Shaw Island Whitsundays

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. 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. Our family-owned, local operation has been welcoming first-time sailors to the freedom and beauty of the Whitsundays for over two decades. 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. 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 ‘Shaw Island Whitsundays’ or ‘sailing in the boat‘, 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. 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. Practical guidance from our team means you’ll step aboard with real confidence before you set off into the water. 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 ‘Shaw Island Whitsundays’ or browsing ‘sailing a boat‘ and ‘coast charters‘, 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.

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. Then, you’re all set for your voyage, with every charter departing on a Friday and returning on a Wednesday. Our experienced local team meets you on departure day for a detailed hands-on briefing before your catamaran sets off from 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 ‘Self Sailing Whitsundays‘ or ‘Bareboat Charter Whitsundays‘. Every booking includes our 7-day Change of Mind / Cooling Off Policy, as we recognise that travel plans may need to be adjusted. This means that you will receive a full refund for a cancellation within 7 days of booking, minus any applicable payment platform fees. For questions about ‘rent a yacht to sleep on‘ or ‘yacht week Whitsundays‘, 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.