Portland Roads
reviews and complaints

My time on Ruby Sunday with Portland Roads was absolutely amazing! I haven't been on many boats before, so I was a bit nervous at first, but Mike welcomed us and showed us everything we needed to know. We spent our first night relaxing in the Marina before setting sail the next day. Even though the weather wasn't perfect, sailing the catamaran was a breeze. It was really stable and easy to operate.

The islands and ocean around Airlie were breathtaking. We had so much fun exploring the islands and snorkeling, and we even saw a manta ray! At night, the stars were endless and beautiful. The facilities on the boat were perfect. They had everything we needed, including a huge ice chest, BBQ, microwave, pod coffee machine, and even a blender! The beds were really comfortable and easily slept a couple. It was surprising how much storage they could fit everywhere around the boat, and it easily accommodated our group of 7.

The seating and table at the back, front deck, and inside table and seats meant we could spread out and relax depending on our mood. We had a great time just hanging out and enjoying the scenery. I can't recommend a sailing trip in the Whitsundays highly enough, and you'd do very well to go with Portland Roads and Ruby Sunday. It was truly a dream holiday!

This trip was the best thing that ever happened to me!

OMG! I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was to spend a whole week sailing the Whitsunday seas on Portland Roads. Our Master Reef Guide and Skipper Joshua was so cool and he told us all about the adventure we were about to have. He made us feel safe and happy from the start to the end of our trip. The boat itself was so fancy and had everything we needed, like fridges and freezers, towels, comfy bedding, pillows, coffee machine, and more. There were so many places to sit and chill, eat, and enjoy the stunning views of the sea and nature.

The nature we saw from the boat and the islands we visited were out of this world! I can't believe how beautiful it all was. I loved how Joshua talked about Indigenous and Ecological culture and how important it is to take care of our planet. He did an amazing job at making us feel inspired and happy about these topics. I feel like I had the best holiday ever and I will never forget this experience. My heart is so full of joy and gratitude! Thank you so much to the team behind Portland Roads. You guys rock! Love, Saffron

Portland Roads was an amazing experience! The luxury catamaran was like a five-star hotel on water, and it was easier to drive than we thought. The sat nav and depth sound equipment made it a breeze to navigate, and we didn't have to put up the sails if we didn't want to. But it was awesome when we did! We were surprised at how little fuel we used, so it wasn't a problem if we didn't want to use the sails.

The barbecue at the back of the boat was a highlight, and the large spacious outdoor/undercover dining area was perfect for enjoying nature while dining in a secluded remote-like setting in whatever inlet or bay we decided to moor/anchor in. Our suite was immaculate and comfortable, with a skylight above the bed and ensuite. The fully-equipped kitchen and plenty of fridge/freezer space made it easy to prepare meals.

The owner and his staff were super awesome, and the whole booking/briefing process was made very easy for us. We saw plenty of dolphins, turtles, sting rays, giant trevally, and other marine life. It was an incredible experience to sit up on the deck at night in our soft portable cushy deck lounges, staring in awe at the billions of stars, with cold beers and great friends.

Thank you for a great and memorable trip that we will always cherish. Chris & co.

Our trip to sail the Whitsundays was a dream come true! We started our adventure in early May and spent two magical weeks on Portland Roads, a 420 Lagoon catamaran, with two other couples. The environment was simply amazing and we had a blast sailing around. The Portland Roads team was professional, well-organised and friendly, making us feel like we were in good hands. We received great hospitality and advice from the principal of the company, who went by the name of ***. He inducted us to the use of the boat and kept us on track. In the last four days of our trip, when it was just the two of us on board, we had Deano as our sail guide, and it was an experience we highly recommend.

Since this was our first time bareboat sailing, we were grateful for the advice we received from ***. He drew up a proposed itinerary for our trip around the Whitsunday Islands, including a visit to the lovely Palm Bay resort on Long Island. We loved it so much that we plan to visit again on our next sail with Portland Roads. One of the best things about Portland Roads was access to the "Ocean Club" at Abell wharf. This facility provided full bathroom, laundry and BBQ facilities when we docked overnight at the marina. It was right next door to our mooring, allowing us to have a refreshing shower and access to washing machines, free coffee, a beautiful deck and BBQ facilities.

Overall, we highly recommend Portland Roads for your sailing adventure in the Whitsundays. The team was amazing, the boat was fantastic, and the environment was simply breathtaking. We can't wait to go back!

Me and my hubby went to Abell Point Marina and met Mike & Ruby who were both really nice. We never did bareboating/sailing before so we were kinda scared but Mike made us feel good and said everything will be okay. He taught us how to use the boat and told us about the weather every day. The boat was big and looked after really well. We loved eating outside, on the deck and using the BBQ! The food was so yummy, especially when we cooked on the BBQ at the back of the boat. My hubby cooked for the first time in 5 years! The kitchen had everything we needed and lots of space for food. Our bed was comfy and the pillows were great! Portland Roads had everything we needed - we had a great time! We went to lots of islands and did sailing, snorkeling and saw lots of marine life like dolphins, sting rays and turtles. It was amazing for us who love being outside, taking photos and being with nature. The Whitsundays is a really cool place and everyone should go there. I really recommend going with Portland Roads for an experience you'll never forget! Thanks to John for making everything easy from when we booked to when we got back.

This is an amazing bucket-list item that you will never forget! My family of six recently went on a skippered charter aboard 'Portland Roads' (Abell Point Marina) after wanting to experience The Whitsundays by boat for several years. At first, we weren't quite sure what to expect with our minimal boating experience, but as soon as we met John (our skipper), all the nerves were settled. John was absolutely amazing from prior to boarding, right through until our goodbyes. He shared stories, incredible local knowledge, the best snorkeling places to visit, boating information & experience, and all the while allowing us to completely relax and take in the beauty of the Whitsundays!

John showed us all the little intricacies of sailing to provide us with the know-how for when we travel with Portland Roads again on a bare boat charter. Portland Roads was an incredibly well-maintained boat with very comfortable bedding and lounges that made you feel like home. The kitchen had all the modern appliances needed, and the bathrooms were immaculate. The sound system and TV were a great touch, but we didn't even turn the TV on once in five days due to the enjoyment of the trip! Words simply cannot describe the complete holiday that this actually was!

We would like to thank John, Mick, and all the team at Portland Roads for making this the perfect holiday. Five days was simply not long enough! We HIGHLY recommend that if you choose The Whitsundays as your destination, contact John at Portland Roads to ensure that you are sailing with the BEST.

Had an amazing time on Ruby Sunday last week! The catamaran was so easy to handle and we had little to no boating experience prior to this trip. The expert briefing and practice sessions, along with the books and charts provided, gave us the confidence to navigate to all the places we wanted to go in the Whitsundays. We snorkeled in different spots every day, swam with turtles (21!), saw dolphins, nemo in the anemone, starfish, giant clams... it was a magical experience for us and our three children. It was a great holiday to reconnect and unplug the kids, and we haven't laughed so much in years. We were also lucky with perfect weather and a turn of the winds toward the end of the holiday, allowing us to anchor at a variety of different crystal clear bays.

Ruby Sunday was like a luxury home away from home. It was very well laid out for us, with each child spoiled by their own double bedroom. There was a great selection of movies for the kids to watch at night so mum and dad could catch up outside under the stars. We also have to give a shoutout to the amazing food provided by the recommended Whitsundays Provisioning. The quality of food was top-notch, and I have not had fresher prawns/bugs. The eye fillet steaks were simply superb. We were so busy swimming, exploring, and fishing that we missed a few meals, which resulted in leftovers. We were so sad we couldn't take it back with us because the leftover veggies were so fresh and healthy they were still A+ after the week!

We can't wait to come back. It was an amazing experience in a very special part of the world. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful boats and your knowledge, Mike.

Our trip to sail the Whitsundays was a dream come true! We set sail on the Portland Roads, a 420 Lagoon catamaran, in early May 2019 and had an incredible two weeks exploring this amazing environment with two other couples. The Portland Roads team was top-notch, professional, and friendly, making us feel well taken care of throughout our trip. Johnathon, the principal of the company, provided us with great hospitality and advice, while Mike helped us get acquainted with the boat and stay on track.

During the last four days of our trip, when it was just the two of us on board, we had Deano as our sail guide, and it was an experience we highly recommend. As first-time bare boat sailors, we received excellent advice from Johnathon, who drew up a proposed itinerary for our trip around the Whitsunday Islands, including a visit to the lovely Palm Bay resort on Long Island, which we will definitely visit again on our next sail with Portland Roads.

One of the best things about Portland Roads was the access we had to the "Ocean Club" at Abell wharf. This facility, right next door to our mooring, provided us with full bathroom, laundry, and BBQ facilities when we docked overnight at the marina. We were able to take refreshing showers, use the washing machines, enjoy free coffee, and relax on the beautiful deck and BBQ facilities.

We are already planning to re-book with Portland Roads over the next few years to revisit some of our favorite places and explore some of the new spots we didn't have time to visit on our first trip. As a relatively new skipper, I would definitely recommend engaging a sail guide for at least the first few days of a bare boat experience. This provides reinforcement for all the operations on the boat and adds to the excitement of the full sailing experience. Plus, you can get an update on the best spots in the Whitsundays to swim with turtles, find the best coral reefs, and fishing spots.

Overall, we highly recommend Portland Roads for sailing adventures in the Whitsundays. The team is fantastic, the boat is beautiful, and the experience is unforgettable. We can't wait to set sail with them again! Ian and Maryanne.

Portland Roads was one of the best experiences of my life! I don't even know where to start. The Whitsundays are absolutely stunning, and the Portland Roads team made the experience even better.

The team, especially ***, were so friendly and knowledgeable. They were also really entertaining! As someone who is new to sailing, they patiently guided me through everything I needed to know about the boat. They helped me understand what was important and what was critical, so I felt confident that I could keep my family safe on the boat. They also managed to instill the same degree of confidence in my wife, which was really important to me. I highly recommend *** and Master Reef Guide, Josh. They were both so knowledgeable and passionate about the history, nature, and reef in general. They were also really entertaining!

The Portland Roads boat was everything they said it would be. It was comfortable, spacious, safe, and solid. At one point, we were sailing between two islands, and I looked over to see my wife sleeping soundly on the couch. She wasn't passed out from seasickness or anything like that. She was just completely relaxed, which was amazing to see. I haven't seen her that relaxed in years! I can't recommend Portland Roads highly enough.

The 74 islands in the Whitsundays are absolutely breathtaking. We saw Timmy the Turtle pop up for air around breakfast time, and we saw some really big goannas. We also learned that the collective noun for stingrays is a fever. When we saw 20 or so stingrays in a channel only 2 meters wide, it was quite a sight! We didn't have enough time to explore all of the islands, but the natural beauty is indescribable. When you look at a photo of Whitehaven Beach, imagine being the only people on it. It's surreal!

I highly recommend a visit to Palm Bay (not Palm Cove). It's a little tropical oasis with a fantastic bar. It made for an excellent pit stop.

Overall, I've been recommending Portland Roads to everyone I know since we got home. I can't wait to go back! The only downside is that I'm still rocking a little bit a few days later. I'm not quite used to boats yet. I'm also having trouble getting back into work because I keep thinking about the sun beams dancing on the ocean. I have a silly grin on my face that makes people wonder what I've been up to!

My wife and I had an amazing experience with Portland Roads in the Whitsundays. We decided to try bareboat chartering and it was the closest feeling to owning our very own Luxury 42 foot Catamaran. It was a fraction of the investment compared to buying one of these expensive yachts, but we were rewarded with the freedom of choosing where to sail and the sense of accomplishment of getting to our destination for the night and anchoring in a picturesque inlet surrounded by nature. This is by far the highest return you can have with that amount of $$.

As The Captain, as I was referred to during the three night sail around the Whitsundays, I had the assigned responsibility to lead a small group of four people and ensure everyone and the boat was safe. I spent a few hours, I must admit, in the weeks that anticipated our most anticipated adventure, googling "how to sail" and watching tutorials online to ensure a high level of confidence that must accompany the Captain when the time to untie the lines would finally come. Also, I wanted to look good and have a bit of fun with the powers allocated to get people to scrub the deck, tell them to batten down the hatches and saying one does not simply call me without saying Captain first!

We followed the tips from John (Portland Roads) and pre-ordered all our provisioning from online Coles and picked everything on the way from the Airport to the Marina. Thanks for the valuable tip, the time we saved shopping was spent actually on the boat and getting straight into business as we arrived. The Marina, Abel Point, is well-appointed with clean and well-looked-after facilities and super easy to navigate through. Portland Roads have their own trolley next to the drop-off zone where we loaded our gear, food and drinks and headed to the boat for the start of our sailing adventure.

The Portland Roads is by far the best yacht in the charter business. The size of the boat and the luxury details were impressive, and we were stunned by the high standards of interior finishes and the quality and comprehensive list of technology of navigation equipment, entertainment options and comfort provided. Huge water tank with fresh water, power on demand, hot water, air conditioning, Bluetooth connection, satellite phone? Honestly, I was gobsmacked with the list of things this Thing had, and it felt like holidaying in a self-contained luxury apartment with all services you can imagine.

A little studying prior to getting there was enough to help me absorb all the information given during the briefing with Mike. The GPS and the autopilot made my life as a Captain very enjoyable and gave me more time to tell people what to do! Nah, just kidding, everyone felt safe and we all took turns behind the helm and nobody felt intimidated, even with no previous sailing experience.

We had support from Mike, twice a day calling us to check that we were having fun and the boat was still floating? We would talk about the weather and the places we could go based on the conditions. We learnt that we cannot have a set plan, that the weather would dictate where we could go. We managed to spend the night in the Nara Inlet, Butterfly Bay and Stonehaven Bay and what a pleasant experience to wake up and see the sunrise and enjoy the tranquility of these paradisiac settings. There are no favorites, they all have a special place in my memory and each and every one of them will bring different sensations when I start to recall the slow-paced act of getting up, making a coffee, jumping in the water for a morning swim. We even saw turtles checking on us right next to the boat and a pod of dolphins hanging around for quite some time before the sun came up.

Overall, we highly recommend Portland Roads! Connect with nature, feel the freedom of sailing, disconnect from our fast-paced routine and observe the beautiful things we take for granted every day. I'm saving for another sailing trip, there are many other places to visit as the name suggests "74 islands" and there is only one boat "Portland Roads". Thank you so, so much for enabling this magical experience I had with people close to me. It will never be forgotten!

and I would highly recommend Portland Roads for anyone looking for a sailing adventure in the Whitsundays.

During our 10 days on board, we had the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful spots in the Whitsundays. The boat was easy to sail once we got the hang of it, and we had plenty of space to relax and enjoy the stunning views. The galley was well equipped with everything we needed to prepare our meals, although we did have to make sure to leave enough space in the fridge to keep everything cold.

One thing to note is that the air conditioning on the boat wasn't quite strong enough to keep the cabins cool during the hot summer nights. However, this wasn't a major issue for us and would likely be less of a problem during the cooler months. The port cabins did get a bit stuffy without the air conditioning, but we were still able to get a good night's sleep.

Throughout our trip, we received constant support from the Portland Roads team during their twice daily check-ins. They were always available to answer any questions we had and provide us with helpful tips for navigating the waters.

Overall, our experience with Portland Roads was fantastic and we would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a sailing adventure in the Whitsundays. The boat was comfortable and well equipped, the team was friendly and supportive, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. We can't wait to come back and do it all again!