Recommendation for PYH.

After running into some serious engine woes, our boat – Esper – ended up at Phuket Yacht Haven for four months. We’d spent a bit of time here last year because the managers, Nick and Zara, are animal lovers and agreed to look after our cat for a couple of weeks. Of the marinas we’ve stayed in around the Phuket area, this is by far our favorite. It has a friendly, sociable atmosphere, based around the newly-built Deck restaurant area with stunning 180-degree views.

Jacqui Turner oversees various social events as well as the staff and menu at the restaurant, which include BBQs, speed pool, quiz night etc. There are three restaurants outside of the marina complex run by locals, all of which come recommended (our favorite is Coconut, run by Pehn). There is a real buzz during the high season what with visiting boats and super-yachts, whilst the low season hosts enough people to keep the vibe alive.

More importantly, there is a full complement of marina services (except haul out, which can be done at Premiere just around the corner). We employed Graeme of Stem to Stern to help us with our engine haul out and refit, Mali for carpentry and perspex work, and Pla, who offers all manner of canvas work. Excellent work at reasonable prices. The marina is constantly expanding its workshop area and is about to open a small supermarket for basic provisions. The reception, run by a friendly group of girls, is professional and helpful and has a Rolodex of useful phone numbers. Car hire, laundry, taxis, chandlery etc. are all covered by the surrounding businesses.

For those wishing to anchor, the area north of the marina is safe with excellent holding. Don’t anchor directly in front of the outer pontoon as space is needed for large boats to turn. A nominal fee (650 bhat a month) can be paid to the marina to use the marina services (dinghy docking, showers etc). At high water, you can tie your dinghy to the restaurants.

One concern for those who haven’t visited PYH is the distance into town. We never found this a problem as we got into the habit of hiring a car for 24 hours (800 – 1000 bhat) every other week or so. Nai Yang is only 15 minutes drive and makes for a great evening out throughout the year. We never got bored during our time here and will be coming back to anchor in the area regularly.

Jamie and Liz
s/y Esper
http://www.followtheboat.com

Dingy thefts in Chalong
Caution to leaving your dingy in Chalong Harbour 2 dingys stolen in the last week 9/February 2016 one was returned that I personally have been involved with and there are reports of another 3 being stolen.

In the last couple of months, the Harbour has been deteriorating fast with huge piles of rubbish being left on dockside by commercial boat rats and cockroach heaven. Dingys have been destroyed by unprotected pontoons and long tail fishing boats. There is no secure dingy dock.

IMPORTANT NOTICE (EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2016)

It is mandatory for all foreign yachts coming into Phuket, Thailand and outgoing from Phuket, Thailand to be equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) or AIS Class B system or higher class appropriately.

AIS must be ACTIVE when coming into Thai water or leaving Thai water or moving to somewhere else.

The marine department allowed to turn off the AIS transmitter while the yachts stay in Marina or Hardstand.

For more information, please contact the Marine Department, Phuket Branch.

If you feel you are being bribed by an official when clearing into Thailand in Phuket, take the person’s name and go to Phuket Town head office of Immigration and place a complaint. Alternatively, decline to check in there an check in at an alternative office (i.e.head office and not Chalong).

Refer to an earlier post on noonsite about anti-corruption, posted under news adjacent, 17 September 2014, at this link –
http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Thailand/thailand-phuket-phang-nga-bay-thai-officials-try-to-fine-australian-yacht
Dr. Surin, leading the way in Phuket to try and eradicate corruption, is still active. In the report is a telephone number you can call if faced with a bribe that you feel you shouldn’t be paying.

In the report are Dr. Surin’s contact details. It is recommended that any cruisers visiting Phuket print off these details (including the Thai word for anti-corruption) and have them handy for any such occasions.

Posted on behalf of Helena who posted this comment elsewhere on the site:
Today I checked into Thailand, Phuket Chalong office, with no AIS unit installed.
There was a lot of activity about me not having AIS.

Phone calls were made and in the end, I was asked to sign a piece of paper that said I would be allowed to leave Thailand with no AIS unit, but I will be blacklisted from returning to Thailand until I can show a functioning AIS unit displayed on their system.

The biggest thing I learned from this is that they are making all foreign yachts transmit AIS for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if your boat is drydocked in a marina.
So conflicting stories we heard whilst on route to Thailand, were laid to rest. It’s 24/7 every day.

Posted on behalf of Brian Simm, SY Scraatch:
Two items of good news for cruisers in Phuket:

AME chandlery, (at the entrance to Boat Lagoon) have made major steps over the last two years to update their safety equipment services. By encouraging and contracting local specialists to fully update their systems AME can now offer full local life raft services, (my Givens lifebuoy took only 4 working days) Epirb, fire, and safety system checks to full certification. This service is being taken up by local super yachts and commercial boats as well as cruisers.

With the usual Marinas full as usual, Yacht Haven is in the process of installing a major extension from the present 300 or so berths up. This location is now the choice for charter companies and the larger ‘superyacht’ fraternity. Cruisers are welcome alongside or with plenty of room to anchor off.

Brian Simm
S/Y Scraatch, sundeer 56