SAILING BASES in Thailand

Royal Varuna Yacht Club, Pattaya
www.varuna.org
Located on an exclusive bay in South Pattaya, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club is one of the world’s leading beach sailing clubs, and has hosted numerous world championship events. The club’s main focus is dinghies and beach catamarans, but it is also a treasured stop for many yachts cruising in the Gulf of Thailand. The club has 24 rooms, full bar and restaurant services, and offers sailing instructions for both beginners and advanced sailors.


Ocean Marina, Jomtien, Pattaya
www.oceanmarinayachtclub.com
Ocean Marina Yacht Club boasts a five-star hotel and is the largest world-class yachting centre in Asia, providing a full range of marina facilities, services and water activities. With an enormous u-shaped wave breaker, the marina covers 50 acres, or 80 rai, and has berthing for 500 yachts. It also provides dry docks for 200 boats of up to 35 feet.



Koh Chang Marina
www.kohchangmarina.com
Currently the only yacht marina in Koh Chang Marine National Park, it offers launching and retrieving services, wet and dry berths, supplies and maintenance services. Gulf Charters operates from here on the island.




Yacht Haven Marina, Phuket
www.yacht-haven-phuket.com
Situated on Phuket’s northeast coast and only fifteen minutes from the international airport, Yacht Haven Marina markets itself as “the perfect port-of-call” to base oneself for sailing expeditions in the area. It can handle craft of up to 80 metres. The marina accommodates over 200 vessels, and features newly renovated docks and boardwalks, and all manner of landside facilities. The marina overlooks Phang Nga Bay, and enjoys steady fresh breezes all year.


Royal Phuket Marina
www.royalphuketmarina.com
Tucked away quietly, but strategically located on the centre of Phuket's eastern flank, Royal Phuket Marina is on the doorstep of Phang Nga Bay and close to the international airport, as well as Phuket’s main town, a number of top golf courses and other attractions. Covering over 30 hectares, or 190 rai, the marina has 350 berths for yachts of up to 35 metres. Apart from its size, Royal Phuket Marina has a boat lock, a non-tidal deepwater basin and private moorings on the doorstep of residences. Alongside are 400 luxury villas, penthouses and condominiums. Further dining, shopping, park and club areas, hotel and convention facilities are being developed.

An exhibition centre is opening in December in time to host “Asia’s favourite boat show,” the annual Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX). The initiative is a joint venture between Royal Phuket Marina and Informa (www.informa.com). The largest publicly-owned organizer of conferences and courses in the world, Informa stages over 10,000 events annually.


PIMEX (Phuket International Marine Expo)
www.phuketboatshow.com
Now in its sixth year, Pimex 2008 is a marine and lifestyle exhibition held at the Royal Phuket Marina Exhibition and Conference centre in a 2,500-square-metre airconditioned display space located adjacent to the marina basin with over 40 yachts in the water. The show is one of the largest on-water boat shows in the region, and a major showcase for boating and marine leisure. Even with the economic downturn, event organizer Andy Dowden is forecasting the largest PIMEX event yet (4-7 December).


Big Buddha Marina
www.bigbuddhamarina.com
The Thai government is reviewing the possibility of installing a 100-berth marina on Koh Samui near Big Buddha Beach. This new development is a response to the success of the Koh Samui Regatta, which attracted 33 boats and over 300 crew in 2008