Airlie Beach - The Whitsundays

whitsunday sailing charters

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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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 whitsunday sailing charters

The thought of a sailing holiday stirs up both excitement and a fair dose of uncertainty for many travellers. If you’ve not stepped on a sailboat before, it’s natural to question whether sailing is a good choice, especially because a bareboat charter might expect more experience than you actually have. At Portland Roads Sailing the Whitsundays, we help you build confidence so you can enjoy your adventure to the fullest. For over 20 years, our local, family-owned business has operated from Airlie Beach, and we welcome first-time sailors every single day. No boating licence or previous sailing experience is required for a Whitsundays yacht hire. You’ll be briefed pre-departure by the same people who’ve explored these waters for years, combining hands-on knowledge and local insight to make sure you feel comfortable from the start. We’ve received over 700 verified 5-star reviews and a perfect 100/100 Best of Queensland Experience score for the seventh consecutive year. So, if you’re interested in ‘Whitsunday sailing charters’, 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. It’s a location rich in environmental and cultural significance, with connections to the Ngaro people stretching back thousands of years.

What we offer at Portland Roads is increasingly hard to find: a holiday shaped entirely by your own rhythm. You may choose one of our 6 Day skipper-yourself charters and explore up to 74 islands across the Whitsundays, unrestricted by set routes or crowded tour timetables. Before departure, we provide practical guidance so you can set off with confidence, and then the adventure becomes yours to shape. For more convenience, you can even order your food and drinks in advance with Whitsunday Provisioning, and they’ll deliver directly 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. The SV Lawless also offers 4 private double cabins with ensuites and a stunning outdoor dining area, while the SV Lucy is a fully air-conditioned Lagoon 420 that’s built for relaxed cruising. The Whitsunday Islands open up to you in extraordinary ways, no matter which vessel you choose. If you’re looking up ‘Whitsunday sail boat hire‘ or ‘Whitsunday sailing hire‘, 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.

You can book a Portland Roads sailing holiday with ease 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. You’ll head out on a Friday and return on a Wednesday, providing you with 6 unforgettable days to discover the Whitsundays at your own pace. No guest leaves Airlie Beach without completing a comprehensive hands-on briefing that covers matters 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. If you need a little more flexibility and want to discuss your options, our Airlie Beach team is just a call away. And whether you have questions related to ‘hire yacht Hamilton Island‘ or ‘Airlie Beach catamaran‘, we’re always ready to chat. No matter if you’re wondering about ‘Turtle Bay‘ or ‘sailing yacht charter‘ 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.