Essential Information

• Address & Map
• Arrival & Departure
• Sailing Information
• Banks & Money Exchange
• General Information
• Electrical, Phones & Music
• Activities
• Provisioning
• Health & Safety

Address & Map

Address

Sunsail Koh Samui
The Lodge
Fisherman’s Village
Bo Phut Beach
Koh Samui
Surat Thani
Thailand

Base Manager: Guy Harrisson
Office Tel:  + 66 87 894 1872
Email:  samuibase@sunsailasia.com

Location

The Sunsail base is situated next to “The Lodge” in the fisherman’s village at Bo Phut on the North shore of Koh Samui. Bo Phut is located about 15 mins from the Ko Samui airport.

'The Lodge' is located directly on the beach in the middle of a wide and beautiful two kilometer sweep of golden sand known as Bophut Bay. The yachts are usually in front of "The Lodge" Hotel/Restaurant in Fisherman’s Village, Bo Phut. However, they may be moved if weather conditions dictate.

Base Open Hours

Office opening hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Base/Shore Facilities

Facilities include: Water, provisioning & beverages, showers and toilets, telephone, restaurant, bars and shops.

Water

Generally, water is not easily accessible throughout the cruising area and can only be obtained by carrying canisters onto the boat. Only bottled water should be used for drinking. When provisioning, clients should allow 2-3 liters per person per day.

Back to top

Arrival & Departure

Time difference

Standard time zone for Thailand is UTC/GMT +7 hours

Flights

Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend traveling light and using folding luggage.

Lost or damaged luggage while flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance.  You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewelry, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.

If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials.  Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport.

Alcohol may be taken on flights but only in checked luggage (well secured from breakages) not as hand luggage due to airport security restrictions.

Airport

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is Thailand’s principal airport; it is situated 20 miles outside of the city center. The majority of flights entering or departing Thailand do so from Bangkok. Flights can then be taken from Bangkok to Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways. There are also flights in to Koh Samui from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

Suvarnabhumi Airport offers duty free shopping for liquor, tobacco, perfume, cosmetics, fashion, watches, pens, lighters, accessories and costume jewelry, skincare and aromatherapy, toys, electronics and confectionery.

Koh Samui Airport is approximately 15 minutes from Sunsail’s base at Bo Phut. Samui Airport offers shopping, restaurant and bar outlets and The Taste Internet Café.

It is no longer necessary that you reconfirm internal and international flights on most airlines 72 hours before departure, i.e. Thai Airways or Malaysian Airlines domestic and international flights.

Reconfirmation can be done from the airports, from any large hotel and from the Sunsail base. There is usually a small charge of 50 Baht
per ticket (International). You will be asked to pay a local Koh Samui Departure Tax of 400 Baht locally, on top of their flight ticket price.
International departure tax is now included in the price of the ticket.

Transfers

On arrival in Koh Samui, we recommend to arrange transfer from the airport to the base through Sunsail prior to your arrival in Koh Samui.
We just need your arrival details at Koh Samui Airport prior to your departure. There will then be a Sunsail driver waiting for you with a Sunsail board to bring you directly to the yachts.
The approximate cost for the transfers is 500 Baht each way.  

Luggage

We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally luggage may arrive at the base after you do!

Please pack using soft-sided bags, as these are easier to store on your yacht.

Passport and Visas

Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return. Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.

Customs and Immigration

Before leaving the airport, you will have to clear Immigration and Customs.
A landing card will be given to you on the plane, along with a Customs declaration form. Airlines will assume no liability for perishable articles, e.g. food, which may also be confiscated by Customs.

On Arrival

It is recommended to pre-arrange transfers from the airport.  You will be met and transferred to the yachts. If you are arriving early or staying on Koh Samui prior to charter, please contact the Base Manager to discuss boarding. If you do not have pre-arranged transfers please contact the Base Manager on arrival to arrange a meeting time.

All boats are prepared as per the booking for boarding time. Everyone will receive an individual yacht and chart briefing. This will take up to 2 hours so you need to allow plenty of time. It is not permitted to leave without adequate briefing.

Briefings

These are carried out individually for each yacht and are mandatory. The chart brief describes the cruising area and any potential hazards. A one week chart briefing takes about 30 minutes and a two week briefing about 45 minutes to one hour so allow plenty of time. The yacht briefing introduces you to your yacht and its systems and rigging. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood.

Out of hours arrival procedure

If arriving out of hours, a Sunsail staff member will meet you and show you to your yacht. Although, it is highly recommended that if you arrive after dark you may want to stay in a hotel as the boats in Koh Samui are anchored and transfer to the boat will be by dinghy.

On departure

Charters can start and finish on any day for any duration, starting at 4:00 pm on the first day and finishing at 9:00 am on the last day.
You will receive a debrief form which lets us know if you have encountered any problems with the boat or broken anything during the trip, this enables us to rectify problems for the next charter.

In addition to filling in forms we also require you to bag dirty laundry and leave in the cockpit, empty all cupboards and refrigerator of food and throw away, return snorkel gear and any lifejackets borrowed from reception and ensure that the boat is handed back to Sunsail in a clean and tidy state. We reserve the right to charge for boats left less than shipshape.

Back to top

Sailing Information

Koh Samui is Sailing Experience Level 2
Experience levels are based on sailing conditions and the length of passages within your chosen sailing area. Follow the link for more information on the sailing conditions.

Sailing Licenses

Although no sailing licenses are required by the authorities, we strongly advise that you take any sailing certificates on vacation with you. This may be useful should you be contacted by Customs or Port Police. If you have not already done so then both the Skipper and 1st Mate will be required to fill in a Sailing resume to confirm that you have the necessary skills to sail in this region.

Formalities and Taxes

A valid passport & crew list is compulsory for clearance.
Crew list for clearance must show date of issue of passports.

Cruising Permits & Taxes

There is a charge of 200 Baht per person per day and 50 Baht for the boat when entering Thailand's national parks.

Night Time Sailing

You are not permitted to sail at night unless it has been agreed with the Base Manager prior to departure.

Cruising Area Limits

The cruising area in the Gulf of Thailand encompasses Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the Ang Thon Archipelago.  The islands lie in a shallow part of the gulf 15 miles off the eastern coast of the southern peninsular.

Mooring Fees and Taxes

All overnight stops will be at anchor. It is no longer permitted to use mooring buoys in Thailand.

Koh Tao
Hin Wong, excellent snorkeling, restaurants
Aow Leuk, restaurant, snorkeling
Koh Nan Gyuan, restaurants, Japanese Garden a famous dive and snorkeling site

Ang Thong National Park
Free Sailing within the park.
Cave and strenuous walk to viewpoint on Koh Ang Thong.
Beach and easy walk to Emerald Lake and viewpoint on Koh Mae.
Snorkeling and sea caves to explore on Koh Tai Plow.

Area & Sailing

More information on the sailing in this area.

Charts & Pilot Book

All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht.

There is also a comprehensive cruising guide written by the base manager and local Sunsail skippers. This local guide with chart information is available from samuibase@sunsailasia.com.

Skippered Charter Information

The skipper’s time is booked from 12:00pm to 12:00pm in 24-hour periods. If you have reserved him for the first day of your charter and have a 6:00pm start, he will use this time to ensure he is happy with all aspects of the yacht and will be at the base to meet you upon your arrival. If you have reserved him for a later date on your charter he will start at 12:00pm on that day.

The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht at all times. He is not permitted to dive with you, nor leave the vessel overnight. He must conduct a safety brief with you before leaving the dock regardless of the duration of his contract with you.

For “check out charters” (anything less than the full duration of the charter) the check out skipper’s time is booked from 6:00pm to 6:00pm to allow for a meet and greet in the evening and go over basic systems, then a full day with you the next day. This skipper is required to give you a thorough briefing on all aspects of the yacht and dinghy in addition to assisting you with planning an itinerary for the trip and advising you how to contact the base, the return to base procedures and the emergency assistance procedures. It is suggested that you attend the scheduled chart brief that will be supplemented by the skipper during his time with you on the yacht. It is also suggested that you make it clear exactly what you want to cover…anchoring, docking, etc.

The skipper will be required to give you as much information as you require concerning the yacht and its systems, sailing skills and navigation in general.

The skipper fee does not include food or beverages for the skipper and are the responsibility of the client. It is suggested that you discuss this on the first day with the skipper and establish whether you will give the skipper cash for meals, whether you have included him in your provisioning or whether you will accommodate him as part of the group for meals ashore.  The skipper must have his own cabin. 

For one-day check out skipper’s it is the client’s responsibility to get the skipper back to the base. If you prefer not to come back to the base you must pay for his expenses (ferry, taxi, etc.) to get him back to the base.

The average tip for a skipper is 15 to 20% percent of the skipper’s fee. This is, of course, at the client’s discretion.

More information on Skippered Charter Options.

Fuel

Coolers

Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge. Please sign these out and return them clean and undamaged otherwise you will be charged for replacement. Only one per boat.

Back to top

Banks & Money Exchange

Currency

The unit of currency in Thailand is the Baht.

Banks

There are several Banks on Samui which accept all major currencies, traveller’s cheques and credit cards.  All have ATMs which accept local bank cards as well as most international credit cards. ATM's are open from 6:00 am to app. 12:00 am midnight. The maximum amount which can be withdrawn is 20,000 Baht per day. ATM’s are easily available on Koh Phangnan and Koh Tao.

Banks have branches in Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut.

Exchange Service Booths are conveniently located all over the island and accept all major currencies and traveler’s checks. Also most travel shops, supermarkets and hotels offer an exchange service but the rates are not as good as at the booths.
We recommend that sufficient money is changed before departing into the cruising area (at the airport is easiest). You can exchange money at resorts on the islands, although the exchange rates may not be so good.

Credit Card Information

Most restaurants do not accept credit cards or will charge for using them. 

Back to top

General Information

Language

The official language is Thai, and English.

Cost of living in Thailand

Prices vary from restaurant to restaurant, however the following is a guide for your reference. A bottle of wine costs from about 500 baht in a supermarket and at least twice that in a restaurant. A bottle of beer costs about 35 to 45 baht in a supermarket and from 80 baht up to 150 baht in a restaurant. Good quality Thai food can cost as little as 200 baht per course in a local restaurant where a meal in a resort can cost anything from 1000 baht per person and more.

Restaurants

Koh Phangnan: Bottle Beach 1 resort or Beach Club in Ao Thong Nai Pan.
Bo Phut Samui : Happy Elephant or Starfish & Coffee.
Koh Tao: Ao Leuk 1 and View rock resort. 

Eating Out

There is a wide selection of restaurants around Samui.
Koh Phangan and Koh Tao have more local type Thai Restaurants.  
The Ang Thong National Park has 1 restaurant and no shops.
Restaurants are available at most recommended anchorages, although there are anchorages with no restaurant facilities, which give customers the opportunity to have a meal on-board. Breakfast is also available at all restaurants in the area.

The Ang Thong National Park area has little in the way of restaurants and shops.

If you eat at a local food stall you can get a meal for as little as 50 baht per person. Even eating in restaurants you generally pay less than 200 baht per course for delicious Thai food. Alcohol is generally more expensive than food. A small bottle of beer is about 80 baht and a reasonable bottle of wine about 1000 baht. Thai food is all cooked to order using fresh ingredients and lots of chilli. It is quite easy to ask for the meal to be made a little less spicy for western tastes. Seafood features on every menu with chicken, pork and beef also available as well as great vegetarian food. Rice and noodles are also main staples but western food is also easily available.

Tipping

Tipping is standard and expected in all restaurants / bars and for other services undertaken during your vacation. The rule of thumb is generally 10-15% of the amount charged. Some establishments automatically add this onto the bill.

Shopping

Shopping for souvenirs is best done on Koh Tao or Koh Samui.  'Local' handicrafts such as woodcarvings and ceramics are more than likely to have originated in Chiang Mai!!  

Boh Phut

Bo Phut has a wide selection of restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops. And is only 10 minutes from the major supermarkets. 

Car Rental

Budget, Avis and International car rental is available, together with local operators.  Contact the base for local recommendations. In order to rent a car you will need you’re a valid passport and/or drivers license.

Hotels

For those wishing to book accommodation ashore for the night before or after their charter Sunsail Koh Samui base team is able to book rooms at discounted rates near the base. 

Smile House Resort – At Base
Bop hut Beach, 93 Moo 1, Fisherman's Village
Koh Samui, Suratthani, 84320.
Tel. 66 77/ 425 361, 245 213, Fax. 66 77/ 425 239
email:smilehousesamui@hotmail.com
www.smilehouse-samuinet.com
Facilities include, Swimming Pools, Restaurant, Bar, Telephone, Car Rental and Money Exchange.

Tours

Sunsail offer a whole range of shore based excursions which are extra to our normal product and are organized through a 3rd party company. Ask at the base or the booking office for further details.

Back to top

Electrical, Phones & Music

Electricity

The standard voltage on all yachts is 12 volts. 

Mobile phones

Your mobile phone may work when in the Thailand but please check with your service provider for coverage details and call costs. You will need to activate international roaming on your contract.
Buying a SIM card once you are in Thailand is an easier and less expensive option. SIM cards are often free at Bangkok Airport or can be bought locally on a pay as you go basis for about 100 Baht. Calls are cheap to make and free to receive. The only thing you have to consider is whether your own mobile phone is locked. Many phone providers deliberately lock their phones to make it impossible to use on rival networks. This can be overcome however for a small price at any phone shop in Thailand.

Music/Ipods

All boats are fitted with a radio and CD player. If you wish to listen to your IPOD while sailing you will need to bring along an I-trip or FM radio transmitter.

Back to top

Activities

Fishing

Fishing with rod and reel or hand lines is permitted in all of the cruising area and there have been no recorded instances of Ciguatera poisoning. Big game fishing and Thai style fishing by long tail can be arranged.

Diving

The diving in Thailand is fantastic. The dive centers are very strict and safety conscious, you must carry a PADI or equivalent qualification to be able to dive. Unqualified divers can do courses or resort dives. Prices range from center to center but it usually costs between 1500 Baht and 2500 Baht per person for two dives and lunch. If you wish to dive while chartering with Sunsail we recommend Ko Tao where there are good Dive centers.

Snorkeling

We have a range of snorkeling gear which you may wish to use. We are limited on children’s sizes so if you have your own you may wish to bring them with you.

Walking /Trekking/Kayaking

Ang Thong National Marine Park located 20 kilometers northwest of Ko Samui, the park is comprised of approximately 40 islands, covering 250 sqaure kilometers. Climb through the rain forest to Green Lagoon and visit coconut plantations.

Back to top

Provisoning

Provisioning is available in this location.
More information on provisioning.

Back to top

Health & Safety

Illness or Injury

If you get sick and visit the doctor or hospital during your trip contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible at the base.

If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer’s emergency medical service immediately.

Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advise and payment of bills.
Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.

Safety

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets harnesses we leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn. We have a limited supply of children’s life jackets (age 4+ only) if you have your own children’s life jacket we would encourage you to bring it along.

We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck. Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy.

Back to top