Frequently Asked Questions

Whitsunday Escape has the largest catamaran fleet in the Whitsundays, made up of power and sailing options from 39ft to 50ft, carrying between 2 and 12 passengers.

Catamarans offer excellent stability when moored or anchored, plus wide, open living areas.

Things to consider that may narrow the choice quickly: how many people are chartering and how they want to be arranged across cabins, whether you would like to sail or would rather motor, and how much living and entertaining space matters to your group. Also consider what features are important to you and your group.

It is worth noting that Sailing Catamarans can be taken under motor only and do not need to be sailed.

The reservations team are on hand to help you make the best choice for your group, and staying flexible on brand and model opens up more availability.

Fleet

Both work well, and the choice comes down to layout and pace rather than sailing skill.

Every sailing catamaran in the fleet has twin engines and performs well under motor, and it is entirely acceptable to hire one and leave the sails down for the whole charter. That means a sailing catamaran can suit a group with no sailing experience if the layout is the better fit.

Power catamarans typically travel 1 to 2 knots faster than their sailing counterparts, and the flybridge gives raised views that many people prefer when approaching an anchorage.

Sailing catamarans have trampoline netting on the foredeck, a favourite spot for relaxing under way and stargazing in the evening. For guests with basic sailing knowledge, they are set up for single-handed sailing.

Catamarans suit families well because they are stable at anchor, have wide walk-around decks and separate the sleeping areas across two hulls, so children can go to bed while the adults stay up in the saloon or cockpit.

Four cabin layouts give families room to spread out, and several boats include a single forward berth that works well for children.

Power catamarans offer a sheltered flybridge providing a comfortable raised space to sit together while under way. Aquila power catamarans have back gates (rather than lifelines) that may provide extra peice of mind for parents with young children. The modern Leopard catamarans have a forward walkthorough making the front deck easily accesible.

Lifejackets are provided for children up to 12yo onboard.

The fleet includes Leopard, Lagoon, Aquila, Seawind and Nautitech catamarans, and each has a distinct character.

Leopards dominate both the power and sailing fleet. Modern models (except the Leopard 47’s)  have a forward walk-through design giving direct access to the foredeck and good ventilation at anchor, with three, four or five cabin layouts available.

Aquila boats have an open-plan layout with a luxury finish. The owner’s version puts the master suite across the forward deck, and a roomy flybridge more than doubles the social area, which gives two parties a degree of separation.

Lagoon sailing catamarans have generous headroom and sizeable cabins, so standards stay consistent for everyone aboard. They have a bigger look than the other brands and their sailing performance is on par with any other sailing catamaran.

Seawind and Nautitech models are lighter and easier to handle, and tend to suit guests who value responsive sailing performance.

Whitsunday Escape has the largest catamaran fleet and a large cruising area in the Whitsundays, which means more choice of layout and more flexibility on dates.

The fleet is made up entirely of catamarans, both power and sailing, from 39ft to 50ft. There are no monohulls, so every boat sits flat at anchor with wide living space, which suits families and mixed groups.

The base is Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. Staff take the boat out of the marina at the start of the charter and help re-berth it on return, so no marina handling skills are needed.

The reservations team will say plainly if a different boat or a different time of year would suit a group better.

Why Whitsunday Escape