yacht for family

A sailing adventure is more memorable than a resort stay, though for many travellers without boating experience, taking the helm can feel like a big ask. There’s also a common assumption that you need boating credentials, serious expertise or extensive experience to take on a self-skippered charter. At Portland Roads Sailing the Whitsundays, no boating licence or sailing experience is required for a Whitsundays yacht hire. First-time sailors have trusted our local, family-owned operation for over 20 years to open up the freedom and beauty of the Whitsundays. The same people who conduct your pre-departure briefing have spent much of their lives on these waters, bringing practical knowledge, local insight and genuine care to every charter. In addition, we’ve earned more than 700 verified 5-star reviews, the Best Bareboat Operator award from Tourism Whitsundays in 2025 and a perfect 100/100 Best of Queensland Experience score for the seventh consecutive year, because we genuinely know these seas and their nature. If you have been interested in ‘yacht for family’ or ‘family on yacht‘, 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. The catamaran becomes your home on the water, and you spend your days according to your interests, whether that’s snorkelling coral reefs, hiking island lookouts or simply basking in the sun. We make sure you’re well prepared before you leave the dock, so you can set sail with confidence. For an even smoother start to your adventure, Whitsunday Provisioning can even deliver food and drinks to your vessel before you head out. Our fleet of sailing catamarans includes a range designed to suit different budgets and comfort preferences. The SV Ruby Sunday keeps things economical without compromising on destination, while the SV Lucy wraps you in fully air-conditioned comfort for the same remarkable journey. So, whether you’ve been looking up ‘yacht for family’ or browsing ‘yacht family‘ and ‘family yacht charter‘, 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.

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. Following that, you’re ready to go sailing, with all charters departing on Fridays with Wednesday returns. You’ll receive a thorough hands-on briefing from our expert local team on departure day 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 charter Australia‘ or ‘power boat rentals near me‘. Every booking includes our 7-day Change of Mind / Cooling Off Policy, as we recognise that travel plans may need to be adjusted. So, if you cancel within 7 days of booking, you’re entitled to a full refund, less any applicable payment platform fees. For questions about ‘sailing packages‘ or ‘cost to charter a yacht for a week‘, 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.