With its good year-round sailing weather and proximity to at least 30 smaller, idyllic islands, Phuket has become the sailing and yachting hub for Thailand. And it seems the world’s taking notice, too. The organizers of the Singapore Yacht Show (www.singaporeyachtshow.com) recently announced a sister yacht event to be hosted in Phuket from December 2014 to sell the region as a charter destination, while many Mediterranean-based yacht owners and captains are seeing it as an increasingly popular winter destination.

The island is already home to four full-service marinas, all located on the eastern side of the island—Royal Phuket Marina (Koh Kaew), Yacht Haven (Laem Phrao), Phuket Boat Lagoon (Koh Kaew), and Ao Po Grand Marina (Ao Po)—and countless yacht charter operators providing various types of cruises. With peak cruising season beginning in December, now’s the time to hit the water.

One of the major draws of yachting is that it provides a better chance to really explore the smaller islands of the Andaman. When you are looking to book a trip you have three main options: either to hire a bareboat yacht, a fully crewed yacht or—the middle ground—a bareboat yacht with a skipper.

A bareboat charter is where you take full responsibility for the boat and the trip, which means navigating, mooring, motoring, cooking and cleaning. It can be likened to renting a mobile vacation home, where you have the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. But before you set sail for the high seas do note that at least one of your party must have a marine skippers certificate (see Get Qualified).

Booking a crewed boat, however, can make for a much more relaxing holiday, as you don’t have to worry about doing any hard work. The downside can be having to stick to a more fixed itinerary. Many operators offer this option, with up to six crew members to take care of all necessities.
Hiring a bareboat charter with a qualified skipper means you have someone on-board to take responsibility for the navigation but you still get the feeling of sailing your own boat. The skipper will most likely look to involve you by asking you to help out with everything from raising the sails to dropping anchor.

Get Qualified
When it comes to bareboat charters, most charter companies ask for one to three years’ skipper experience on a similar size yacht. Keppel Bay Sailing Academy (6303-8448, http://www.marinakeppelbay.com) have yachts available for charter and also offer sailing courses. For those with no previous experience, there is the five-day live-on-board RYA Competent Crew course, in which you sail between ports in Singapore and Batam. The course ranges from $1,150 to $1,450, depending on when you do it. The next level is the RYA Day Skipper course, in two parts, shore-based ($1,050) and practical ($1,550), five days for each part, which certifies you to charter a boat yourself.

THE PARTY CRUISE

Hot Tropics
The good folks at Zouk have just teamed up with online cruise specialist Openseas to organize a five-day, four-night trip to Langkawi and Phuket on November 15. You’ll get to travel to two beautiful beachfronts in Asia on a luxury liner Costa Victoria, party with Zouk DJs like Adrian Wee and djB from dusk till dawn, and even learn Pilates and  how to mix your own cocktails. Sounds like a sunkissed plan.
PRICE: From November 15-19, $562 per person.
MORE: 6823-3153, www.openseas.com.sg

SOCIAL TRAVELER’S PICK

The Sail Spin
If you love meeting new people and want to hit the water with a minimum of fuss, this option could be for you. Organized by Sunshine Nation, a Singapore-based event and travel company that’s been up-and-running for about 18 months, The Sail Spin is a flotilla sailing event that takes place about 10 times a year involving up to 20 yachts cruising together through the Andaman Sea. Gather a group of friends and book a yacht to yourselves, or—if you’re more social—secure a cabin and go with the flow. While sailing generally requires a lot of preparation, The Sail Spin crew takes care of most of basics: your yacht’s pantry is fully stocked, while professional skippers take the ship’s helm. It’s not all about topping up your tan and sipping cocktails on deck, though; your skipper will be more than be happy to send some sailing tasks your way. The itinerary is a mix of sightseeing and partying (Koh Phi Phi), a touch of luxe (private beach dinners at high-end resorts; visits to two of Phuket’s chicest beach clubs, Catch Beach Club on Surin Beach and Xana Beach Club on Bang Tao Beach) and the adventurous (cliff jumping and kayaking). They also run a pirate radio station with DJs on-board, making even the less-glamorous jobs like cooking and cleaning more fun. Do note that while Instagram-ready scenery abounds, professional photographers are also on-board to document your trip.
Price: An upcoming Sail Spin event to setting off from Yacht Haven takes place Jan 30-Feb 4, 2014 (five nights/six days) from $3,500 for a double cabin or from $6,600 for a four-person, 32-foot yacht up to $31,200 for a 12-person, 58-foot deluxe yacht with private chef and special amenities.
More: 9006-6557, www.thesailspin.com

THE CUSTOMIZED EXPERIENCE

Jabudays
Founded in 2008, Jabudays offers customized cruise-based events including weddings, teambuilding exercises and company retreats. Their Turkish Gullet flagship, the 75-foot Jabuticaba, can cater for up to 60 people for day charters and also be used for longer island-hopping cruises, sleeping 12 in six cabins. Where the company excels, though, is in tailoring one-of-a-kind experiences, under themes like meditation and yoga cruises, adventure cruises, and networking events. Programs can involve nights spent at luxury hotels where the fleet docks or stop-offs for scuba diving or even kite surfing—it’s down to your preference. The spacious yacht, is also the site of much luxury, replete with sunbeds, while massages, live music and bartenders are all available on-board. Detailed sample programs are provided on the website and you’re invited to tweak them to your liking.
Price: Day charters and customizable tours like yoga and meditation charters start from B52,000 ($2,066), while overnight charters are from B190,000 ($7,550) with a minimum of eight people.
More: +66 08 5666-5504, www.jabudays.com

THE CREWED RENTAL

Tiger Marine Charter
Tiger Marine is a charter operator that offers fully crewed cruises, especially suited to those new to yachting. If you’re a first-timer, Zimbabwean owner Richard Hayes assures us that his flagship catamaran, the 70-foot Shangani, makes the ideal starter boat due to its sheer size, comfort and stability. Setting off from Ao Po Marina, the company’s most popular run is a day charter through the idyllic Phang Nga Bay to what Hayes dubs his “private beach,” a clear sweep of sand that he’s negotiated exclusive access to with the owners. Here, the scene is set with proper dining tables, beach games, massage benches and live music. Other attractions are the water Jacuzzis anchored just off the beach, aqua slides and water trampolines. Three-day and week-long charters are also available, taking in everywhere from Krabi to the Similan Islands, though cruising on the west coast of Phuket is only an option during high season, as between May and October the monsson winds mean the seas are too rough.
Price: From December to March, B172,500 ($6,854) a day (24-hour period) for 15 people, cheaper in the quiet season. Large groups of up to 50 come in at B187,500 ($7,450) for a day charter.
More: +66 08 1893-9742 or +66 08 9866-4401, www.tigermarinecharter.com

THE BAREBOAT OPTION

Elite Yachting
Founded back in 1993 by two Swiss sailing enthusiasts, Elite Yachting now claims to operate the largest independent bareboat fleet in Phuket, with 22 yachts ranging from 32-50 feet, including seven catamarans, in different price categories. Bareboat bookings require a “marine skippers certificate” and at least one year’s experience (recently reduced from three) on a similar-sized yacht (you can also hire a qualified skipper to accompany you). Bookings are taken one year to one week ahead of the trip. Christmas and New Year is their most popular period, with most yachts booked out up to eight months in advance. A suggested one-week itinerary involves visiting Phang Nga Bay National Park to see the spectacular limestone sea karsts—full of secret caves to explore by dinghy. Then cruising by the long sandy beaches of Krabi, enjoying the nightlife of Koh Phi Phi, where you can also arrange some diving, before kicking back at a secluded island. However, the sea’s your playground and you can go anywhere from the Similan Islands off the west coast of Phuket all the way south to the Butang group on the Malay borders.
Price: Monohulls start from 190 euros ($324) per day while catamarans are from 370 euros ($632) a day. Hiring a skipper costs an additional 120 euros ($205) per day.
More: +66 08 1968-4188, www.phuket-yachts.com

NEW ROOMS

Holiday Inn Mhai Khao

The brand is a somewhat sterile chain but we like the no-frills décor of this particular hotel, which gives it a clean, modern look. Make sure to book one of the pool-access rooms, though. There’s a shallow ledge extending from your room that makes for the perfect spot to sip beers while dipping you toes. The breakfast buffet is nearly on a par with fancier hotels in the area, and that always goes a long way in our book. There are also these little nooks embedded into the pool—a lovely way to start the day. The beach is superb and unspoiled, with tall casuarina evergreens providing partial shade.

Anantara Vacation Club

If you’ve already fallen for the charms of Mhai Khao, you can look into buying into Anantara’s Vacation Club scheme, which is a membership programme where you commit to buying points every year, which can then be converted to nights at various Anantara Vacation Club properties around the world. If you’re prepared to endure the 90-minute tour and sales pitch, you’ll find two-night deals on their website, from roughly B34,000 for a two-night stay at a pool villa. But you can also simply book a few nights’ stay through websites like agoda.com, starting from around B7,500 for a night with breakfast at an apartment suite. Pool villas are about B20,000 a night this November. The club itself isn’t beachfront, but you can easily transfer to neighboring partner hotels JW Marriot and Anantara Phuket Villas. www.anantaravacationclub.com

Baan Mai Khao by Sansiri

Why not take things even further by buying a beachside condo outright? Sansiri has a brand new development coming up here, featuring six three-story buildings and three five-story buildings. Sizes range from single bedroom units (62.5-71.5 sq meters) from B8.3 milllion, to six massive, 260-sq-meter penthouses going for B53.3 million. Swanky? You bet. They’re describing the style as “modern Sino-Portuguese,” which means blocky modernist structures with touches of geometric motifs vaguely evocative of the kind of tiles you’d see in Phuket Town’s shophouses. You’ll also be able to stay fit even when the red flag is raised on the beach thanks to the 50-meter lap pool. 081-086-4999. www.baanmaikhao@cbre.co.th

Party In The Hood

The classiest nightlife in Phuket happens to be around Surin and Bang Tao, just next to Mhai Khao. Here’s were to dance and drink without the sleaze of Patong.

NAIYANG

Dirty Monstera

On the night we visited the Indigo Pearl, the brand new bar was populated with chic couples (a refreshingly elegant crowd in an island overrun with some pretty horrible tourists). The Russian DJ and his sexy lip-syncing sidekick felt a bit out of place, but the décor is exuberant: a mix of neon signs, steampunk architecture by Bill Bensley referencing the area’s past as a tin mine, and luxuriant plants.  

Indigo Pearl. Nai Yang Beach and National Park, 076-327-006, www.indigo-pearl.com

BANG TAO

XANA BEACH CLUB

This is one of the swankiest beach clubs on the island, and one of the biggest in the world, thanks its vast stretch of beach. It’s also dedicated to bringing in big-name DJs (alumni include Paul Oakenfold and Frankie Knuckles). To mark the start of Phuket’s high season, they will host a Carnival Launch Party on Dec 14, featuring five international DJs, Brazilian dancers and a Rio-themed catwalk show right on Bangtao beach. For the event, the hotel will offer 30% off its room rates—from B6,410—with no minimum stay. 

Angsana Laguna Phuket, 10 Moo, Srisoonthorn Rd., Cherng Talay, 076-324-101. Open daily 9am-midnight, www.xanabeachclub.com

SURIN

Catch

The Twin Palms is slowly taking over Surin Beach, which means pretty wild parties and high-flying DJs. It also means the beach has become nearly private, drawing the ire of some locals. During the high season, you’ll have to cough up B3,000 per day for a beach chair. That amount can then be spent as credit at Catch—making it a kind of minimum spend. 

Surin Beach, Cherng Talay, 076-316-567. Open daily 9am-midnight, www.catchbeachclub.com 

SOCIAL TRAVELER’S PICK

THE CUSTOMIZED EXPERIENCE

THE CREWED RENTAL

THE BAREBOAT OPTION

What was the inspiration for The Sail Spin?
Alexander Linnerth: The main inspiration for The Sail Spin comes from our friends in Singapore. They all wanted to experience the fun and freedom of sailing we raved so much about in Europe, but the preparation and experience required to organize a sailing trip was usually a deterrent. Additionally, the appeal of meeting new people on shore in the evening and partying with several other sun-and-sea hedonists is not feasible in Asia where marinas and ports are not as developed as in the Mediterranean. So we thought it’s about time we make sailing getaways more accessible to young professionals in South East Asia.

Why did you choose Phuket Thailand as the destination?
Bernhard Schwarz: Phuket is a great first destination for The Sail Spin for many reasons. First, the Andaman Sea around Phuket, with its many stunning islands and secluded bays, offers a lot of variety. You can kayak into hidden caves and explore secret lagoons accessible only at specific hours of the day. We also wander picturesque long stretches of sand hidden from the masses. Another reason which makes Phuket the right choice is the accessibility of its international airport with direct connections to all the main hubs in Asia and around the world. Last but not least Thailand is, today, the only sailing destination in Southeast Asia with a developed enough yachting industry to offering the high standards we require and our customers expect.

Do you plan to expand to other destinations?
BS: Already our classic The Sail Spin Phuket Route is blessed with enough variety of anchorage options that allows us to vary the itinerary throughout the year. For special occasions such as Chinese New Year we will even make the trip one day longer and include Krabi. However, we are looking to create two more routes in Thailand for 2014: one going South to the stunning island of Koh Lipe and one going East to the area around Koh Samui.

Who is your target market?
AL: Our customers are looking to take a break from their busy schedule, share unforgettable experiences with new friends and be part of a unique travel experience.  And they are usually time starved to organize a sailing trip which requires a lot of preparation. Every cruise so far has been a melting pot of nationalities, mainly from Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, but also from Australia and Europe. It’s an international well-travelled crowd between the ages of 25-40.

What did you do before you started Sail Spin?
BS: I was working in the telecommunication industry but already after a couple of months I realized that I wanted something else than the corporate life. I was part of the team behind a music festival in Austria called Palaverama which gathered 3,500 people per day. For six years I took care of artist line-up and bookings and this gave me insights into the event business and made me realize it was my passion.

AL: During my studies, I worked for a beach getaway event company for graduates in Austria and this gave me first-hand experience in the industry. We would take thousands of students to beach destinations in the Mediterranean coast for a week to celebrate their entry into the labor force. I enjoyed the organization as well as the interaction with guests. Aside from that, I have always taken care of organizing private parties and events for me and my friends and I always dreamed about making this my day job.

What advice do you have for young people looking to start event planning service?
Mar Pages: Before you start your own event business, clearly define your target group. Take your time to define a proper vision and where you would like to see your business in a couple of years. Then, make sure you have enough funding. Equally important: get a winning team together. The diversity and strengths of the team will be the most important element during the many ups and downs you will experience in the starting phase. Make sure you get along, you complement each other and share a common goal.

What are the biggest mistakes people make when planning parties or vacations?
MP: Forgetting to enjoy them! We get disappointed when we see people constantly on their smartphones and constantly taking pictures of everything instead of living and enjoying the moment. Thankfully, we usually succeed in “curing” people’s social media addictions and, after a couple of hours out at sea, they disconnect and start updating their happiness state rather than their status. And to ensure that all moments are captured without the need for a camera or smartphone, we have professional photographers on board.

How did you come up with the itinerary?
BS: Before our first The Sail Spin test cruise last July Alex and I based ourselves for more than one month on Phuket to explore all the surrounding islands with a small dinghy. I think there is almost no beach or cave we haven’t been to. And this is important for us because we want to take our guest to the best spots and not just to the most popular ones. However, our experienced skippers always surprise us with new unforgettable locations to add to the list.

What are some examples of the drinks and food available on board the yachts?
AL: Every yacht will be waiting for our guests fully provisioned with fresh and assorted groceries: non-alcoholic beverages like fruit juices (orange, apple, multivitamin, cranberry) and soft drinks (Tonic, Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Redbull), cleaning supplies, as well as vegetables and fresh fruits (watermelons, papayas, mangoes, apples, bananas), meat and pasta for lunch, bread and other breakfast items (cereals, peanut butter, chocolate bars, jams, buns, coffee, milk) and fresh baked goods delivered every morning. We also take care of the liquor shopping for our guests and let them choose from a wide selection of international spirits. Fresh ice is delivered every day.

Yacht vacations in Phuket are available at The Sail Spin.