Private Sunset Charter or Shared Sip and Sail?

Pilgrim Sailing charters its 58-foot yacht privately for a sunset sail or a day. The Private Sunset Charter is the Sip and Sail with the boat to yourselves: 1.5 to 2 hours on Cleveland Bay, the same organic wines, local beers and cheese platter, for up to 16 guests. It is priced per person, from AUD 139, with a minimum charge equal to 10 guests (checked October 2026). For fewer than about eight people the shared Sip and Sail is the better buy; from eight guests up, a private charter makes more sense.

Check dates for the shared Sip and Sail

Shared or private, side by side

Pilgrim Sailing’s own pages, checked October 2026. Both include the reef’s environmental management charge of AUD 4.25 a person.

What the minimum charge means

Pilgrim sets no minimum number of guests on a private sunset charter, only a minimum charge equal to ten guests. At the base rate of AUD 139 that is at least AUD 1,390 for the boat (derived from Pilgrim’s figures, October 2026), whether two or ten of you come. For two people it buys privacy and a bottle of champagne; two seats on the shared sail come to AUD 278 at the same base rate. From ten guests the private charter costs the same per person as the shared sail, and above 16 Pilgrim asks you to contact it, with 10% off larger groups. A 25% deposit holds the date, and the balance is due two weeks before.

Private day charters

For a longer day, Pilgrim’s Private Day Charter runs four or five hours, or as a “Day to Dusk” charter that ends at sunset. It anchors in a bay to swim and explore, and serves local prawns and an antipasto platter with organic wines and local beers. It suits 10 to 16 guests. Snorkelling gear is not included, and stinger suits must be worn from about late October to April or May. The shared version, the Lunchtime Sailing Cruise, is from US$171 on Viator (checked October 2026).

Who should charter, and who should not

• Birthdays, hens and work groups of ten or more: the private charter costs no more per head than the shared sail and the boat is yours.
• Families with young children: the private sunset charter takes children of all ages; the shared sail generally does not outside school holidays.
• Couples: the shared sail, unless privacy is worth the minimum charge. Pilgrim adds champagne to a private booking for two.
• Four to six people on a budget, starting in Townsville: Casual Fare’s sunset sail from the Townsville Yacht Club takes six guests at most, with two drinks included and your own food allowed, from US$82 a person on Viator (checked October 2026).

Prices, ratings and review counts from the Viator listings (checked October 2026). Operators price by season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.

Booking a private charter

Private charters are not sold on Viator or GetYourGuide; Pilgrim takes them on its own booking site and by phone. Tell it about dietary needs when you book: it can usually cater for them with notice, sometimes for a small surcharge. Pilgrim discourages bringing your own food, allows pre-mixed drinks for guests who drink neither wine nor beer, and does not allow spirits, red wine or large eskies. It does not pick up from Townsville; add SeaLink ferry tickets as an extra when you book, as for the shared sail. The Townsville guide has the ferry times.