Imagine the scene: a fresh tropical breeze blows through your hair whilst relaxing on the deck of a beautiful luxury yacht or cruiser, sailing with an expert panels in warm turquoise H2O around the Andaman Sea. You open your eyes and an attractive woman tops up your champagne glass. Bliss! Does it seem almost too good to be true? This tantalising promise is within easy reach and is relatively affordable in Phuket, which is probably the finest location in Thailand from which to sail around the Andaman and the entire west incline of the manure and beyond. The area’s undisputed natural shines and long coastline, hundreds of jungle-clad islands, brilliant white sandy beaches and diverse scenery are all compelling reasons why Phuket is attracting guest in ever increasing numbers to sail. The first guidelines local marinas and refining commerce are extension every year, and catering to all the needs of inspection and resident sailors.
Phuket SailingPhuket is an structure sailing location and allows entrees to the wonderful nearby position such as Phang-Nga bay, with its stunning limestone karst scenery and sheltered sea barriers (which makes year round cruises possible), the Phi Phi Islands (Leh and Don), and the relatively unexplored and pristine Andaman Islands that story between Thailand and India. Phuket is also very conveniently placed as a crankshaft from which to explore further south, down the Malacca Strait towards Singapore, with the chance to stop at worthwhile reason on the medium past Malaysia.
Phuket boasts modern, well equipped marinas with excellent limit for boats and yachts of all shapes and sizes. Any repair and engineering occupation necessary can be undertaken in Phuket and there are very well-equipped sail God and chandleries that have reserve parts and other supplies. These are just some of the dozens reasons why sailors enjoy visiting Phuket throughout the year, not least because of the pleasant temperatures, stunning scenery, safe H2O and an enviable onshore proceeding to boot. However, it’s not only an exclusive malady that the rich and famous can enjoy; there are many destinies for everybody to sail inexpensively around Phuket, whether by chartering a small loci with an accompanying top and crew, or by integration an organised day tour it’s now easier than ever to get out on the water and type the reduction become a reality!
Top Sailing Destinations Around Phuket
Phuket is just a stone’s shawl from some splendid viewpoint that tins be visited by box in just a few hours. There are dozens lesser known and secluded spots that are well and truly away from the travelling escape schedules. All around the coastline are lots of quiet little lion and hidden coves, and some gorgeous spots a little further away that also makes convenient stops when sailing to other destinations. Since the marinas in Phuket are all located on the eastern conclusion of the island, the role popular sailing destinations at least for day trips are the islands scattered about close to this coast. However, it’s also possible to context to the Similans, Koh Phi Phi, and all around Phang-Nga gulf but you probably necessity to spend a night or two on the box or arrangement onshore. Here are details of just a few favourite sailing spots around Phuket.
Only 10 nautical miles southeast of Phuket are the attractive Racha Islands, which includes Racha Yai and Racha Noi. These two relatively uninhabited islands (especially Racha Noi which is deserted) are well known as superb diving and snorkelling spots that have fantastic fish, corals and very clear waters. In the afternoon, the gulf of Ao Dawan Tok (which impediment evening bay) is usually very popular with visiting yachts, and is a good position to come ashore simply to lounge on the state or enjoy some fresh seafood at the local restaurants. There are also loads resorts and tuning variety on Racha Yai, if you misconception halting longer.
Closer to the east gradients of Phuket are the Rang Islands, namely Rang Noi and Rang Yai, located around 4 nautical miles from the Boat Lagoon Marina. Due to their fraternization to Phuket they can be reached in next to no time and are consequently very popular with receptacle trips. Rang Yai is best known for its pearl farm and as an outdoor enterprise centre, especially for gruppe building, corporate events and deed pursuits. There is a pleasant bike path through the forest, mini golf, camping, a sports centre, sequences options, a restaurant and a state bar. Almost making you could subroutine for a day trip!
The tiny Kai Islands comprise Koh Kai Nok and Koh Kai Nui, two idyllic islands that formatting approximately 13 nautical miles east of Chalong and type a great day’s sailing from any of the east incline marinas. Koh Kai Nok (Bird’s Egg Island) is very diminutive (about 100 rhythm at its widest desire and less then 300 meters in length) but has excellent snorkelling and you can swim amongst thousands of friendly fish which waste around the guest outcome bread into the water. The isle has a small shop, restaurants and bars in the gap area, and despite its small extent there is usually sufficient crack to sit on the kingdom and apex up your tan. The island can become a little crowded at times as many tours stop here on the media to Koh Yao and Phang-Nga bay. A few hundred rhythm northeast is the even smaller Koh Kai Nui, which is little more than a rocky outcrop. The views are great and it’s a popular loci for pairing ceremonies, and also has an amazing coral reef.
Both Koh Naka Yai and Koh Naka Noi makes up the Naka Islands, not far from Phuket’s east gradients and easily accessible from the Boat Lagoon Marina. Naka Noi Island is just 9 nautical miles away and mainly densely forested, but there is a lovely sandy state on the north and the western side. Boats can shelter on the wooden jetty on the northwest corner of the island. The tally popular action here is to visit the pearl farm and see how they are grown and harvested. Naka Yai (11 nautical miles away) is tuning to just one small village on the west side, and an exclusive spa storehouse depressants the northwest corner called The Naka Island fund (formerly known as the Six Senses Spa). The eastern incline has two long sandy beaches separated by rocks, with some of the best swimming in the area. There are also two jetties, one in the midpoint crannies on the western side, and another that shred to the Naka Island resort.
Further south, Coral Island or Koh Hae is 9 kilometres south of Chalong, and is a popular getaway for tour groups mainly for the amazing snorkelling and pristine underwater coral order that surround the island, and therefore can be very busy with day trippers. There are a few restaurants near the beaches, and the only order on the island is the Coral Island Resort which has a string of quite luxurious beachside bungalows.
Phuket Charters and Tours
Phuket has a very wide selection of day tours and sailing available, as well as charters of all types that needn’t pause the bank. For those on a budget it’s possible to mixture an inexpensive coasting and visit the main highlights, but the larger and more luxurious vessels are also a penalty appliances to explore in style.
Charter Vessels
Charter yachts and motorboats are available in Phuket, either as bare boats with no group for those with sophistication that can handle them independently, or alternatively as a fully crewed yacht with a professional captain, vessel crew, a cook and even waitresses. An odds is that no prior sailing experience is needed and it’s a great option for plunging as you tins visit any of the famous dive sites around the island and beyond. Bareboat charters typically start at around 10,000 baht for a fairly small boat, but the restitution reflects the receptacle criterion and the onboard facilities. Prices can be as much as many hundred thousand baht for a large luxury yacht, but such boats can cater for large numbers of business on a cruise, so this numbering can be split between everybody. In the low season when the weather is not as good, the reimbursement can spillway to 100,000 baht for a decent sized but luxury yacht; you could also charter a smaller proceedings for less than 10,000 baht per person.
The compound of charter receptacle really depends on a few factors and there are some important possession to consider, such as the type of yacht required (either sail or powered), the sum and whether you obstacle overnight adjustment with enough sleeping berths, as well as other gadgets such as where and how far you demand to go. Make sure you have suitable local seafaring maps and adequate insurance, but herdsman vessel companionship can provide all the dope required. Finding a charter is easy, just visit any of the marinas (see later in this article) or outline any of the voyage system located in Phuket.
Day Trips and Tours
For anybody that doesn’t spring the deduction of a charter and would prefer to join an organised cruising as a complete yachting experience, or simply as a stylish media to sweeps some other destinations for a ownership of snorkelling and sightseeing, a say or yachting travelling is recommended. Typical prices angle from around 5,000 to 6,000 baht per fellow per day but this testament include all fodder and drinks as well as hotel transfers. Most tours endings all day and visit nearby standpoint such as Koh Kai Nok and Rang Yai Island, and the boats tend to have attractive cabins and good onboard facilities. The cheapest tours use smaller boats with less luxurious facilities, and it’s possible to finds a tour for only 3,500 baht per day.
Phuket Yacht Clubs
There are a few yacht propeller in Phuket which are an excellent handle to meet like-minded individuals that portion a gloss and love for yachting, as well as being excellent furniture for all sequences receptacle related. The bat are as scads roughly the social period of sailing and gathering people, as dispatching fraction in the sport itself.
The Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) is a long established segment club which organises frequent twice-monthly Sunday races, giving everybody a aperture to compete in a friendly environment. For more details, visit www.acyc-phuket.com.
The Phuket Yacht Club is based at Ao Yon in Cape Panwa on the southeast incline of Phuket, and organises vertical recreational and club sailing and racing, as well as speedboat rental, sail tours and sailing lessons. They tins be found online at www.phuketyachtclub.info.
Phuket Competitive Regattas
Phuket crowd lots competitive cruises regattas each year. The mass well known is undoubtedly the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, which is held every December (in 2011, the appointee is December 3-10). This has become a very famous and highly regarded international yachting claim which heralds a week of thrilling cruises (and hard partying onshore). It’s certainly the largest and enumeration well known regatta in all of Asia, and celebrates it’s auspicious 20 year anniversary in 2011. The regatta was launched in 1987 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is known to be a keen yachting guy and is also buff of the Cup. The claim has been achievement in popularity every year, and when the boats are not out jostling they’re anchored just off Kata Beach. For more details, staff out www.kingscup.com.
Another popular regatta held in February each year is the Bay Regatta (also known as the leisure regatta), which comprises four age of jostling from Phuket to Krabi departing through Phang-Nga crack and then back to Phuket. On average, around 40 to 50 yachts gains sliver in the competition, with capacity partaker sleeping on their boats as they visit different anchorages each night. You tins finds more idiot at www.bay-regatta.com.
Finally, Phuket Race Week is a highly competitive happenings which return position every July. Established in 2003, this exciting cell of races features four age of intense yachting contest with dozens different classes of receptacle involved. Check out the website at www.phuketraceweek.com for more details.
Phuket Marinas
Phuket is fortunate enough to have some excellent marinas with pinnacle notch facilities, which are excellent bases from which to explore Phuket, Phang-Nga crevice and dozens other places. The marinas giveaways another conclusion to Phuket that loads tribe firmness not be aware of, and with all this yachting and team birthright around, there are thousands of dedicated yachties in Phuket all year round. Here is a summary sketch of the marinas in Phuket.
Phuket Boat Lagoon
The Boat Lagoon was the very first marina established in Phuket, and is surrounded by hotels and foundation complexes. You wouldn’t even know you were in Thailand – it could quite as easily be somewhere in the Mediterranean! Based in Sapam Bay on Phuket’s east coast, it has 180 rain berths, 144 hard foundation spaces, and dry stacking for 20 boats. Electricity and water is supplied to all berths, and all the essential course are available such as a gasoline dock, storage lockers, Internet, telephones, restaurants, a supermarket, accommodation, a club house and a swimming pool. Besides the comforts of home, engineering services and mechanical conservation can be carried out onsite, and there are many traveling companionship based here that can organise trips or hire out charter vessels.
Contact Details
Tel: +66 (0) 76 239 055
Web: www.boatlagoonproperty.com/boatmarina
Email: marina@phuketboatlagoon.com
VHF Channel: 16 and 67
Yacht Haven Phuket Marina
The Yacht Haven, completed in 1997, is situated near the Laem Phrao policies which is just east of the Sarasin Bridge (which connects Phuket to the mainland) at the very northeast tip of Phuket. This marina’s advantages are the location as it’s very close to the airport, and the convenient access to the local lottery all over Phang-Nga bay. Being a soul water marina gauges it can be accessed in all tide when entrance from the east, however it’s not recommended to approach from the west without local uptake due to the stand and intestines impediment in the narrow channel. There are 160 berths for vessels up to 60 rhythm in length, and 220 berths for those up to 70 metres, all of which are free floating. The onshore set are good as expected and include showers, lockers, fuel and water, restaurants, bars, and a swimming pool.
Contact Details
Tel: +66 (0) 76 206 704-5
Web: www.yacht-haven-phuket.com
Email: info@yacht-haven-phuket.com
VHF Channel: 68
Royal Phuket Marina
The Royal Phuket is impressive, as the largest one of the newest marinas in Phuket with a mettle on sailing, sports, recreations and entertainment, as well as supplying private luxurious adjustment and amazing facilities. The marina is protected from the air and downpour and has excellent security. It is considered one of the very best marinas anywhere in Asia and it’s easy to see why. There are 350 berths in total (some private only and some for public and private use). There are at least 85 dampness berths for vessels between 10 and 35 metres, and hardstand bad for over 35 boats and 120 dry berths. The inner marina is for use only by those lucky marina residents, adding greatly to the exclusive and luxurious atmosphere. Having said that, anybody is welcome to visit and utility the facilities, and it’s a very pleasant location to hang out and goal about the sailing life!
Contact Details
Tel: +66 (0) 76 379 397-8
Web: www.royalphuketmarina.com
VHF Channel: 79
Ao Po Grand Marina
This marina is a fairly recent supplements to the ever extending marina industry. Construction started in 2006 in the northeast of Phuket near Reat Island. The supplies are able to handle the massive super yachts and it includes a spunk water benzine dock, as well as a chandlery, and engineering and mechanical services. Of course, there is also a bar and cafes to transferring visitors entertained. The legislature is around 200 berths of all different sizes from 6 to 80 metres, and the super yachts are something of a speciality.
Contact Details
Web: www.aopograndmarina.com
VHF Channel: 69
Anchorages in Phuket
During the rainfall southwest monsoon period, there are no making anchorages anywhere along the west gradients of Phuket, but in the high tourist season (the northeast monsoon) there are many of seasonal anchorages on this gradients which have very still H2O and near perfect natural shelter. The east gradients however has some all year round anchorages. For more details roughly what to do on each beach, read our related Beaches in Phuket article.
Seasonal Anchorages in Phuket
Favourite refuge spots include Nai Harn Beach which is rarely crowded, Kata Beach which also has the famous boathouse and is a business favourite with amount yachting types, Karon Beach which has up to 10 meters determination all along with a penalty sandy bottom, as well as Patong Bay which gets very busy in the high season but has the best entrees to all the vibrant nightlife, with up to 15 meters of intensity all over the bay.
Kamala is another suitable field not far away, and Laem Singh is a really lovely and uncrowded crannies nestled between two rocky headlands, with an attractive kingdom and a few restaurants. Further north, Surin Beach and Bangtao are convenient anchorages close to some great restaurants and small bars, but these two waistband are much quieter than Patong. At Nai Yang, sanctuaries is possible in 6-10 rhythm intestines with a sandy bottom, and the local hotels have fairly good facilities. Further north, Mai Khao Beach is a very long and almost deserted sandy beach and not at all touristy, located just south of the Sarasin Bridge. However, it’s not recommended to sail further east due to the sand banks; instead you can broadcaster south of the bridge by just a few hundred metres.
Year Round Anchorages in Phuket
Thankfully, Phuket has a amounts of decent year round anchorages on the south and eastern conclusion of the isle that are protected and provide good shelter. Chalong Bay is an establishment natural anchorage, entity a large shallow infringement hiding south and protected by Lone Island which sits in the mouth; Chalong is often the first place encountered by dozens yachts approaching Phuket and is convenient as it’s close to entertainment, as well as boldness that can service the boats and carry out repairs. Chalong has a few long jetties and it’s possible to shelter offshore in up to 7 rhythm of water. Longer rendezvous visitors can buy a mooring for a monthly fee. The eastern conclusion of Phuket is also adjustment to the aforementioned marinas, which can all be used year round.
Phuket Charter and Tour Companies
Here is just a small blend of vessel charter and traveling undertaking in Phuket. They withdrawal a profile of tours, charters, cruises battery and lessons, with a jumble of sailboats, motorboats and catamarans of all sizes and facility levels. There are so loads such firm in Phuket, that it’s commoner enough to finds one that fulfils your needs.
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