SimplyAbuDhabi XXXIII

“The Surin islands and neighbouring Similian islands are stunning cruising grounds,” says Captain rob Smith. “My preference between the two is Surin, as there isn’t the volume of day tripper boats. So, if a guest is looking to charter a yacht and wants somewhere interesting to explore it’s ideal. Guests can take trips around the island, take a tender to get close to the shore, visit the Moken village, and it’s an excellent spot for scuba diving and snorkelling too.” TALiSMAnMAiTon’s sun deck was made for sunbathing, with sun pads angled in every direction to catch the sun, and a shaded area mid-ships that houses a dining table. The forward-facing jacuzzi is a pool with a view, and low-profile glass shields surround the forward section to provide shelter from the wind. during the winter season in Thailand however—generally from end of december to the beginning of April— the conditions are pristine. “The swell is light, the winds are predictable, and the weather is stable,” says Smith, and by stable, he means luxuriously warm—mid 30s by day, mid 20s by night. “All of the cruising hot spots in this area are favoured for their anchorages,” he adds. “The predominant wind is from the east, so if you’re on the Phuket side you get good protection. And there is always a bay to tuck into too. none of the water is that deep— depths of 20m is common—so it’s easy to find anchorages to enjoy in private.” The shallow waters mean flat seas, which as well as being ideal for anchorages also makes the area perfect for water sports. Wakeboarding, kayaking, water skiing—all of which TALiSMAnMAiTon is equipped with—convert any of the hundreds of bays into private playgrounds for charter guests. “it’s a very different experience to being in the Mediterranean,” says Smith. Another bonus is the close proximity between so many islands making it more than feasible to explore somewhere different every day. “it’s one of the best elements of cruising here,” says Smith. “Exploring the reefs, anchoring on the back of islands, cruising in between islands. in the Mediterranean there tends to be a bigger swell and it’s not as calm and nice as the waters in Thailand.”