Essential Information

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

Address & Map

Address

Ao Po Grand Marina
113/1 Moo 6
Tambon Paklok
Amphur Thalang
Phuket 83110
Thailand

Base Manager: Ian Hewitt
Tel:+ 66 76 336 212
Fax:+ 66 76 336 213
Email: phuketbase@sunsailasia.com

Location

The Sunsail base in Phuket is located at the new Ao Po Grand Marina near Ao Po bay (www.aopograndmarina.com)
Ao Po Grand Marina has the benefit of 24 hour access independent of the tide.It also is ideally situated at the gateway to stunning Phang Nga Bay and is conveniently close to Phuket's major facilities (25 minutes from the airport) and holiday destinations.

Base Open Hours

Offices are open 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
VHF radio watch channel 72 (7 days a week from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm)

Base/Shore Facilities

Water and electricity are available on the berths at the base and there is a deep water fuel dock. Some of the marina shore facilities are still under development and when finished will include all the usual facilities such as a small supermarket, bars and restaurants. Showers and toilets are available. There are several restaurants and two nearby resorts for those wishing to spend a night ashore before and after their charter.

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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 travelling light and using soft or 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 Suvamabhumi Airport is approximately 20 miles outside the city center.
From Suvamabhumi, you will require the Domestic Terminal for your connection to Phuket Airport.
Suvamabhumi Airport has a selection of bureau de change kiosks. There are bars, coffee shops and restaurants as well as duty free and souvenir shops.
International departure taxes are now included in the price of the flight ticket.
Phuket Airport is approximately 25 minutes from the base.
Facilities at the airport include: bureau de change, duty free and merchandise shops, post office and restaurants.

Transfers

On arrival in Phuket, a transfer from the airport to the base can be arranged. If you would like to use this service, we just need your arrival details prior to departure for Phuket Airport. There will then be a Sunsail driver waiting for you with a Sunsail board to bring you directly to the Marina.
Transfers from Phuket Airport to the Base takes 25 minutes and can be arranged on request.
The approximate cost of a taxi for up to 4 people is 650 Baht each way, a minibus for up to 9 people 900 Baht each way.
Please note: The Airport taxis generally do not know where the Sunsail office is in the Ao Po marina and clients may be dropped off at the wrong place and sometimes even the wrong marina.

We request that you send your travel arrangements to us  prior to departure so we can assist with transfer details where required.
Please Note: Guests arriving separately should bring a copy of the charter contract / invoice.

Luggage

We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally your 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

Charters can start and finish on any day of the week and all charters commence at 4:00 pm on the first day and finish at 9:00 am on the last day. However we always try to be as flexible as possible and we are happy for clients to contact the base prior to arrival as the yacht may be available earlier so that they may board early.

What happens once you are onboard?

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

The latest that a Sunsail yacht can depart from the marina is 5pm as the nearest anchorage is half an hour away and all yachts must be anchored by 5:30pm. The area and yacht briefings take up to an hour each and provisioning shopping will take around 3 hours including taxi transfers.

Therefore if you wish to depart on the day your charter starts you should arrive no later than 1pm if you are doing your own provisioning or 3pm if you have provisioned online.

Briefings

These are carried out individually for each yacht and are mandatory for all clients. The chart brief describes the cruising area and any potential hazards. 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 you are arriving after 5:00 pm and have requested a transfer you will be met by a member of staff and shown to your  yacht. If we have no arrival details and we have not heard from you by 5:00 pm we will put a sign on the door stating your yacht name, location and also the base managers contact number. The yacht will be lit up and have an information sheet listing what is available at the base such as toilets, showers, restaurants, etc.

On departure

You have to disembark by 9:00 am so it is recommended returning to the base the day before.
We will always try to allow you to return later than the 9:00 am finish time so you should avoid booking flights that depart before noon on your last day. If the yacht is booked to go out again on the day you finish you will have to disembark at 9:00 but even then it is possible to return to the base the day your charter finishes.

Before departing your boat, a member of staff will do a debrief with you.

The debrief is to let us know if you have encountered any problems with the boat or lost or broken anything during the trip, this enables us to rectify problems for the next charter.

We also ask that you bag dirty laundry and leave in the cockpit, empty all cupboards and refrigerator of food and throw away any perishables, return snorkel gear and any extra life-jackets 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.

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Sailing Information

Phuket 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

The fee for clearing in and out between Malaysia and Thailand is 175 RM per person + 50 RM per yacht

Night Time Sailing

Night sailing is only permitted when making long offshore passages that cannot be completed in daylight hours. Any night sailing must be approved in advance by the Base manager and you must depart and be clear of all obstructions at least 30 minutes before sunset and arrive at your destination at least 30 minutes after sunrise.

Cruising Area Limits

During the NE season the cruising area includes all Thai Waters from the Surin and Similan islands in the North down to Koh Tarutao and the Butang islands in the South. Yachts cannot cross the border in to Mayanmar/Burma under any circumstances. During the SW monsoon, The Surin, Similan Islands, and anchorages on the West coast of Phuket cannot be used. The cruising area has a tidal range of 3m at high water springs.  

The Sunsail 4 hour guarantee applies when within 30 sailing miles distance from the base.

Mooring Fees and Taxes

200 Baht per person per night when cruising in National Park Areas
400 Baht per person per night + 400 Baht per yacht per night when visiting the Similan or Surin islands National Park which are accessible only from November to April.
Overnight stops need to be at anchor as the mooring boys are not well maintained.

Area & Sailing

More information on the sailing in this area

One way cruising between Thailand and Malaysia

It is now possible to sail from Thailand to Malaysia (and vice versa) on a one way charter. Clients can pick up the yacht from the base at Phuket and sail one way to the base on Langkawi in Malaysia or start in Langkawi and finish in Phuket. Distance is approx. 140 NM door to door, however most 10 day charters cover 200 to 240 miles.

The absolute minimum duration for a one way charter is 10 days. You must allow 1 day checking out of Thailand and 1 day to check into Malaysia when sailing from Phuket to Langkawi and 1 day to check out of Malaysia and 2 days to check into Thailand when sailing from Langkawi to Phuket.
A one-way supplement is payable in advance on all one-way charters and guests will be required to pay customs, harbour and immigration fees. Please check at the time of booking for the current charges..

Charts & Pilot Book

All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht. The pilot book is available in advance via email from the base.

Skippered Charter Information

The skipper’s time is booked from 12:00 noon to 12:00 noon in 24-hour periods. If you have reserved him for the first day of your charter and have a 4:00pm 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 12:00 noon 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 4:00pm to 4:00pm 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. The skipper will give you a full chart briefing 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

Ice Boxes

One 40 litre ice box is included with all yachts at no additional charge. Please return them clean and undamaged otherwise you will be charged for replacement. Extra ice boxes are available at the base on a first come first served basis at a cost of 50 baht per day.

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Banks & Money Exchange

Currency

The unit of currency in Thailand is the Baht.
Money changing facilities are available at the airport and in most medium sized towns. We recommend that sufficient money is changed before departing into the cruising area. The average would be 1,000 baht per person per day.

The airport is easiest and there are banks and ATM machines at the Tesco supermarket. There are moneychangers at Ao Nang beach and on Phi-Phi, although the exchange rates may not be so good.

Credit Card Information

Credit cards are accepted only at larger restaurants and resorts.

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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

The Quarterdeck Bar & Restaurant at the Marina waterfront opened in October 2009.
(Thai and International cuisine). Saturday night: All you can eat sunset BBQ!  Open daily from 8:30 am till late.
The Happy Hut Restaurant at the inland Laguna (Thai food)
Pontoon access and transportation with golf buggies and hand trolleys
convenient car parking
Free WIFI internet access for berth holders

Eating Out

This can be extremely good value. If you eat at a local food stall you can get a meal for as little as 100 baht per person. Eating in local restaurants you can expect to pay around 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 not expected in restaurants and bars but if you wish to do so 10 to 15% of the amount charged is ample.

Shopping

Jatujak Market The biggest market in Phuket, with over 1,000 stalls. On Chaofa West Road from Central Shopping Mall, heading south toward Chalong Bay direction; turn left at the first traffic light - Sat, Sun 4:30 - 8:30. This is a typical Thai bazaar, featuring all sorts of items from fish to clothing.
Thai silk is on the top of most visitors’ shopping lists. It is sold in a range of colours, and in various widths, lengths and thicknesses, or as bespoke products such as shirts, blouses, men's suits and ladies’ silk jackets, bedcovers and furnishings. Some of the most popular silk items in Phuket include handkerchiefs, scarves, pillow cases, photo frames, handbags, cosmetic bags and evening bags.
Jewelry, gold, Thai sapphires and pearls from local pearl farms are available everywhere.

Car Rental

At the airport you will find, David Car Rent www.davidcarrent.com and Airport Car Rent www.airportcarrent.com  which is one of the few companies that rent self drive mini busses.

Hotels

For those wishing to book accommodation ashore for the night before or after their charter Sunsail Phuket is able to book rooms at discounted rates at the nearby Supalai and Chandara resorts.  All rooms are fully air-conditioned , and the prices include local taxes and breakfast,  To obtain special rates booking should be made with Sunsail Thailand.  We suggest bookings are made well in advance so please contact the base with your requirements.

Tours

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

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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 cheaper option. A SIM card can be bought on a pay as you go basis for about 50 Thai 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.

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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. Hand lines are available to buy from the office for 1000 baht. Spear fishing is not permitted.

Diving

The diving in Thailand is excellent. You must carry a PADI open water 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 2500 Baht and 3500 Baht per person for two dives and lunch. If you wish to dive while chartering with Sunsail we recommend Koh Phi Phi Don or Koh Racha Yai where there are good dive centers, two recommended by our base are Raya Divers on Koh Racha and Barakuda Diving on Koh Phi Phi.

The Similan Islands are a world class diving destination and are accessible between November and April, subject to weather conditions. These islands are situated 60miles Northwest of Patong and would require minimum charter duration of 7 days for a visit. Diving equipment can be supplied if ordered in advance and you can arrange to meet up with a live aboard dive operator at one of the dive sites for tank refills. Further information is available from the base on request. The Surin islands are another 50 miles north of the Similans and also offer superb diving but fewer dive operators visit them. The Similan and Surin Islands are National Parks and are subject to a daily entry fee which will be collected on site.

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.

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Provisioning

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

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Health & Safety

Illness or Injury

If you get sick and need to visit the doctor or hospital during your trip please contact the base manager or a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible to arrange transport to the nearest medical facility.

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, advice 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.

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