Submitted by Steve Lawrence on Fri, 13/02/2026 - 08:25

If you have ever imagined owning a sailing yacht, there are few places better to turn that idea into reality than Phuket — the pearl of the Andaman Sea.

I moved here 21 years ago following an early retirement and, in what felt at the time like a bold leap of faith, bought a modern 40-foot sloop. Since then, my Filipina partner and First Mate, Marivic, and I have sailed some 25,000 miles across South East Asia, along the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean and the western rim of the Pacific. It has been an extraordinary chapter of life.

As the Little Ship Club gathers to mark the start of its centenary year, I find myself at sea once again — this time on a relaxed month-long cruise south from Phuket to Langkawi in the Malaysian archipelago, which shares its Andaman coastline with Thailand.

You can sail here year-round, but this season is especially rewarding. The north-east monsoon brings steady winds, cobalt skies and comfortable tropical temperatures. The 150 nautical miles of coastline between Phuket and Langkawi are threaded with islands rising dramatically from the sea — limestone cliffs, jungle-covered mountains and palm-fringed beaches. In some anchorages you will see no footprints at all; in others, a simple beachside restaurant might appear beneath the trees, ready to serve a cold beer and a plate of Thai curry for less than the cost of lunch at home.

For those not ready to commit, Phuket offers extensive charter opportunities. For others who decide to base themselves here, the advantages are clear: marina costs well below UK levels and a wide range of skilled marine trades — carpenters, engineers, sailmakers, steelworkers and antifouling specialists — all readily available.

Above all, this cruising ground is safe and welcoming. Despite colourful stories of piracy in the Malacca Strait, you are statistically far more likely to encounter trouble in a British marina than in these waters. The region remains remarkably unspoilt, and its people unfailingly warm.

So when you next contemplate an adventure — or even a new direction in life — consider looking beyond the familiar waters of the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. The East offers something different: scale, beauty and year-round sailing. As your HPO for Phuket and the eastern Andaman Sea, I am always happy to help you chart the course.