Article Category - Phuket Marine Scene

Zheng He, a legend throughout Southeast Asia's ancient world, embarked on 7 historic voyages between AD 1405 and 1433 and, unlike most of his European counterparts, he fostered goodwill and peace wherever he made port. Stocked with precious gifts and tributes, Zheng He initiated extensive trade with the countries he visited while spreading Chinese culture and technology, the most advanced of its time.

Simpson Marine will display some of the most sought-after models in the region at Boat Asia 2008, including an Azimut 55, Beneteau Oceanis 50, Lagoon 440 and Sea Ray 44 Sundancer – all top sellers in Asia. The Azimut 55 is the most successful mid-size motoryacht in Asia and the best selling model from the Azimut range with Simpson Marine selling over 15 units around the region. In true Azimut style, the 55 provides style, elegance, functionality with the use of intelligent space.

Seven kids from Samui Yacht Club joined nine from Phuket Yacht Club last weekend for the hotly-contested two-day inaugural Island Trophy Optimist regatta. The junior sailors completed seven races, with their best six results counting towards the awards. The wind arrived on Saturday morning as forecast, fluctuating between 7-10 knots, as the eager sailors rigged their boats and sailed out to the race area in Phuket's Ao Yon (Yon Bay).

The fishing fleet in Southern Thailand once bloomed with sails each morning as boats headed out to bring in the day's catch. Engines long ago proved more efficient than sails--not to mention less vulnerable to variable breezes. But recent high fuel prices have changed the efficiency equation, and sails are once again sprouting among the Phang-Nga Bay fishing fleet. Launched in the wake of the tsunami, a joint project of the Department of Fisheries and the Chaipattana Foundation seeks to help local fisherman to reduce operating costs by adapting motor-powered boats with sails made from local materials. Mrs. Praulai Nootmorn, director of the Andaman Sea Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center in Phuket City, explained that 82 Phang-Nga fishermen have participated in the project. The next step, she said, is to develop community groups to build the sails and adapt more local fishing boats to use them.

Phuket is already a major destination for divers. But if the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thailand Diving Association (TDA) have their way, Phuket will be the only destination for an upcoming meeting of the world diving association. Khun Suwalai Pindradap, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Southern Office, Region 4, explained that her office and the TDA are ready to pitch Phuket as the best destination for the conference.

In another first for Phuket youth sailing, Phuket Yacht Club together at Ao Yon, together with the Samui Yacht Club Regatta present the inaugural Island Trophy. This two-day regatta, with kids from Koh Samui and Phuket competing in their first-ever real boat race, will take place off Ao Yon on Saturday and Sunday, 22 and 23 March. The competitors, kids from around 8 years upwards, are learning to sail the tiny Optimist dinghies in Koh Samui with the Samui Yacht Club Regatta and here in Phuket as part of the Phuket Yacht Club's sail training programme.

With determined opposition by fishermen in the area, the second phase of the Chalong bay marina project is now firmly back in the dock. Complaints from local fishermen led to a ruling from Thailandดs National Human Rights Committee which deemed the construction in its planned form as detrimental to the environment and local livelihoods.

Andaman Sea Club sailing charters and the Green Fins project by the Phuket Marine Biology center cooperate to organize the first Cape Panwa beach cleaning day on Saturday February the 23rd at Ao Makham/Ao Tang Khen.

How many light years is that, one wonders. A fair few, going by story of Lee Marine, completing its 10th year of operations on Phuket. As Managing Director Josh Lee related, the industry has come a phenomenal distance from where it was.

Sailing in Asia has progressed rapidly over the last few years. With the Phuket Kings Cup in Thailand ever growing in stature, other Asian countries have seen what an important event the Kings Cup has become and have been keen to develop their own signature events. The newest keel boat regatta on the world sailing scene, the China Cup International Regatta is making waves. The inaugural China Cup International Regatta was sailed from October 19th to 21st 2007 in Shenzen, China just a few hours north of Hong Kong.

Thailand welcomes over 550,0001 dive tourists each year and is home to over 80,000 certified divers of its own. Dive tourism in Thailand has increased by more than twenty-fold from 25,000 divers in 1985.

The 2007 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is gearing up for another strong showing from the world’s racing community with high profile confirmations coming in and the list growing every day. This year’s event, from December 1 to 8, will be held to celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 80th Birthday. Another exciting year of races is expected.

Phuket's had a beautiful new visitor. And she's over a hundred years old. Docked at the Yacht Haven in the North of Phuket and queening the marina through July and August was the charismatic 165 foot Edwardian Motor Yacht “Kalizma”.

Ao Yon based company Sail in Asia has recently announced its International Yacht Training (IYT) accredition. This professional training scheme is an internationally accepted sail and power boat training scheme for both recreational sailors and professional crew, who work on commercial vessels, much like what PADI has come to mean for diving.

During the course of the various sailing courses held by Sunsail Asia, their instructors were persistently asked about other sailing opportunities in Asia. As a result, Sunsail Asia are now delighted to offer sailing enthusiasts a unique opportunity to join their MileCatchers Voyage from Koh Samui (Thailand) to Langkawi (Malaysia) in late September 2007.

Yacht Solutions have successfully complete the first Luxury motor yacht refit in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. In late December last year, the captain of a Motor Yacht contacted the Thailand based marine management company Yacht Solutions asking for assistance, as their planned yard work in China had fallen through 10 days prior to haul out.

The Indian Ocean and Asia are fast becoming a favoured cruising destination for Superyachts from around the globe. With captains and owners looking for new experiences, less crowds and pristine scenery, the region offers great cruising opportunities.