large yacht rental

A traditional resort holiday isn’t enough for many travellers who want something truly memorable. Going on an active adventure that’s genuinely different is exactly what they’re after until a lack of experience makes sailing seem like a stretch. Some people assume a self-skippered charter or Whitsundays yacht hire requires boating qualifications or years of experience on the water, but at Portland Roads Sailing the Whitsundays, we prove otherwise. First-time sailors are more than welcome, and you don’t need a boating licence or any prior sailing experience to charter our catamarans. We’re a local, family-owned business that’s called Airlie Beach home for over 20 years, and we know these waters by heart. The same people who conduct your pre-departure briefing have spent their working lives navigating the Whitsunday Islands. With more than 700 verified 5-star reviews, a 2025 Tourism Whitsundays Best Bareboat Operator award and a perfect 100/100 Best of Queensland Experience score for the seventh consecutive year, we have a standard we maintain for ourselves. And if you’ve been researching ‘large yacht rental’ or ‘private yacht rental price‘ to find an eco-friendly charter, you can trust that we’re committed to protecting the marine environment, as we support NO FISHING within the Marine Park, and we’re proudly Carbon Neutral, Advanced Eco-certified, Climate Action certified and Recognition of Culture certified.

Having the freedom to craft your own adventure is what Portland Roads is all about. Customised to your liking from day one, every charter is a 6 Day skipper-yourself experience across the Whitsunday Islands. 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 make sure you’re well prepared before you leave the dock, so you can set sail with confidence. You can even have Whitsunday Provisioning deliver food and drinks right to your vessel, so preparation couldn’t be easier. 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 yacht rental’ or browsing ‘last minute boat charter‘ and ‘private charter boat‘, you can find the right vessel for you while still having access to the same breathtaking experience. Guests can also join the ANCHOR CLUB at no cost, unlocking lifetime access, guaranteed discounts of 40% minimum and a whole range of extra perks.

To start your sailing adventure with Portland Roads, choose a catamaran and review the boat charter availability and cost. Then, you can select your crew, provide your contact details and complete the booking. Each charter runs Fridays through Wednesdays, giving you 6 unforgettable days to explore 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 for hire‘, ‘sailaway great barrier reef‘ 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 ‘Whitsunday sailing packages‘ or ‘Hook Island‘, book your catamaran today.