Throwing a party on a boat can be a blast but spending an entire week on a yacht takes fun to the next level! Since we had plans to be in southern Thailand in December, there was no way we'd turn down the chance to go to The Yacht Week Thailand. Sailing in the Andaman Sea on a yacht, you don't say! We've never done anything of this caliber, so what should we have expected as first-timers?
If this is the first time you've heard of The Yacht Week, let's just say it's an incredible mashup of partying and sightseeing while exploring the seas on a bona fide yacht. The Yacht Week originated in Croatia but has blown up to include tours around Turkey, Italy, the British Virgin Islands, Greece, and yes, Thailand.
Since we have never been to The Yacht Week before and had conjured up certain images and expectations of the trip as we excitedly packed our bags, we'd thought we give a bit of insight to the event for others who are itching to go. Even though we'd love to go into the nitty gritty of preparing for The Yacht Week, "how to" guides have been done here, here, and here so we'll be providing a different twist on the trip:
Do Go for Amazing Views
We saw some absolutely fabulous rock formations, beaches, and sunsets as we sailed around a dozen or so beaches and islands on our route in the Andaman Sea. And of course the sailboats themselves were a beautiful sight along the horizon, particularly during the regatta and when they formed the famous yacht ring.
As we bounced from place to place we also stopped for an hour or two at small islands with famous sites like Maya Bay Beach (early in the morning before the crowds got there!) and the Emerald Cave. Other boats went to Hong Island, James Bond Island, and Tup Island.
Don't Go for the Sailing
Ironically this trip is more about sightseeing and having fun and less about the demands of skillfully sailing a yacht in the open seas. In fact, during our trip the skipper only raised the sails and cut the engines once and that was only for about an hour - and a wonderfully peaceful hour it was! Looking back on it, there just wasn't adequate wind power to meet the demands of our rigorous island hopping schedule. We did raise the sails again for the regatta but we cheated a bit and used the engines.
If you are a sailing fanatic and want more sail time, it might be better to be the captain of your own boat so that you can make executive decisions and choose when you want to sail. However, agreeing to this is a huge responsibility and means less partying! Bottom line: chances are you won't be able to indulge in your sailing hobby as much as you'd like on this trip.
Do Go for the Outrageous Parties!
From the moment we woke up to the time we stumble to bed, we were celebrating in one form or another. Cocktails before noon? Yep. Inflatable floaty parties and island hopping during the day? Definitely. And every evening we could expect to either go to beachside clubs or some sort of themed party.
It is exhausting but exhilarating. We recommend getting plenty of sleep during the week leading up to the trip because you'll be lucky to get more than a few hours of rest at night!
Don't Go for the Excursions
Although we did a lot of island hopping during The Yacht Week Thailand, it was difficult to find the time for big daytime excursions when we stopped at the larger islands.
We had made a list of things to do on the islands including going to an overlook on Koh Phi Phi, walking a dog at the Lanta Animal Welfare on Koh Lanta, and going rock climbing on Railay. Unfortunately, by the time we arranged for boat-to-shore transportation we only had about an hour or two on the island and these side trips were too time consuming to feasibly fit into our schedule. However, we did have enough time to do a little shopping, get a massage, and enjoy a freshly brewed espresso (a nice change from the instant coffee we were consuming on the yacht!)
Do Go to Relax
Even with all the partying, there is plenty of opportunity to relax. This is especially true once brunch cocktails are finished and before afternoon cocktails begin. We'd either stretch ourselves out on the bow's deck to sunbathe or lounge in a water floaty. It's time to play some summer tunes and enjoy the gentle waves and gorgeous views. We loved that there was no obligation to do anything on this trip if we didn't want to!
Don't Go to be Pampered
Although the boats are impressive, there are multiple champagne parties, and it's possible to hire a hostess and skipper to cook and sail for you during the trip, this is not a five-star cruise. Heads are small (bathrooms for you non-sailin' folk) and you may even have to manually pump the toilets. Cabins and galleys can get cluttery in the blink of an eye, there is a limited supply of utility water on board, and seasickness may be biting at your heels. Everyone needs to work as a team to keep the yacht clean, safe, and fun. This might mean taking out trash and scrubbing toilets from time to time.
Do Go for the People
Ah, the people! The Yacht Week Thailand hosts 16 yachts that 20 and 30 somethings from all around the world. Our boat had guys and gals from Sweden, America, and Israel. Our friend's yacht had people from the UK, Australia, Argentina, and Istanbul. We boarded with eight unfamiliar yet smiling faces looking at us and by the end of the trip we were like old friends. Once the event is over, it's not uncommon for people stay in touch and long-term friendship and romantic relationships have come from it.
Don't Go If You're Looking for a Romantic Getaway
We firmly encourage fun, sociable singles and couples to go on The Yacht Week Thailand and party it up together. However, if you come with a significant other in hopes of a romantic getaway, this is event is not for you. Although the boats are big they aren't that big and the rooms are even smaller, so there's very little privacy away from other members of your crew. Two, this is a social event that's all about mingling and having fun with many people and is not meant for staring into each other's eyes 24/7.
Packing Essentials for The Yacht Week Thailand
Bring essentials like day time cover ups, slip-on boat shoes, hair clips or bands to keep long tresses out of your face, and several pairs of sunglasses. Definitely err on the dressier, more stylish side for evening wear, so guys should bring a handful of collared polos and board shorts and girls should opt for sundresses. Fun extras include a costume for the regatta, all white attire for the White Party, and water floaties!
But absolute must haves? Check it out:
3+ bathing suits: Or four. Or even five. They are essentially your outfits for the day and double as underwear. For real. Just make sure you bring real undies to wear with your evening outfits. Bringing multiple bathing suits will allow you to rotate them out, giving adequate time between washing and air drying, and kind of break up those tan lines.
Battery pack: Electrical outlets are very limited on the boat and there's a small chance that the one in your room doesn't work or your plugs don't fit. You'll be SOL the ENTIRE week. We brought an Eloop E14 20000 Mah Power Bank (it's a beast!) but we were able to repeatedly charge our phones (and even share juice with our crew) and it lasted the entire week. Also, bring a cigarette plug adapter with multiple USB ports (needed for phones and cameras). Backup batteries to any equipment (camera, GoPro, etc) are also a must!
Fully charged cordless electric razor: Guys and girls both, trust us on this one. Fully charged. Cordless. Trying shaving your legs, face, and other areas when the boat is rocking in an itsy bitsy bathroom with only cold water to work with. It's a challenge! This is a life saver since everyone's nearly nude the entire week.
Waterproof bag/phone case: Absolutely bring a waterproof case for your electronics. If you are taking a camera, investing in a waterproof bag (dry bag) is also essential the island transfers are done by longtail boat and dinghy. If you have a phone, invest in a waterproof case or an underwater bag. You don't want to accidentally drop your electronics in the sea as you get on and off the boats! If you do, follow these tips for saving electronics from salt water(these tips are NOT the same if you drop it in fresh water)!
Dry shampoo and baby wipes: Unless you actually wash your hair in the sea, chances are you won't be taking more than a sponge bath on the boat for the entire week. Dry shampoo (or even baby powder) keeps your roots dry and can also double as body powder to keep sticky, sweaty skin at bay. Baby wipes keep your important bits fresh and clean when a shower is not a realistic option.
Your country's flag: Not only does it show national pride but it's the perfect way to identify your boat among the dozens among the fleet. Yachts look surprisingly similar identical during the nighttime, especially after you've had a few drinks. Going around in circles in a boat transfer at 3am is a buzzkill and frustrations can escalate quickly.
Don't Bother Packing
Here are a few things that are better left at home during the trip:
Big electronics: Don't bring a laptop or any electronics other than a phone and small camera. You won't get any work done anyways, and it's hard to maintain a full battery when the yacht doesn't have electricity during the day and unreliable electrical hookups at night.
Heels, sneakers, boots: Slip ons and flip flops are the way to go. You will break your neck if you wear heels. Forget wedges, too.
A hard suitcase: A soft duffle bag or suitcase is a MUST. Hard cases, even the small ones, WILL NOT FIT in the cabin's unconventionally shaped storage areas. Make sure to keep it carry-on sized only. If you have to check your bag, you've packed too much and it's going to be too big!
The Yacht Week Thailand isn't a year-round event. Instead, it's currently scheduled for three one-week sessions in December and inthe beginning of January dubbed Week 51, Week 52, and Week 53. This aligns with the winter holidays and New Years, so don't forget to bring Christmas and New Years costumes!
Chris and Angela sold everything, paid off their debt, and ultimately figured a way out of the nine to five grind in the United States. Today they are living full time in Chiang Mai, Thailand, guiding and inspiring future expats towards amazing lives abroad! For more updates follow them on , , and . To see a full list of posts check out the .
