DARLING HARBOUR, SYDNEY - Phone: +61 2 9280 1110 - [email protected]Welcome aboard Sydney’s most premium and personalised yacht charter experience. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, hosting international guests, planning a romantic escape, or organising a private event, Sydney by Sail offers unforgettable private charters aboard the newest fleet of luxury yachts on Sydney Harbour.
No experience needed. Just step aboard, relax, and let our professional crew take care of the rest.
✅ Private Use of Your Own Luxury Yacht
✅ Skipper Included – No licence or sailing experience required
✅ BYO or Fully Catered Options
✅ Flexible Start Times – 7 Days a Week
✅ Cruise Iconic Locations – Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, secluded bays
✅ Choose Your Yacht by Style, Capacity & Budget
📍 Conveniently located at Darling Harbour, just minutes from Sydney CBD and Barangaroo.
Posted on Google Michael martin Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What a fantastic day! I did the Introduction to Sailing course and couldn't recommend it more highly. The boat was beautiful, the setting is stunning, and our captain Will was amazing, incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and clearly loves what he does. What I appreciated most was how much actual hands-on sailing we did out on the harbour. It wasn't just watching and listening, we were on the ropes and at the helm from early on, and my confidence grew enormously over the day. If you've ever been curious about sailing, this is the perfect way to start. Five stars, and a huge thanks to Will! Posted on Google Kim Arnott Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What am amazing day, our skipper was Mike, a young man with a passion of sailing. Greeted with smiles from all staff once on the jetty. Thankyou for a sydney harbour experience that we will talk about and recommend Sydney by Sail for many years to come. Posted on Google Charles Van Damme Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We did the full skipper course with Sydney by Sail and had a great time, especially on the 3 day 2 night live aboard sail from Sydney to Pittwater. Highly recommend Sydney by Sail to get your skipper license! Posted on Google Marnix Denys Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We did the bareboat skipper course and VHF course. Both Marc and James were great, knowledgeable skippers. Learned a lot and the 3 day live aboard was amazing. We encountered dolphins, seals and whales.
Thanks for the wonderful experience. Posted on Google Millie Webb Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Posted on Google Kevin Shixiao He Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing sail with capitain Ollie. He was friendly and professional! Shoutout to Josh who made our last minute trip possible! Great experience! Posted on Google Donald Watt Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As someone visiting Sydney for the first time, this was the perfect way to see the city. Captain Olly was both friendly and very knowledgeable of the area. A truly memorable experience. Highly recommend 👍 Posted on Google tim neale Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great people to deal with always make you feel welcome Posted on Google Jacquelyn Cox Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Edit: We have amended our review to reflect the efforts of Josh & the Sail By Sydney team to rectify our experience. As we could not take them up on the offer of a re-sail, (we live across the world & this was a once in a lifetime trip) Josh & the team donated the experience to Beyond Blue in our name. This was a very positive way to rectify our experience and we truly appreciate their willingness to ensure we felt valued. Thank you Josh & Team.
Original Review:
We booked the Daily Sailing Trip from 1pm–4pm in November expecting a unique harbor sail. We understand that this booking was on a sailboat and not marketed as a "tourism, informational" harbor sail. Our expectations were pretty simple: a nice sail around the harbor with occasional commentary on where we are going. Online it says we will sail past the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Fort Denison, Clarke & Shark Island. I am certain we didn't hit the last 2 sites but we might have - our Captain never mentioned any of the sites to us.
Overall, the experience was fine, but several aspects didn’t align with how this tour is marketed:
First and foremost, we docked back at 3:30pm instead of the scheduled 4pm. We also departed late while we waited for a couple who was running late. I believe we left at around 1:20pm.
Additionally, our Daily Sail was combined with a Crew Sail without warning. While this is understandable operationally, the boat ended up feeling extremely overcrowded. On top of that, the day was very windy, which meant none of the passengers could explore the boat so we all had to sit on top of each other. With a full boat & the Crew Sail passengers learning to sail, we were squished together, stepping around each other on pretty rocky waters. This setup likely would have been totally fine if we had signed up for a Crew Sail, but we didn’t. I wish we were given the opportunity to reschedule so we were not on squished on what was actually a Crew Sail.
The captain was clearly a capable instructor for the two people learning to sail, but for the rest of us, there was very little narration or information about where we were sailing or what we were seeing along the harbor. I did enjoy the chance to steer the boat but that would have been part of the Daily Sail regardless.
Most of the information we overhead from the Captain speaking to the 2 crew passengers was about where he sailed previously, his sail club locations, and some info on the boats around us.
Ultimately, for $510 marketed as a Daily Harbor Sail, the experience was a pretty big letdown. Not a bad time overall, but it didn’t deliver what was advertised, especially for those not wanting a full sailing lesson focused around 2 passengers rather than the 8 other passengers who signed up for the Daily Sail.
I was able to capture some nice photos but not worth the $510. I could have gotten the same photos from the Manly Ferry for a few bucks. Posted on Google Oskar Milton Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great bunch of lads, had pleasure of dealing with Josh. An amazing way to see the sites of our beautiful harbour!!
When selecting a charter duration, it’s helpful to understand your options. A 2-hour charter offers a quick overview of Sydney Harbour, ideal for a brief outing to explore the core areas of the Harbour.
A 3-hour charter is the minimum recommended duration, providing a bit more time to enjoy the sights, enabling you to get a feel for sailing – but it may still feel a bit rushed.
For a more satisfying experience, a 4-hour charter allows for the hands on and sightseeing sailing experience to be followed by a short stop in a sheltered anchorage, where you can relax and enjoy refreshments and even a quick swim.
If you want to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Sydney Harbour, a 6-8 hour charter is the best choice, offering ample time to see all the iconic landmarks and indulge in gourmet catering while you unwind on the water.
Known as the Pocket Rocket, Sooty Tern is the smallest in our fleet but delivers big on performance. Commissioned in 2019, she comfortably fits 6 guests (max 9) and is perfect for couples, families, or small groups. Her open cockpit offers 360° views, and she’s fast, easy to sail, and full of charm. Cruise in style aboard this agile, luxury yacht – book now and make memories that last.
Our much-loved Hunter 36 is the most experienced yacht in the fleet, now with a fresh makeover to match her reliable spirit. She’s ideal for learn-to-sail experiences and can host up to 12 guests onboard. Enjoy shade under her spacious bimini, and relax below deck with the comfort of her classic American design. Book this elegant luxury yacht today – your next harbour adventure awaits!
Sail Sydney Harbour in style aboard Tumbalong, a spacious yacht for up to 12 guests. With three cabins, a fully equipped galley (stove, oven, fridge), one head with two showers, a stereo system, and an open cockpit and swim platform, she offers everything needed for a memorable day on the water. She’s ideal for celebrations, cruising, or team events. Competitive under sail and luxurious at anchor, Tumbalong delivers the ultimate charter experience.
Amarance, an Elan Impression 40.1, offers a sophisticated blend of comfort and effortless sailing, with the elegance of a a few years under her belt of seasoned reliability. Crafted in 2021, she gracefully glides through Sydney Harbour, comfortably hosting up to 11 guests. Enjoy bright, spacious interiors, an airy deck saloon, modern L-shaped galley, three twin cabins, and luxurious amenities like a hot/cold cockpit shower, Bluetooth stereo & sun/rain bimini. Perfect for intimate gatherings or relaxed cruising, Amarance combines exceptional performance with understated luxury.
Temeraire II, our Elan Impression 40.1, combines sophisticated design with effortless handling. Commissioned in 2023, she sails Sydney Harbour with refined comfort – accommodating up to 11 guests. Enjoy bright, spacious interiors, an airy deck saloon, modern L-shaped galley, three twin cabins, and luxurious amenities like a hot/cold cockpit shower, Bluetooth stereo & sun/rain bimini. Whether you’re on a relaxed cruise or steering in style, Temeraire II delivers top-tier performance, comfort and romance.
Since her arrival in 2020, BALU has become a true head-turner on Sydney Harbour. At 45 feet, she offers impressive space and stability, making her ideal for larger groups seeking both comfort and style. With 3 generous cabins, 2 heads (toilets), and a wide split cockpit table perfect for entertaining, BALU combines practical design with effortless elegance. Spacious, reliable, and always striking under sail, BALU delivers an unforgettable charter experience for any occasion.
Joining our fleet in late 2024, the Elan E6 is arguably the finest sailing yacht for charter in Sydney – if if not all of Australia. Designed as a perfect fusion of high-performance racing DNA and luxury cruising comfort, she proves you really can have it all. Blisteringly quick (hold onto your hat fast), yet remarkably stable and easy to handle, the E6 is as thrilling as she is refined. Styled by Pininfarina, the world-famous Ferrari design house, her interiors are as sleek and sophisticated as her striking hull. Sail past the rest in true head-turning fashion – on the E6, you won’t just be on the Harbour, you’ll be the yacht everyone else is watching.
Meet Frivolity, our brand-new Cervetti 44 – where elegant Italian design meets spacious adventure. Comfortably accommodating up to 25 guests, she features four cabins, four heads with showers, a fully equipped galley, a large fridge, and an expansive flybridge complete with a bimini for sun lovers. Sliding decks create a seamless flow from indoor to outdoor, while twin engines and a fully battened sail plan ensure smooth sailing and stability. Perfect for family celebrations, corporate events, or relaxed escapes – Frivolity turns every cruise into a stylish Sydney Harbour journey.
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Festival Pontoon
National Maritime Museum
2 Murray Street,
Darling Harbour NSW 2000
Festival Pontoon
National Maritime Museum
2 Murray Street,
Darling Harbour NSW 2000
Telephone: +61 2 9280 1110
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