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DESTINATION

66 Asia-Pacific Boating March/April 2015 Asia-Pacific Boating March/April 2015 67

DESTINATION

ONE-WAY TICKET

As someone who has been to Th ailand and Malaysia several times, I

wondered just how diff erent it would be chartering a boat for 10 days with

fi ve friends and picking our destinations on a whim depending on the

mood of the day. As it turned out, having complete freedom over what we

would do and where we went each day elevated the trip to a new level. As

long as we made it to Langkawi by the date we had agreed on with Simpson

Yacht Charters in Phuket – the only company that does cross-border

charters between Malaysia and Th ailand – everything else was up to us.

We chose a one-way bareboat charter of a new Lagoon 400 S2 sailing

catamaran that comfortably sleeps six people in three cabins. Simpson

Yacht Charters also off ers the more spacious Lagoon 620 that has four

guest cabins, plus one for crew – a necessity for chartering the larger boat.

An internationally recognised boating licence and some documented

experience are required for bareboat charters through Simpson.

We found the smaller Lagoon to have plenty of room for six people.

A bright, open-plan interior off ered a spacious kitchen, loads of fridge

and freezer space and enough seating area for all on board. Privacy was

easy to come by with multiple options inside and out – even on deck

guests were able to spread out and claim a space to read and relax. Having

sleeping quarters in the two hulls made traveling on a boat this small not

only doable, but also enjoyable.

Only three and a half hours from Hong Kong, Phuket is surrounded

by the clear waters of the Andaman Sea and is a great jumping off point

for a 10-day charter. Renting a car (or car and driver) is inexpensive and

hassle-free, and it’s the easiest way to get around to pick up provisions.

Local stores off ered everything we needed at a reasonable cost. Although

we bought most of what we needed for the trip, we knew there would be

small shops along the way where we could restock our drinking water,

fresh fruit and vegetables.

For navigation, we relied on paper charts supplied by Simpson,

as well as the boat’s GPS and radar. In addition, we couldn’t have done

without the very comprehensive guidebook Southeast Asia Pilot by Andy

Dowden and Bill O’Leary that’s published by IMAGEasia and edited

by Grenville Fordham.

Island-hopping off the Beaten track from Th ailand to Malaysia.

By Lana Holmes

Photos by Harvest Moon Photography

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