Phuket Sailing Guide

Anchorages - Malacca Straits, Singapore & Malaysia

Malacca Straits | Ao Chalong | Kata Beach | Phi Phi | Krabi

The voyage north through the Malacca Straits offers a number of ports of call before reaching the areas dealt with in detail by this guide.

Most yachts cruising through South East Asia approach Singapore from the east or south.

Singapore has several first class marinas; Raffles Marina on the west coast, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club on the south coast and Pongol, Loyang and Changi Sailing Club in the east.

Approximately 100 miles north west of Singapore is the old Dutch port of Malacca. A further 50 miles up the coast is Port Dickson, another old colonial port where the Admiral Marina Club Marina has recently opened.

Further up the straits passing east of the One Fathom Banks and turning inshore one arrives at Port Klang, which is the commercial port of the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Within the estuary waters of Port Klang harbour are various locations to anchor overnight. The well established Royal Selangor Yacht Club is the most convenient for check-in and facilities.

A call into Port Klang has the advantage of avoiding a night passage through the One Fathom Banks shipping channel where large tankers are often encountered. Up to this point the cruising waters are not particularly scenic with low-lying land on the Malaysian coast and very busy shipping traffic. Up the Straits from here the cruising grounds become progressively better.

The next port of call for most yachts is the Dindings River at Lumut, protected by Pangkor Is. a hundred miles to the north east. In the river is a large naval station and the Lumut International Yacht Club Marina. Up further are two small yacht bases with moorings, the Perak Yacht Club, (Mr. Chan) and Kampung Bahru. This deep river sound is a favourite for budget cruisers needing to leave their boats for extended periods.

A short vayage - usually done overnight - leads to the island of Penang. This island town is well worth a visit. It still has some of the old Chinatown ambiance long gone from Singapore. The small Penang Yacht Club, close to the city center has been taken over and may not be in use. Yachts may anchor off the customs pier. Beware, currents are fierce and the holding poor. The suspension bridge, high enough for yachts to pass under, joins Penang and the mainland with road and rail links. Penang has an international airport and a Thai Consulate for those seeking visas for their trip north.

The next stage of the voyage to the Thai border is usually an overnight to the Langkawi Island. Here checkout formalities can be completed and duty free stores taken on board before setting off for the southern Thai islands and thence to Phuket.