Airlie Beach - The Whitsundays

premium boat 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 premium boat charter

For many travellers, the idea of a sailing holiday sounds both exciting and a little daunting. If you’ve never been out on the water before, you might worry if sailing is the right choice, especially because bareboat charters might expect you to be more experienced. Portland Roads Sailing the Whitsundays is here to help you grow your confidence, so you can truly embrace the adventure ahead. As a local, family-owned business operating from Airlie Beach for more than 20 years, we welcome first-time sailors every day. No boating licence or previous sailing experience is required for a Whitsundays yacht hire. Our pre-departure briefings come straight from the team that knows these waters intimately, giving you practical tips and local knowledge so you feel confident from the very first moment. We’ve received more than 700 verified 5-star reviews as well as a perfect 100/100 Best of Queensland Experience score held for 7 consecutive years. So, if you’re interested in ‘premium boat charter’, you’ll be glad to know that our guests spend time in the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands within the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. These waters hold deep environmental and cultural significance, with ties to the Ngaro people that reach back thousands of years.

At Portland Roads, you’ll find something increasingly uncommon: the freedom to craft your own holiday. With our 6 Day skipper-yourself charters, you’re free to explore up to 74 islands across the Whitsundays on your own terms, with no fixed itinerary or crowded tour schedule. We make sure you leave the dock feeling confident with a pre-departure briefing offering practical guidance, and everything that follows is your adventure to create. For a smooth start, you can even submit a pre-order, and Whitsunday Provisioning will deliver food and drinks right to your vessel. We have a fleet of sailing catamarans to suit different budgets and comfort preferences, including the SV Whitsunday Freedom, a spacious Lagoon 450S designed for style and performance. Then there’s also the SV Lawless with her 4 private double cabins with ensuites and a gorgeous outdoor dining area, and the SV Lucy, which is a fully air-conditioned Lagoon 420 that’s made for relaxed sailing. The Whitsunday Islands open up to you in extraordinary ways, no matter which vessel you choose. If you’re looking up ‘premium boat rentals Whitsundays‘ or ‘premium bareboat charter Whitsundays‘, you can also join our ANCHOR CLUB for free, which includes lifetime membership, guaranteed discounts of at least 40%, priority access to peak season dates, early boarding benefits and access to the Luxe Ocean Club.

Booking a sailing holiday with Portland Roads is straightforward from start to finish. Simply choose the catamaran that suits your group, review pricing and boat charter availability, gather your family or friends, enter your details and complete your booking. All charters depart on a Friday and return on a Wednesday, so you get 6 unforgettable days to explore the Whitsundays exactly the way you prefer. Before you set sail from Airlie Beach, we walk you through a comprehensive hands-on briefing on topics like Navigation, Safety, Boat Handling, Water Safety, Boat Rules, Sailing, Motoring, Anchoring, Mooring and Emergency Safety Management Systems. We understand that plans sometimes change, so every booking includes our 7-day Change of Mind / Cooling Off Policy, allowing a full refund of the yacht hire pricing within 7 days of booking, less any payment platform fees. For those who want added flexibility, you can get in touch with our Airlie Beach team directly to talk about your options. And whether you have questions related to ‘sailing holidays for young adults‘ or ‘Long Island‘, we’re always ready to chat. No matter if you’re wondering about ‘Bareboat Charter Airlie Beach‘ or ‘Hire a Boat Whitsundays‘ or have general questions about our charters, call us at 1300 991 474 or 0427 814 553, email sailing@portlandroadswhitsundays.com.au or visit us at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach today.