Yacht Charter Phuket

Yacht Charter Phuket

Yacht Charter Phuket

The southern Thailand island of Phuket is the most developed sailing vacation destination in the country. With access to the national parks of the Andaman Sea and some of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, a Phuket yacht charter is one of the best ways to appreciate this Southeast Asian country.

Phuket itself is the largest island in Thailand and has its own international airport so you can fly in direct and be close to your yacht charter base very quickly. The four marinas on the island are on the east coast, and from these you can get out to the Similan Islands, Phi Phi islands and Phang Nga Bay.

As a destination in its own right, Phuket is a jewel of a tropical island. With miles of white sandy beaches, party towns and hideaway coves for you to relax in solitude, this is unarguably a beautiful island in its own right. Taste the Thai cuisine, get a flavour of Thai culture and see the limestone cliffs with their caves and grottoes.

Thailand is a maritime nation thanks to the thousands of islands that surround its long coastline, and you'll soon appreciate its seafaring culture from fisheries to people just getting about. On a Thailand yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you'll soon appreciate what we mean!

Explore Phuket By Renting A Yacht

Phuket is in one of the most beautiful parts of Thailand. Off the west coast of the Malay Peninsula it is perfectly located for you to explore many of the other islands and mainland tourist hot spots, with the added advantage of often being able to moor up and enjoy the sunset when all the tourist boats have filled up and emptied the beaches while you spend the night.

Here are some suggestions where you might visit:

- Phang Nga Bay is the bay between Phuket and the Malay Peninsula. This is renowned for its limestone spires and jaw-dropping scenery, and much protected as a national park. The James Bond movie The Man With the Golden Gun was filmed here, as was Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. You can even sail to 'James Bond Island'!

- Krabi is the mainland province to the east of Phuket and includes the major tourist destination of Ao Nang. Do try to get to Rai Leh Beach - a more refined tourist resort well away from the mad crowds of Ao Nang.

- The Phi Phi Islands have two sides to them - Phi Phi Island's Phi Phi Don's no limits nightlife on its sandy beaches and nearby Ko Phi Phi Lee where you will find the exquisitely beautiful Monkey Bay where monkeys come out of the forest to feed on crab and Maya Bay made famous in the Hollywood movie The Beach. This is all a protected national park.

- The Similan Islands and Surin Islands, northwest of Phuket on the Andaman Sea are a forgotten paradise that you will visit to enjoy nature at its best. Many reckon the scuba diving and snorkeling is some of the best in the world. This is a national park well worth the trouble of visiting on a luxury charter!

How To Get To Phuket

Phuket Airport

This is a major international airport with airlines serving it from all over the world. You will be able to get a direct flight from the UK, Europe and USA to Phuket and then be close to your yacht in just an hour or two after disembarking from your flight.

Marinas In Phuket

Ao Po Grand Marina:

This is a major yacht charter hub with charter companies offering bareboat and crewed yacht sailing charters, catamaran charters, superyacht charters and motor yacht charters.

Berth Characteristics:

300 berths

Max Length 80m (262 Feet)

Max Draught 10m (32 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant.

Royal Phuket Marina:

With 350 berths, this is an important yacht charter hub with charter companies offering bareboat and crewed yacht charter sailing catamaran, sailing yacht, superyacht and motor yacht rental.

Berth Characteristics:

350 berths

Max Length 35m (114 Feet)

Max Draught 10 m (32 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant.

Yacht Haven Marina Phuket:

This is a yacht charter base with charter companies offering bareboat and crewed yacht charter sailing catamaran, sailing yacht, superyacht and motor yacht rental.

Berth Characteristics:

220 berths

Max Length 70m (229 Feet)

Max Draught 7m (22.9 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant

Phuket Boat Lagoon:

This is another yacht charter hub with charter companies offering bareboat and crewed yacht charter sailing catamaran, sailing yacht, superyacht and motor yacht rental.

Berth Characteristics:

180 berths

Max Length 32m (120 Feet)

Max Draught 6m (19.6 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant, luxury hotel.

Suggested Sailing Routes From Phuket

On your bareboat charter or crewed yacht charter, there are a wide array of sailing destinations from Phuket. Here are two you can take on your luxury yacht charter.

7 days - Phang Nga Bay and Ko Phi Phi: Over seven days you can see the islands around Phuket. Heading for Phang Nga Bay on the first night, then Ko Hung, Ko Kai, and Ko Phi Phi, you will see some of the most beautiful sights of the Andaman Sea. The limestone cliffs and places like Maya Beach made famous by Hollywood on this island hopping adventure are sights you'll never forget.

10 days - Similan Islands and Surin Islands: Island hopping north up Thailand's west coast you will visit one of the best scuba diving locations in the world. There are no resorts or hotels ashore - kept as national parks they are unspoiled and left to nature. Most of the islands are uninhabited, so there will be the opportunity to drop anchor and have the beach to yourself. Did we say diving and snorkeling? Yes, thanks to the rare and endangered species of marine life that live here, you're likely to see fish that you'd never see even on other tropical island yacht charters.

Best Times To Rent A Yacht In Phuket

Unlike Europe, the sailing season in the Thailand runs from November to April - perfect for a dose of winter sun. The winter monsoon is settled and you will encounter weather between 25-35 degrees C.

Within this period, between November to March you will find the winds are from the NE and rarely get over Force 4.

If you can get to Thailand outside of school vacations you will find the sailing weather at its best and the resorts less crowded. Could you consider doing a Thailand yacht charter early in the Southwest Monsoon? Though the SimilanIslands are out of reach (as is anything west of Phuket) it is quieter in May - July, though this is the beginning of the rainy season that intensifies in July and runs right through til October.

The Climate

North East Monsoon: Thanks to being on the Equator the winds in Thailand never get too strong in the sailing season. Expects winds of F2-4 from the NE and it to be generally dry.

Southwest Monsoon: This runs from May to October and is the rainy season in this part of the world. Between May and July, expect winds up to F6 and changeable, and rain anything from every afternoon (or none at all) to solidly for your two weeks. Between July and October this is storm season with cyclones hitting the country and rain being almost guaranteed.

FAQs:

What should I consider when renting a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a captain, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Phuket?

There are four marinas in Phuket - Ao Po Grand Marina, Yacht Haven Phuket, Royal Phuket Marina and Phuket BoatLagoon. All four have large charter fleets and can accommodate superyachts of up to 80 meters.

When are the best times to rent a boat in Phuket?

It is possible to sail out of Phuket year round. While the best time is between November and February during the Northeast Monsoon, you can enjoy your sailing vacation from Phuket Island as late as May in the early stages of the southwest monsoon. You won't be able to sail to the Surin Islands or anything west of Phuket as the seas are exposed to the weather.

Do you have to pay a deposit when renting a Yacht in Phuket?

You will typically pay 50% up front on reservation the yacht rent and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I rent a Yacht or Boat in Phuket?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat rental before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Dress for warm weather but do have something for tropical rains - light but waterproof.

What Qualifications Do I need to rent a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a captain then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a captain on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.