Phuket Sailing Guide, Thailand

Sailing in Phuket and the Andaman Sea

Phuket is THE base for sailing the Andaman Sea, and there are few places on earth which compare to the Andaman Sea when it comes to sailing.

Sailing in Phuket and the Andaman Sea

The Andaman Sea, with Phuket as its hub, will always be Thailand’s reigning maritime jewel. Here we find some of the most beautiful islands and beaches in the region, crystal clear waters and stunning geography. The diversity of that geography is also a powerful attraction.

Phuket has emerged as the star performer in Thailand’s thriving tourism industry. Beautiful beaches, a warm winter climate and isolated islands are the core attractions that lure a few million tourists from colder climates each year. These are exactly the kind of attractions that those on boats are much better positioned to seek out and enjoy.

First among the boating attractions of the Andaman is Phang Nga Bay, famed for the stunning sea-mountains that rise vertically out of calm, turquoise waters. This bay offers year round shelter, and even during the heavy months of the monsoon a yacht can find calm waters, tranquility and dramatic beauty here. When the clear skies of the northeast season arrive in November or December the bay can offer both a fabulously beautiful playground and great day sailing.

Safe anchorages are numerous in the bay, as our sailing guide shows. In fact we have not listed all of the good anchorages here, leaving some for the more experienced and adventurous yachtsmen to discover alone. When exploring the bay, a dinghy, or preferably a sea canoe, is needed to get into many of the quaint little coves and bays. Up the many mangrove channels that feed into the north and east of the Bay one can find small, traditional fishing villages, some of them on stilts out over the water. The locals are invariably good-humoured and friendly. Fishermen will often approach anchored yachts to sell prawns or crabs. A bit of friendly bargaining is the norm.

Moving from the north of the Bay southwards, the water clarity changes from a thick milky turquoise to near crystal around the islands off Krabi. These offer beaches of outstanding beauty, though there are often many day visitors from the resorts of Krabi out here. Krabi itself, while relatively crowded in the ‘high’ season, is one of the most dramatically beautiful places imaginable. Phra Nang beach, where moutainous rock pillars tower over each end of the sand, has been called one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

From Krabi south the snorkelling becomes ever more interesting, with beautiful corals and an abundance of small, colourful reef fish. The Phi Phi islands are again both beautiful and dramatic due to the combination of palm-lined beaches and vast rock faces rising directly from the sea. During the day the islands crawl with day-tripping tourists, though by evening they are relatively quiet again.

The Phi Phi Islands are a must-see port of call in the common, circular route taking in the three provinces that enclose the bay of Phang Nga. This runs from Phuket to the northwest corner of Phang Nga Bay. Anchorages here are plentiful, usually deserted and always beautiful. From here boats sail east, then turn south to the Koh Hong (Krabi) group of islands. If weather permits, these make a delightful overnight stop. Phra Nang, Krabi is the next overnight stop for most. South of Krabi it’s an open sail to Phi Phi for another overnight stop or two, before completing the circle with a final leg back to Phuket.

5Another of the other major, but very different island attractions in the Andaman is the Similan group northwest of Phuket. These nine, low-lying islands are of completely different geologicalform to Phang Nga’s sea mountains. Here, great boulders of smooth granite, often the size of houses and cars, lie in great jumbles along the shorelines. It’s almost as if a gathering of prehistoric giants had been playing marbles, then quickly fled, leaving behind their stony toys in nine neat piles.

The waters off Phuket have become famous as host to one of the world’s best-loved regattas, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta held in early December. This combination of serious racing and plain, good old fun attracts about 80 boats annually, with serious racing craft coming from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Many passing yachts also enter.

The King’s Cup of ’98 was followed by a new, all-fun regatta from Phuket into Phang Nga Bay, then down to Krabi – thus the name Phang Nga - Krabi Regatta. This new event is scheduled for the Chinese New Year holiday.