine care into every charter. A perfect 100/100 Best of Queensland Experience score for the seventh consecutive year, the Best Bareboat Operator award from Tourism Whitsundays in 2025 and more than 700 verified 5-star reviews also reflect how much we’re trusted to know these waters and their nature well. If you have been interested in ‘large catamaran charter’ or ‘4 cabin catamaran‘, 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, we believe the best adventures come with the freedom to make them your own. With a 6 Day skipper-yourself experience, you set the course and decide how your Whitsunday Islands journey unfolds. Each day on the water is yours to shape from your catamaran as your home base, whether you’re drawn to snorkelling coral reefs, exploring island lookouts or unwinding under the sun. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know before departure, so you hit the water feeling ready. 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 ‘large catamaran charter’ or browsing ‘sailing catamaran yachts‘ and ‘sailing catamaran‘, you can find the right vessel for you while still having access to the same breathtaking experience. The ANCHOR CLUB also offers more benefits, is free to join and comes with lifetime access to guaranteed discounts of 40% minimum, plus many more perks.

We have a simple booking process, so it is easier for you to concentrate on your trip. 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. From there, you’re set to sail; all of our charters depart on a Friday and return on a Wednesday. On departure day, our experienced local team delivers a thorough hands-on briefing before your catamaran leaves Airlie Beach. 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 ‘boat trip Whitsundays‘ or ‘Whitsunday sailing packages‘. We know that your travel plans can change unexpectedly, which is why our 7-day Change of Mind / Cooling Off Policy is included in every booking. With this, you’ll have 7 days from the date of booking to cancel and receive a full refund, less any applicable payment platform fees. For questions about ‘sail Whitsundays catamaran hire‘ or ‘power boat rentals near me‘, 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.